To Cross a Wasteland

by Phillip D Granath

  “So that chemical light, you threw?” Coal asked.

  “Just something it had never seen before, or so I hoped. It was more interested in it than butchering you,” Kyle said simply.

  “It was a good idea,” Coal said nodding again.

  “It was literally the only thing I had to throw,” Kyle pointed out.

  “What now?” Coal asked.

  “I guess same plan as before, head back to town. Hope the place isn’t filled with steel monsters. Get Miles set up someplace where he can heal and rebuild I guess,” Kyle replied with a shrug.

  Coal pointed towards the edge of the brush with Rory’s sword. Kyle could just make out a line of tethered horses.

  “It seems like Rory left us a going away present,” Coal said with a grin.

  “Looks like you're on your way to becoming the richest man in town again,” Kyle pointed out.

  “Maybe. I wasn’t very good at it really. Maybe I’ll try something new this time,” Coal said.

  “Like what?” Kyle asked.

  “Don’t know for sure,” Coal replied standing and then added. “But don’t worry Tonto. I’m not going anywhere without my trusty sidekick,” the half-breed grinned and looked down at the Scavenger. Kyle couldn’t help but smile back, and he simply nodded.

  Epilogue

  6 Months Later

  It was dark outside of the City council building. Kyle sat on a lawn chair and absently poked at a nearly dead campfire. Behind him, the space buggy sat in the shadows parked on the side of the building. The wagon was hitched behind it and was ready to move at a moment’s notice. Even in the dim light, Kyle could still make out the large red cross painted on the white canvas. The pair of double steel doors swung open, and Coal ambled through shirtless, wearing just his jeans and of course the cavalry saber that he now wore everywhere.

  “Boring day?” he asked with a yawn and sat down on the lawn chair opposite Kyle.

  “Was busy earlier. Two call outs. Some idiot fell off a roof and broke both his legs and a lady had what Anna thinks was a stroke, she didn’t make it,” Kyle replied.

  The newly elected city council had offered Anna space in their building for the new clinic. Shortly enough Kyle and Coal found themselves elected chauffeurs for the dead and dying. Inside of a week, they struck a deal with the city council, and the ambulance service was born. The council provided them extra rations of water for the service and gave them a place to call home. Coal and Kyle took turns, Kyle working days and Coal the nights. Anna had thrown herself back into her work with a passion that Kyle had never seen before. She slept fitfully between emergencies and as of yet had ignored Kyle’s pleas to bring on a nurse or two to help.

  A Black Jacket mounted on the old gray mare walked down the street in front of them. Coal stood as he watched them pass and then shouted. “You can ease up on the reins Billy. She knows where she’s going, it’s you I’d be more worried about.”

  “Bite me Coal!” the Black Jacket shouted in reply.

  The half-breed retook his seat grinning and shaking his head. “Most of those guys can’t ride for shit. Hell, even you ride better than they do.”

  The half-breed had “Leased” out his two horses and the six that had been left behind after Murphy’s bloody demise to the Black Jackets. At the cost of an extra ration of water per horse a week. That was of course with the understanding Coal could borrow one back whenever he needed it. He had to train the Black Jackets how to ride and care for the animals as part of the deal.

  The city elections had taken place the week after the raid on Murphy’s. Never one to miss an opportunity Wadsworth had quickly spread the rumor that the city council had masterminded the Kingpin’s ousting and had made trade deals with the Indian Nation to boot. They announced the reinstatement of water rationing for the entire town and required everyone to fill out a ballot before they would be given a ration card. Wadsworth, Nim and even Jackson were re-elected in a landslide along with a complete unknown named Johnson. The man had owned a small shop in the Hub, and a group of shop owners had backed him with their votes.

  Councilman Neal, however, was not reelected to the council. The etiquette loving Neal, whom Coal still called crazy whenever the name is mentioned surprised everyone by not running for re-election. Instead, Neal’s name was the only applicant for the position of Judge. He, of course, was elected and with Rincone’s help was now in the process of establishing a court system based out of the Black Jackets clubhouse. Coal had seen his judgeship several times when he was there training Rincone’s men to ride. Neal always wore his black judge robes everywhere and carried his gavel at all times. They had yet to hold a single trial, but it was just a matter of time. Coal was interested to see if Neal would issue bounties again, though he wasn’t sure if he would pursue them or not.

  The city council's latest member, much to Kyle’s surprise had arrived a month after the election. Little bird had arrived with no warning and an escort of a dozen Indian braves. The elder had brought word that Two-Steps had indeed been elected their new Chief and a stern reminder to Coal that he was no longer welcome in the nation. It was actually Little Bird’s prompting that had finally moved the council to provide more water rations to Rincone for more Black Jackets and to acquire horses for them. Now Rincone’s men patrolled nearly two-thirds of the town and while the streets weren’t exactly safe after dark. They were definitely safer.

  Miles came shambling up the street, his arm had healed well, and the old man moved with a purpose, leaning heavily against his newly made crutch. Juan and the Engineer spent most of their time at the tower minding the pump that Kyle knew was slowly dying. Miles had sworn him to secrecy upon their return, and at least for now the city council had been left in the dark. As the old man approached, Coal stood and moved to lean against the wall of the building freeing up the seat for Miles. The move seemed casual, but Kyle knew Coal well enough now to recognize the small act of kindest.

  Miles arrived in the glow of the flames breathing hard and began speaking without preamble. “Good you're both here, I have something I want to show you,” Miles began.

  “First sit down, before you fall down,” Kyle commanded.

  Miles looked down at the seat and nodded, it took him a moment to shift his weight and straighten his leg before he sat down heavily.

  “Thank you,” he said with a grin and a nod to Kyle.

  Kyle shot Coal a look, but the Indian was still leaning against the wall awkwardly cleaning his fingernails with the tip of his sword.

  “What’s going on, why the mad rush over here?” Kyle asked looking back at the old man.

  “I have an idea, and it's a big one, could be huge for us and the town,” Miles said grinning. The old man reached into his satchel and after a moment handed Kyle a white spiral bound book of laminated sheets. Kyle took it and turned it over in his hands. It was the instruction manual for the buggy, the one they had found months ago.

  “I already read this, at least, what I could understand of it. I know you have read it more than a few times yourself. I didn’t notice anything world changing in it,” Kyle said handing the manual back.

  Miles was grinning as he reached out but instead of taking the book back he turned it over in Kyle’s hand. “It’s not what’s inside the book, it’s what’s outside.”

  “Oh shit. I seem to remember something about judging a book by its cover,” Coal mumbled to himself.

  Kyle's eyes went back to the manual. On the back of the book at the bottom of the laminated sheet was a small white sticker it read.

  Property of Space Ventures Inc.

  If found, please return to:

  Space Ventures Inc.

  Co/ R&D Department

  2001 East State Rd.

  Pleasant Grove, UT 84062

  “I don’t get it,” Kyle said flatly looking up.

  Miles was still grinning. “Think about it, Kyle. If our buggy survived…”

  “My buggy,” Coal cut in.

/>   Miles paused, took a breath and frowned before continuing. “If the buggy survived and is still functioning than others like it must have too. There could be a whole warehouse of these vehicles just sitting there waiting for someone to come along and push them out into the sunlight. There could be shelves of spare parts collecting dust, for when that thing breaks down. Because you know, eventually that’ll happen. There may be other systems as well, things that we can’t even imagine, computers or radio systems all designed for deep space and all hardened against EMR like that buggy.”

  “And maybe one of those Wallys is there also. Had you considered that?” Kyle asked, knowing the old man hated the nickname Coal had given the thing that had nearly killed all of them.

  “We know what to look for now, and if we find a blue light like the one back in the cave, we know we have time to escape,” Miles replied.

  “Miles, do you know how far it is from here to Utah?” Coal asked.

  “630 miles, give or take,” the old man replied without turning to look at Coal.

  “Yeah that’s right, give or take. Give or take getting shot, dying of thirst or god knows what else along the way and then, then you would have to come back,” Coal pointed out.

  Kyle just shook his head and handed the manual back to Miles. The old man looked up at his old partner, and Kyle knew this discussion was far from over.

  “I’m tired, I’m going to bed. Miles we can talk about this more tomorrow. Goodnight,” Kyle turned and nodding to Coal walked back towards the double doors. Behind him, Miles began trying to convince Coal of the validity of his idea.

  Kyle made his way through the dimly lit halls of the large building and came to the room that had been provided for him and Anna. As quietly as he could, he opened the door and slid into the shadows. A mattress lay in the corner and on it Anna lay wrapped in just a sheet. He undressed quietly placing his clothes in a neat pile next to the bed and slid in beside her. He lay there for a moment his eyes closed smelling her hair and very carefully he reached for her. His hand fell on her swollen belly and immediately, as she had done every night since she had been taken, she pulled away from him. He lay awake next to her as he did many nightsand wondered what the future had in store for them. Wondering about the thing that had nearly killed them. Wondering if the child she carried was his.

  About the Author

  Phillip D. Granath was born and raised in Alaska, where he still lives and works today. He served for 10 years in the United States Air Force. He was stationed all over the world and deployed to Iraq 3 times. He has worked as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician (EOD) and then as an Explosives Specialist (TSS-E) his entire adult life. Until recently he had never written anything longer than a short story. To Cross a Wasteland is his first novel, but he hopes it will not be his last. Phil lives in Eagle River with two rambunctious Great Danes, his amazing wife Abby and their first child Gage.