Genesis Virus

by Pinto, Daniel

  David puts his hands behind his head and stands wide, wishing he never stopped and head straight to see his friends. He has not eaten or slept in days. Overcome a physical disadvantage by establishing a mental advantage.

  The Lieutenant slowly takes David’s other gun from his belt like they would both explode if he cuts the wrong wire, then patrols him over to the Chief; David’s hands are relax to his side, all his fingers are running in place. A push between his shoulders like a cattle prod. The sound of the river used to be so relaxing.

  David stops and has a faint smile.

  The Chief tugs David forward with both hands by the collar and shouts in his face. “Where are our women?” It throws both men off balance.

  David’s belly button is exposed and his head is jerking forward. “What?” He’s holding onto the Chief’s wrists.

  The young Indian says while holding his shoulder. “Scalp the fucker, he’ll talk.”

  David stares at him. “I could have killed you and ran, little man.” Maybe I should have.

  The Lieutenant puts David’s gun in his belt. “Take his manhood, skip to the end, we don’t have all day.” He keeps looking around as if he’s expecting something to jump out or crawl from out of the woodwork worst than them.

  The fourth Indian, the oldest one, does not want to watch up close, so he remains with the horses bunched in the shade under the umbrella of an evergreen tree.

  The Chief steps aside as the Lieutenant comes around, steps in front of David. He first rubs his busted lip then repeatedly punches David in the face. “Where’s our women?” David falls to the ground bleeding and instinctively covers his head with his elbows, right as he is kicked all over by the Lieutenant. “Where’s our women?”

  David spins on his back, dodging the onslaught of boots, he kicks up at the man’s face, missing. David is proud at the fact that this person knows it won’t be that easy to kill him.

  Once the kicking finally stops, David rises up and deliberately looks at each of them in the eyes. He says. “Four on one, pussies, that’s why you lost this country and your slutty women.” David smiles and spits blood on the Chief’s dusty boots. The annoyed Chief storms up to David, puts one hand on his shoulder, pulls his knife out, and places it to David’s stomach. “Boy, tell me where your Boss is and our women.” David’s facial expression changes in an instant. “Boss?”

  The Lieutenant says, “enough,” pushing the Chief aside, almost knocking the man over, and swings his knife wide for David’s throat. David pushes the Chief into his attacker, matching his intensity, grabs and twists his wrist to the verge of splintering. “Ahhh…”

  The Chief is face first in the wet grass.

  David kicks the man’s knee in, bringing the Lieutenant down to the ground. He gets behind him and places one hand on the Lieutenant’s mouth, points the knife to his back, turning in like a corkscrew, ever so slightly. There is an excessive amount of cocking guns. David has to squat behind his human shield to dodge the aiming rifle barrels.

  David says, “this Boss took my friend as well,” while looking up at the Chief who’s breathing in fast. The Lieutenant is still trying to talk behind David’s palm and the Chief looks at his men then drops his rifle on the ground. David releases the Indian and pushes him forward, says with his hands up, “I’m not with the Boss. But I might have a way to find him.” The Lieutenant is furious and draws his handgun. So the Chief runs up and steps in between him and David; yet, the Lieutenant continues to point his gun at the Chief and David.

  The Chief tries to grab the barrel of the gun near his face, but the man keeps stepping slantwise, seeing the Chief’s lips move, but hears no sound. David stands still staring through the shooter, which gets under his skin even more.

  The other two Indians sneak up behind him and restrain the Lieutenant, a man per arm, a shot goes off.

  The Chief says. “Speak, boy.”

  David puts his hands down. “I killed two of his men the other day in the woods near here. If we’re talking about the same person, there might be a clue on them. I know it’s a long shot, but it’s all I have to go on this moment.” I thought you said keep your mouth shut. He purposely leaves out the fact about the helicopter. Never let facts stand in your way of a good story.

  The querulous Lieutenant is blaring. “He’s lying, let’s cut are losses and leave. We don’t have the time. We can’t trust this wasi’chu.” He pushes the young Indian in the chest and the old Indian shakes his head.

  David circles the men. “Lend me your ears, gentlemen. We can’t know everything definitely, so what do you choose to believe in, something or nothing?”

  Lieutenant says. “He’s shit out of luck and he knows it. You all want to believe. We haven’t the time.”

  The Chief is silent for a moment.

  David says to all of them. “There’s plenty of time around us, these days. Kill me and never find your women. That’s for damn sure.”

  The old Indian saunters over to the Chief and tells him only. “I believe it’s worth a shot. How’s killing this man going to help anyone?”

  The Chief looks over to the youngest one and sees him shake his head yes as he gets up.

  The Chief studies David’s face like it’s actuarial tables “What’s your friend’s name?”

  “Phillip-”

  Right away, the Chief replies. “That’s not the Boss’s style.”

  David says. “With all due respect. Taking what he wants seems to be his style, Chief.”

  The Chief says. “Lead us to these men and seal your fate.”

  David glares at the Lieutenant, who’s pacing around. “I’m going to need my weapons back, there’s more to fear out here than this Boss.” The Chief motions his head at the Lieutenant to relinquish the weapons.

  David smiles at the angry man as he gets the pistols back. “Thanks, Lou.” The tepid Indian ignores him.

  David says. “I’m bad with names.” He points at each of them one at a time. “You’re obviously the Chief, and you have to be Lou, short for Lieutenant.” Just then, the young Indian walks by with blood on his shoulder so David says. “You’re going to be Youngblood and you the quiet one over there, you’re the strong silent type like Gary Cooper, and so you’ll be Cooper or Coop.”

  Youngblood turns around and walks up to David’s face. “Asshole, we’re not some time traveling Indians from the movies or TV westerns. We had to adapt like everyone else. You racist prick.”

  David says. “You could have fooled me. Call me whatever you want, it’s better if we don’t get too close and personal.”

  Youngblood smirks and says. “Lead the way, Boy. Don’t make me shoot you in the back.” David thanks his lucky stars for deciding not to wear his backpack of bullets. The weight of it would have slowed me down. I would be floating in that river. It’s crazy how one small choice has now put me in charge of the situation.

  5

  Afternoon is fast approaching and the group of Indians in the woods start to doubt David, he seems lost, he’s talking to himself more and more, and keeps looking at them waiting for them to tell him where to go next.

  David looks around and skips over Lou’s face. “I’m sorry, it was nighttime and I’ve been getting hit in the head a lot for the past few days.” They all walk for a few more minutes then David breaks into a sprint and they chase after him.

  So many trees, only one person can fit between the openings between the trees, David is running sideways to squeeze in the gaps. The Chief and Cooper have to stop after a city block worth of forest. They both wave at Lou to keep going.

  Youngblood is running in front of Lou, holding the tail end of his bow and jumping through the endless trees following David’s rustling. Lou can no longer see David only thick trees weaving into each other like a thornbush and squirrels leaping over his head. “David.” Lou thinks if I stop moving I will never leave this place.

  Lou comes up behind Youngblood looking up at a mangle of trees as if it’s Mount Everes
t, blocking the world behind it.

  Lou says. “I told you, he’s a sneaky bastard.” Youngblood is pointing ahead wanting to talk, but can’t.

  Lou shoves his bow into Youngblood. “Fuck it.” He climbs onto the tree instead of walking farther down and around. “Check on the guys.” Lou holds onto branches with both hands, sways on the tree’s Hillary Step, jumps for a branch to swing, and descends over the crest.

  He jumps down into the cushy forest floor, the trees are spreading out as if they’re scared of something, the leaves are up to Lou’s shins; he labors through griping to himself, with a knife in each hand near his chest as if he’s expecting to sink through at any minute. “David.”

  Lou keeps moving onward for what seems like hours in the primeval forest, waiting to swallow him up. Ultimately, he sees a body. “Don’t move.”

  David glances up at him. “What took you so long?” He stands up and shakes the leaves off. “These trees are as tall as Redwoods. What…ah you thought, I was ditching you…you can put the gun down.”

  The other men are coming through the trees from behind David, unaware of him and Lou.

  The grudging Lou says. “Over here.”

  David says to him. “Don’t look so disappointed.”

  6

  “Here it is.” David picks up his shield. “It means so much to me.” He looks back at the Indians. “Who wants to trade me a bow for this. Come on, you can run with it and it can take a bullet.” The Indians just look at each other, waiting for him to get to the point. David says. “Stay close, no time for bravadoes, it’s north of here. See there’s a method to my madness.” David and them sprint through the clearing all the way to Jacob’s body.

  David stands back as all the Indians search the bodies like maniacs flipping the bodies as if that will get them to talk. Flies swarm their faces. They empty the dead men’s pockets and go through their fanny packs on their lower backs. David lifts his chin, spotting a few things and looks away.

  After the Indians calm down a bit, Lou stands back. “Nothing. I told you he was fucking lying. These men could just be his friends, he betrayed.” David puts one hand on his pistol like a cowboy. “Relax Lou.” Lou kicks up a heap of brown leaves. “Don’t call me, Lou.”

  David tells them. “I could of shot all of you just now as you all searched desperately like blood-thirsty hyenas.” Lou climbs up to David accosting him. “I’m tired of what you could have done. Be a man and do something now.”

  David says. “Not this again.”

  Lou gets even closer to David and rests his forehead on David’s forehead. “Drop those weapons and let’s settle this once and for all. If you kill me, you can go.”

  Lou is taller and a decade older than David. David disregards Lou’s stares and looks at the Chief on the ground still by the bodies. “Chief, I needed you to see these bodies to gain your trust. I have a plan and now you all are a part of it.”

  Cooper walks up to David, cleaning the dirt under his nails. “Whatever it is, I’m with you. Let’s move out before something bad happens.”

  David says. “Thank you Coop. The younger man on the ground is Jacob, it’s the Boss’s son and I killed him. I’m willing to bet he wants me dead. David approaches the Chief. “Trade me for your women.” David extends a hand to help him up, but the Chief remains squatting, only willing to listen.

  Youngblood is securing the perimeter by shooting hiker zombies with his bow and Lou starts to laugh and say. “Even if you would do that, what’s in it for you and how do we find the Boss’s camp?” David glances around. “My friend Phillip is probably dead already. I just want a shot at revenge.” David makes eye contact with each of them as he walks through the row of trees, then looks at the sky. “I’ve seen which direction the chopper was headed and I know the Boss can’t be more than three days from here because of these dead men at your feet, they’re proof of that. Their lack of supplies for one, like gas in their bikes, no food and because it’s the Boss’s son.”

  The Chief takes a sip of water from his canteen. ”Why didn’t you tell us all of this before?”

  David says. “Like I said, you wouldn’t have believed me, to go on a three or more day journey. But a few hours of trust was all I needed to make my case and besides I hoped there would be clues and there was.”

  The bewildered Indians look at each other with blame in their eyes then at the bodies again. Youngblood finally rejoins the group. “What clues?”

  David says. “Are you with me?” Cooper and Youngblood nod their heads agreeably without hesitation.

  The Chief says, “yes, of course,” as he inspects the bodies by poking them with a stick, he addresses Lou. “You can go back, I won’t think any less of you. I would understand your doubt. I know all of this sounds absurd. But for me, hope has kept me going this long and I won’t turn my back on it now.”

  David watches on and thinks about Ava, Maria, and Abigail. Suddenly Lou saunters up to him and is silent for a second then says. “I’ll take that shield now.” The other Indians smile when Lou hands David his bow.

  David strolls up to Jacob’s body and removes his watch; the foul stench of decay hits him. “It doesn’t work, it has to be sentimental and is proof of Jacob’s death for the Boss.”

  David reads the inscription aloud. “To Jacob with my love.”

  Lou gleans over David shoulder. “We could have just taken his head.” Youngblood smirks behind Lou. David pulls Jacob’s sleeve up to get a better look at the tattoo of a figure and phrase wrapped around his arm, he says. “It’s a Latin phrase, but the second part is a name of a place I know a few states over. It’s worth a start.” David drops the curling hand. “I can go by myself and meet you all back here if you want.” Knowing the Indians won’t accept this idea.

  Youngblood says. “A rat always returns to its rathole.” Lou mumbles something to Coop.

  Youngblood says. “Tell us.” David ignores him and stares the Chief in the eyes. “It’s my insurance policy, you can understand that.”

  The Chief says. “We can understand that, but what if you die.”

  David says, “don’t let that happen,” then hands the Chief the watch. “We need each other, Chief.”

  The Chief turns it over and reads the inscription: To Jacob with my love. He scoffs then straps it on his wrist. Lou is trying to pronounce the Latin scribble on Jacob’s arm. David tosses Lou the bow back. “Keep it warm for me.”

  With his rifle resting atop his shoulder, Cooper has a discerning look. “What’s next, David?”

  David says. “I have to check in with my group for supplies and to say my goodbyes, hopefully some are there. My camp is located near the mountain.” He points out. “Do you all want to do the same with your group?”

  The Chief watches his men move under the branches. “Lou come with me and you two go with him. We’ll meet at the place we first met, tomorrow afternoon or try to.”

  David says to the group. “Why were you following me in the first place?”

  The Chief says. “We saw smoke the other day in the distance and headed for it.” David walks up to him and hands him the solar power walkie. “Keep it on this channel, only turn it on when you get to the river. Bring all the supplies and weapons that you can carry.”

  David tells Lou. “If both of you get done quicker, ride to that mountain and turn on the walkie.”

  The men exit the woods together then ride in opposite directions, with the setting sun between them. David says to his team, driving his Apollo between them. “Cooper, Youngblood, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” The reference is lost on them. He speeds past them.

  Chapter Four

  1

  The Boss walks in with a duffel bag to see Phillip, no guards are present this time. Phillip realizes this is the end, he thinks of his family. Closes his eyes and holds that image in his mind as long as he can before he tastes a bullet.

  The Boss stares at Phillip for a minute and drops the bag dow
n between them. Faint light from the hallway is the only light in the room. Phillip’s belt of weapons is gone.

  The Boss says. “We’re beyond sorrys. I’m going to start and end this conversation with no proof. I thought I wanted you dead, but after I killed the Biker, I realized I want this community to work even more than that and you can help me with that. Jacob’s death has had a ripple effect on all our lives.”

  The Boss’s demeanor is different from last time; he’s more anxious and upset about something. His speech and tone is flustering.

  The Boss continues. “You probably killed Jacob, and he probably attacked you first. I plan for the long-term and I can’t base this decision on probablys.”

  Phillip is flummoxed and puzzled.

  The Boss sits down on the creaky chair. “I know a lot about you Phillip, and I’m guessing you know a man named Paul, the new guy in your bunker.”

  For some reason Phillip unconsciously nods his head. Phillip wants to ask why, but the Boss cuts him off. “How do you think he found your bunker? He took someone I love with him weeks ago without telling me. This person used to stay at your bunker, I don’t know if you know her well or not.” He taps his thigh five times, pauses, and taps again.

  Phillip at last speaks in a low voice. “Diana.”

  The Boss’s eyes light up. “Did she return to the bunker with him?” The Boss is on pins and needles with his face in his hands, elbows on knees leaning forward waiting for the perfect answer.

  Phillip feels compelled to answer and shakes his head no. The Boss’s emotions start to snowball and get worse until they crescendo and descend into madness. He grabs the wooden chair and smashes it into pieces on the wall, screaming and swearing. He punches the wall, ripping the skin off his knuckles.