Surviving For Humanity (Book 4): Tides of Humanity

by Nelson, Kip

  Tides Of Humanity

  Surviving For Humanity Book 4

  Kip Nelson

  Copyright © 2018 by Kip Nelson

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter One

  Tillman sighed as he watched the two men fighting in the middle of the neighborhood. He was standing on his porch, watching the proceedings along with everyone else.

  “Should we go stop them?” Greg asked.

  “In a minute. Maybe it's good for them to release their frustrations,” Tillman said.

  Ever since Khan had left, people were getting used to the idea of being a part of a community. They had pored over Tillman's proposed laws, and there was much discussion about how to successfully proceed. A lot of people had an idea about how things should be, and this was making the process longer than it needed to be. Tillman had intended to have a short discussion and then a vote on who should be the leader, but it quickly became clear the neighborhood wasn't going to be satisfied with that.

  Tillman knew his actions had cast a lot of doubt over his ability to lead these people. Making the unilateral decision to spare Khan's life had been met with approval in hindsight. However, people found it difficult to trust a man who made those decisions without consulting anyone else. Tillman only hoped the person they would choose to lead them had the best interests of the community in mind. Some of them, such as Simon, were loud and brash, and they were seeking to lead for selfish reasons.

  “Are we really sure that voting is the best way to go about this? I'm all for democracy, but let's not forget that in the past democracy has led to some people making some really stupid decisions,” Greg said.

  Tillman sighed again.

  “It's the way forward, Greg. It's the only way to make things fair.”

  “Sometimes it's better for life not to be fair,” Greg said.

  “It'll all come out in the wash. If the wrong person is voted in as leader, it will become clear, and it will be rectified.”

  “Ever the optimist,” Greg said dryly as he watched the two men batter each other. The men were Ben Anderson and Jeff Holden, two middle-aged men who, in the aftermath of the public forum, had declared their desire to lead the community.

  Sadly, both men had an aggressive streak and didn't take kindly to each other's plans to run for the leadership position. Neither man had been particularly noteworthy in the days leading up to Khan's arrival, and Tillman hadn't had the opportunity to get to know them very well, but his first impression of them wasn't positive.

  “The problem with these men is they think true power is in strength. But it's not, its intelligence. It always has been. They're so misguided,” Tillman said.

  “Why don't you help guide them?”

  “I will, if they don't knock each other out first,” Tillman said. “How's Morelle doing?”

  “She's okay. I think she's gotten a handle on things. She's a real brave one. I think she's had enough of being scared. I guess she's seen enough horror in her life to be tired of it now. Guess she wants to lead by example for Jessica as well. I tell you, Tillman, I'm glad you gave me your blessing. I've never been happier.”

  “I'm glad, Greg. Both of you needed something like this. It's good to know that even in the face of all this misery and horror there still are moments of brightness. It reminds us that life is worth living. It reminds us of what we're fighting for,” Tillman said.

  “What about you? Any of these neighbors spark your interest?”

  Tillman snorted with laughter. “I have far too much on my mind to think about romance,” he said. “I want to see this community grow. I want to help them. I just wish I hadn't made that mistake.”

  “People will get over it,” Greg shrugged. “And what your dad said really helped. I have a feeling you're going to be the leader. People just need a bit of time to get over what you did. They're probably stubborn, and they don't want to admit you were right in what you did.”

  “I guess, but if these men are fighting, I dread thinking what other people are going to do. How many more people are going to get hurt because of this?”

  “It's impossible to say, but nobody is taking these guys seriously. They're a joke, and the only ones who care about their dispute is themselves. They can fight as long as they want. They think they're fighting will determine who is going to be the leader, but they haven't realized they're throwing their chance away. Nobody will want to be led by people like that. And look, barely anyone is paying attention now,” Greg said, spreading his arm to indicate all the disinterested people.

  Some of them were watching, but mostly with just a casual eye. Other people were doing useful things, like performing inventory and working out how to divide everything so everyone could have their needs met. While they were doing this, they also were figuring out what the community needed. Most everyone was involved in this task, and it would take a while before it was completed. Then there were other matters that needed their attention.

  “The rest of the discussion was promising, though,” Greg said, referring to the public forum where people put themselves forward as candidates for the leadership position. The discussion had lasted for most of the day, and while there still was lots to be decided, there had been much progress made.

  “Yeah. Splitting things up in different areas of focus was a good call. I should have thought about that myself really. Although I imagined they would be hand-picked by whoever became the leader.”

  “It's probably better that it happens this way. There will be fewer accusations of favoritism.”

  Jeff and Ben were slugging each other with heavy punches, most of which missed their targets. They gasped and grunted, swearing that each of them was going to make the other one pay. Both were so blinded with rage that they couldn't see how so many people looked at them with pity. They grimaced and snarled, and then hurled themselves at each other again, clasping each other in a bear hug. The fight was slow, and so far they didn't actually look in danger of hurting each other, which is why Tillman hadn't stepped in.

  It also proved to him that he had been right in preventing a war between this community and Khan's people. There's no way the majority of people in this community could have held themselves in a fight. But they would have to train and get strong, because there were always dangers waiting to strike.

  The vote was going to be called soon and Tillman looked forward to it with great anticipation. He was eager for these matters to be settled so progress could be made in dealing with the next immediate danger, winter.

  “Personally, I'm hoping somebody else gets chosen. Being a leader just sounds too much like hard work for me. I'm willing to do whatever I can, but I'd like to focus on my time with Morelle,” Greg said.

  “I'm sure that nobody is going to be made to do anything they're uncomfortable with,” Tillman said.

  After much dis
cussion it had been decided that the neighborhood wasn't in need of just one leader, but that there should be a council made up of people who took responsibility for various aspects of the community. Tillman was a little frustrated that he hadn't thought of this himself, but he had been used to living by himself and being independent. If he had been part of a family, then perhaps the thought would have occurred to him.

  That being said, it meant that instead of needing to elect just one leader, there needed five, and each position had its own requirements. It had been decided the five areas of focus should be Projects, Food, Law, Power, and Materials. Various things fell under these general umbrellas, and some even crossed over, which meant people would have to coordinate with each other, but it seemed like a good start.

  “So, who would you pick for each role?” Greg asked. Tillman offered him a small smile in response. “Come on, I know you. You've probably ranked the top three choices for every position.”

  “Maybe, maybe not, but I'm not going to say anything until the votes have been cast. I wouldn't want anything to unduly influence the result,” Tillman said.

  Greg narrowed his eyes. “I'm sure you wouldn't.”

  “Either way, what I think doesn't really matter. It's what the people think that does,” Tillman said, spreading his hands out to encompass the entire community.

  “I just hope nobody else takes their lead. I've heard of others who have been arguing about the way things should be done. Sometimes I think you just should have taken charge. At least then people might do as they were told. Now a lot of people think they're leadership material, and they're ready to defend their opinion. I hate to think of what will happen when the votes are in and people disagree with the choices made.”

  “Well, they all had a chance to vote. It's the fairest process. I might suggest that there should be a set time period where people hold these positions, to offer other people a chance to take these seats.”

  “That's probably a good idea. It will stop people from getting drunk with power.”

  Tillman gave Greg a sidelong glance, amused at how dramatic the man could get. It was comforting to know that in this world of great change there were some things that still remained the same.

  “I think there are plenty of distractions to stop that from happening. It's probably why there aren't as many fights as you think there would be. People are thinking about the projects we can build. Do you have any ideas?”

  “A few, but there's really only one I want to see happen. I'm not sure it counts as a project or such, though.”

  “What is it?”

  “I really miss playing games. I want to start up a Civil War re-enactment or something. I'm getting tired of living in the real world all the time. I want to let my imagination run wild.”

  “I was thinking about something along similar lines, actually. I thought it would be a good idea for all the creative people to get together and create stories and pictures to entertain us, and we should create a library for people as well.”

  “I do miss firing up the old machines and having a blast, though,” Greg said ruefully.

  “You and me both. I hope that one day we'll be able to get power back and fire up a console.”

  “God, it'll be like firing up a NES now. Can you imagine what life will be like then?”

  “No, but I didn't imagine I'd be here while I was standing in that arcade, my eyes willing Pac-Man to avoid those ghosts.”

  “Damn, I always hated when they got faster.”

  “They always went by a pattern, though.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Oh yeah, it took a lot of effort, but once you memorized them it was possible to avoid them all.”

  “Damn, I guess I never played it enough.”

  Their conversation was interrupted by a loud smack as Ben and Jeff fell to the ground, writhing around like two lovers, although lust was the last thing on their minds. Tillman shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose as he sighed deeply.

  “Want me to come with you?” Greg asked.

  “No, it's fine. They'll be tired out,” Tillman said.

  He got his cane, which he now was using out of habit rather than because he needed to. He strode out to the middle of the neighborhood and when he reached the two men he cleared his throat. They didn't stop wrestling. Their faces were red and Ben was gasping for breath, but he also had his legs wrapped around Jeff. It seemed the two of them were at an impasse.

  Tillman tapped his cane on the ground near their heads, and that got their attention. They sputtered as they looked up at Tillman.

  “I think this has gone on long enough. Don't you, gentlemen?” Tillman asked.

  Jeff and Ben glared at each other, and for a moment Tillman thought they were going to continue, until they both collapsed from exhaustion. But then their bodies slumped, and they sighed, gradually extricating themselves from each other’s grip. They dusted themselves off and stood up.

  “Now, are you quite done?” Tillman asked. Ben and Jeff looked very sorry for themselves. It was a strange sight, to see two grown men who looked like admonished teenagers.

  “We were just having a discussion,” Jeff said.

  “And it got a little out of hand,” Ben finished.

  “Well, I think you should go somewhere and do something useful. And I think you both can forget about becoming leaders of this community. We need people who are able to remain calm even when they feel angry,” Tillman said. Ben and Jeff muttered as they stumbled away, apparently united now when moments before they had been ready to tear each other apart.

  Tillman looked around at the industrious people working together and wondered how many times they were going to crack under this new pressure. The votes were going to be cast soon, and the future of the community was going to be decided. Tillman tried telling himself that he wasn't going to be upset if he wasn't elected as one of the leaders, but in his mind his duty had been clear. He had been the one to come back home and unite them, was that the only role he had to play. He wasn't usually the type to get anxious, but in this case, he was feeling a knot in his stomach. He wasn't sure he simply could be a bystander when important decisions needed to be made.

  Either way, he decided he would have a role to play in this new community no matter what happened. He was going to do his best to keep these people safe. With the fight over, Tillman nodded to some of the other people, and then made his way back to the house, where Major skipped out and leaped at him. He nodded to his parents and then made his way into the living room, where he sat on the couch and enjoyed watching Jessica and Anthony looking through old photo albums.

  Chapter Two

  For the moment everything was calm, which was a strange feeling for Tillman. Ever since the world had ended his life had been in a constant state of chaos. It seemed a long time ago since he had been standing in the city, watching planes fall around him, but the memories still were fresh. Whenever he thought about them he couldn't fail to think about the people who had died that night, and how many more had died since.

  Ever since he had left the city his thoughts often had drifted back there, wondering about the state of it. Without any news service there was no telling what was happening. Deep down he hoped that order would have been restored, but he wasn't confident. More than likely the city would have continued to burn, and people would be living like refugees.

  He was sitting on the couch in quiet contemplation when suddenly Anthony slammed the photo album shut. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, then began to rock back and forth. Jessica had her arm around his shoulders and she was trying to calm him, but it wasn't doing any good.

  “Anthony, please, it's okay,” she said over and over again, but Anthony just kept shaking his head.

  “They're gone. They're gone, and it's all my fault,” he cried. Then he pushed himself to his feet and charged out of the room. Jessica looked at Tillman helplessly.

  “He's been holding it together so far. I
knew I shouldn't have shown him these. It only reminds him that he's not with his parents. I don't know what to do, Uncle. He's been having trouble sleeping. I've tried talking to him about it, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere,” Jessica said desperately.

  “It's okay, I'll go have a word with him,” Tillman said.

  Tillman hadn't spent much time with Anthony since the three of them had returned, but it was about time he did. Anthony had a little hero worship of Tillman, so Tillman hoped he could impart some words of wisdom. He and Jessica he left the room, but while Tillman ventured upstairs, following in the footsteps of the younger man, Jessica went into the kitchen to be with her mother and the others.

  As Tillman made his way to the upper floor, he thought about his own time as a teenager, and how simple the world seemed. He knew he was going to play games for a living. It was the only thing he excelled at, and it felt as though he was fulfilling his life's purpose whenever he was playing. The only other thing he knew for sure was that he would end up with Angela, and sadly only one of those came true.

  When he reached the upper floor, Tillman was guided by the sounds of soft, choking sobs. He walked into Jessica's bedroom, where he found Anthony sitting on the bed with his knees curled into his chest. His head was bowed, and his body was shaking. Tillman felt a little awkward, for he didn't know the boy that well, but Tillman felt responsible for him since he was Jessica's boyfriend.

  Tillman spoke Anthony's name gently, just to let him know that he wasn't alone. Anthony sniffed and looked up. Shame shimmered across his face. He quickly wiped his eyes and made an effort to collect himself.

  “It's okay, you don't have to worry. It's natural to show emotion,” Tillman said.