Echoes of a Dying World (Book 3): A Dream of Tomorrow

by Esquibel, Don M.

He looks at me skeptically, as if I ask him a trick question. “Because there’s too big of a risk that we would be spotted by Barr and his people.”

  “Exactly,” I say. I look around the room. “Every single one of us has been victims of the Animas Animals in one way or another. Barr wants us, and he won’t stop searching. He’ll turn this entire town upside down to find us. We didn’t ask for this fight, bought we’re in it all the same. If we don’t fight back, Barr will win, and any chance we might have at a future will go out the window.”

  “Fight them?” Gina, one of the women from the ranch asks. “There is no fighting them. We had over twice as many people on the ranch and they ran through us like chaff. If we fight we will die.”

  Others voice their agreement. They cite the risk, the logistics of how outmanned and outgunned we are. Their fear for the Animals runs deep. I can hear it in their voice with each argument they speak. But as I look around, I notice that not all are so opposed. Across from me, I watch as Lauren steps forward.

  “Everybody has to die someday,” she says. “For all our sakes, I hope that day isn’t for many years to come. But nobody knows how or when it will happen. All any of us can do is survive the best we can.”

  She pauses and looks around the room. Her eyes settle on me, the intensity of her stare almost overwhelming.

  “I didn’t have the best childhood,” she says. “I learned at a young age, that sometimes you have to fight back even if it means risking everything. You do it for yourself, but more importantly, you do it for the ones you love...You do it because they deserve to live a better life than what’s been given to them.”

  Emotion shines in her eyes. Resonates in her voice. I feel the same emotion swell within me, knowing the fight she speaks of and the risk she took to win it. Among the family I see looks of surprise, Lauren’s past a subject she’s never spoken of to anyone but me. Our eyes meet, and a surge of conviction, of certainty, goes through me. This is the right way forward. The feeling increases as Richard steps up next.

  “I have two girls, to look after,” he says. “They’re the best thing that has ever happened to me. But before I was a father, I was a Marine. I know what it means to protect others from the evils of this world. The only way to do that is to fight it. That will mean risking yourself, yes. But if nobody is willing to take that risk, then that evil will spread uncontested until it covers all. I’ll be damned if I spent nearly half my life fighting to sit back and let it win now.”

  “He’s right,” Frank says, the next to step up. “I’ve seen that evil first hand.” His eyes meet Richard’s. “I’ve committed my share while under their control. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. And it’s the fate that awaits countless more if somebody doesn’t take a stand and stop them. It all has to start somewhere. Might as well be with us.”

  There are nods, murmurs of agreement rippling through the crowd. But there are still those who remain unconvinced, the fear inside so deep they can’t see past it.

  “We could always leave this place,” Gina says. “The Animals can’t get us if we just left. There has to be somewhere out there better than here.”

  I think of the journey to Durango, of all the things encountered along the way. There times where I could see the beginning of something good being shaped. Salida was such a place. Elroy’s farm was another. But for every glimpse of good, there was twice as much bad. And this was over six months ago. I can only imagine things have gotten worse since then. Even if that weren’t the case, the only way to know for sure is to witness it with your own eyes. I think of all of us wandering the roads and highways, searching blindly for a sanctuary. The thought is laughable, a fantasy so far-fetched even I can’t bring myself to believe it. No. Like it or not, our future is here.

  “I was in Denver when the EMP’s hit and everything changed,” I say. The statement catches her by surprise, as it does most of her fellow ranchers and the former Animals. “I’ve seen what the world is like outside this town. It’s bad all around, full of people just as ruthless as Barr and the Animals. You’re right though, there were pockets of good as well—places that hadn’t descended into the chaos that has become our town. But they are few and far between, and finding them would be just as big of a risk as staying would. You’re going to have to fight either way. Wouldn’t you rather fight those who’ve done you wrong?”

  Tears fill her eyes as it all hits home for her. She’s still afraid, terrified of what I speak of. But she finally gets it. Looking around the room, I can tell she’s not the only one.

  “The Animals are convinced that they own this place—that everyone and everything in it is theirs to control.” I speak with steel in my voice, with anger as I think of all the vile acts of theirs I’ve been witness to. I look about the room again, trying to meet as many of their eyes as I can. “They don’t own us. And it’s time they fucking knew it.”

  Chapter 9: (Lauren)

  In darkness, I wait. The temperature is frigid. Well below freezing. I hardly feel it, full of adrenaline as I am. It's in my blood, like little strikes of lightning flaring through my veins. I remind myself to stay calm, stay focused. Deep breath. In. Out. Look to the sky, the moonlit clouds overhead like frozen glaciers, thin rivers of space and starlight weaving between them. Absorb it, study it, let it remind you that there is still beauty to behold in this world. After a minute, I look away, my pulse finally back to a normal pace.

  I look to my left and spot Morgan. At least I see the outline of a body where Morgan is supposed to be. Across from us are others, just as concealed as we are. Only Frank stands exposed, huddled under layers of rags and thin blankets. Like us, he waits.

  In the distance, the faintest rumbling reaches our ears. Frank whistles, making sure we’re aware of it. Another minute and the vehicle comes into view. It creeps slowly closer. A predator stalking its prey. The headlights turn on, flooding the street in light, Frank at its center. He kneels in the snow, his back to the truck. As the lights hit him, he makes a show of trying to stand, his legs weak and shaky. He staggers two steps and collapses back to his knees as they pull to a stop and cut the engine. The doors open, revealing four Animals, their guns drawn.

  They draw closer, three men and a woman. The headlights frame their faces and I’m taken aback. I expected to see sneers and cruel smiles. I expected to see excitement flash in their eyes at the sight of Frank in the snow. Instead, I see distaste. Pity even as they look at Frank. They may be here, but it’s clear to me they don’t relish it.

  “Well, what do we have ourselves here?”

  At least, most of them don’t. My eyes flick to the speaker, the only one among them who lives up to my expectations of the Animals. He stops feet from Frank.

  “You cold, buddy?” he taunts. Frank’s only answer is to clutch his rags tighter around him, shivering uncontrollably. Without warning, the man kicks Frank between the shoulder blades, making him fall face-first into the snow.

  “I asked you a question.” Still, Frank doesn’t respond, earning him another kick. The other three watch on grimly, but none of them seem eager to step in. It’s only after Frank is kicked yet again that one of them speaks up.

  “Stop,” a second man says.

  The first man whirls on him. “What the hell did you just say to me?” he asks. The second man shrinks back, no doubt wishing he never spoke at all.

  “I only mean that if you beat him too badly, he won’t be fit to work.”

  The man laughs and points to Frank. “Look at him,” he says. “He’s not fit for anything except dying. Might as well have some fun with him.” The second man doesn’t say anything, but it’s easy to see he’s disturbed by the notion. The first man looks at him with scrutiny, a frown crossing his face for the first time. “You feeling sorry for him, is that it? Perhaps you’d rather leave him be? Interesting. Maybe Barr should know about your weak stomach.”

  The second man straightens up, his fear evident at the mention of Barr. “That won’t be necessary,”
he says.

  “Then prove it,” the first man says, pointing to Frank.

  The second man nods, steeling himself as he steps forward. Still, I see reluctance. Disgust. He rears his foot back as Frank begins to hack and cough on the ground. Our signal. His foot swings forward and Frank reacts, blocking the kick and sweeping out the man's other leg, sending him to the snow. Before the other three can react, we’ve gotten the drop on them, emerging from our hiding spots like shadows, guns pointed in their faces and at the back of their heads. The first man lets out a roar of anger but isn’t foolish enough to reach for his gun.

  “Hello, Marco,” Frank says. “Pleased to see me?”

  The man named Marco spits at Frank’s feet. “Traitor,” he says. “Wait till Barr hears about this. You should have run when you had the chance.”

  Frank smiles. “And you should have joined us on the farm.” He nods and Felix strikes Marco in the back of the head, dropping him to the ground, out cold. The other Animals flinch but do nothing more.

  Frank looks down at the Animal he’s subdued. “If I let you stand, are you going to do anything stupid?” he asks.

  The man shakes his head.

  “Then up ya' get,” Frank says.

  The man scrambles to his feet and joins the other two. With the three of them in line, he has Morgan and Felix pat them down and remove their weapons.

  “Do you know who I am?” he asks them. All of them nod their heads, but it’s the woman who speaks.

  “El Matador,” she says. Venom fills her voice, different from Marco’s but no less stinging. “You’re the reason I'm here in the first place. I won’t soon forget your face.”

  A deep sadness fills his features, his whole body deflating as if a great weight has fallen on his shoulders. Before he can respond her gaze has shifted to Morgan, her eyes going wide in recognition.

  “And you’re Taylor. The one who killed Boss and nearly burnt down the hotel.”

  “How do you know that?” Morgan asks, taken aback at being recognized.

  “Barr made everyone memorize your picture,” she says. “He’s promised to reward the one who brings you in with anything within his power to give.”

  This is news to Morgan, one that leaves him at a loss for words.

  “Of course he has,” Frank says after a short pause. “But did you stop to think why?”

  “He killed his brother,” she says.

  He laughs. “Is that what he told you? Barr cared less for his brother than he did for power. Believe me.”

  “And why would I do that?” she asks. “You’ve done just as many terrible things as he ever has.”

  That same sadness fills Frank’s face once again. “You’re right,” he says, voice heavy. “I’ve done many things I wish I could take back—things you’ll be forced to do soon enough. You’ll feel sick about it, you’ll hate yourself for it, but you’ll do it. It’s what Barr does. He takes your loved ones and uses them as leverage—makes you choose between keeping them alive and losing your soul. I made my choice as you all know. But I’m doing everything I can to make amends.”

  “And how do you plan on doing that?” she asks.

  “By saving others from being forced to do those same things,” he says. “Now we don’t have a lot of time, so I’ll be brief. You’re on patrol, so I assume you all have family under guard back at base?” They all confirm as much. “I figured. I won’t say anything that might put you or them in danger. Only this: there’s a war coming. One day soon you’ll have to choose a side in it. When you do, remember everything Barr has done to you and your families. And more importantly, remember tonight—remember that there’s a better way forward.”

  Frank nods, and we sweep past them, heading for the truck. I climb into the back cab with Leon and Felix while Morgan settles into the front seat.

  “You’re really just going to let us go?” one of the men asks.

  Frank turns, his hand on the driver’s side door. “You’re not our enemy,” he says.

  “What are we supposed to tell Barr?” the second man asks.

  A feral looking smile flashes across his face. “Tell him we’re coming for him.”

  We travel slow and cautious, avoiding the areas the Animals are most likely to patrol. I’ve never felt so tense inside a vehicle. Frank knows their routes well, but it doesn’t shake the feeling like we’re one huge moving target. Everything could go to hell in an instant. All it would take is a single patrol to spot us. But it’s too late to back out now. We’re seeing this plan through. Tonight we make a statement.

  For a moment, I imagine everything going right. That our plan works. Then I imagine the look on Barr’s face when it does and I can't help but smile.

  It’s going to work. It has to.

  We reach our destination: an open garage attached to a home we cleared only hours before. Frank parks inside and kills the engine. Morgan wastes no time, pulling the radio from inside his coat and hailing our second team. “Captain to Uncle Dick, do you hear me?”

  Richard’s voice warbles out of the radio. “Loud and clear, Captain,” he says. “What’s your status?”

  “Phase one complete,” Morgan says. “How’s it looking on your end?”

  “All quiet. We’re in position to strike once the duckies make it to the pond.”

  “Good,” Morgan says. “Keep us posted if anything goes amiss.”

  “Will do. Over and out.”

  Morgan returns the radio inside his coat with a loud exhale. “Shouldn’t be too long now,” he says.

  “Depends if they have trouble rousing Marco,” Frank says. “Even then, he might not be moving too fast.”

  Felix grins beside me. “I did hit him pretty good,” he says.

  Leon laughs on my other side. “Understatement, Chavo,” he says. “The headache alone might keep him on the ground for a while. Might feel sorry for him if he wasn’t such a prick.”

  “Believe me, he got better than he deserved,” Frank says. “He’s part of the 20% I warned you about.”

  I pick my brain, trying to recall what Frank said while we plotted strategy. Then it comes:

  “We’re never going to beat them by force alone,” he said. “Our best chance in this fight is to make them fight each other.”

  “Create discord?” Richard asked after a brief pause. Frank nodded. “Interesting...I’m assuming you have a plan?”

  “What you have to understand is that most of the Animals are only there because they’ve been coerced into it. They walk around with their heads down, terrified of making a wrong move, saying the wrong thing. They’ll do whatever they’re ordered because of the things Barr will do to their families if they don’t. Maybe 20% is there by choice. They’re the ones we have to look out for. They love the power they’ve been given, and they’ll fight like hell to keep it.”

  “And how do we sow discord if the other 80% are too terrified to even speak ill of Barr and his regime?” Richard asked.

  “We show them there’s a different path to follow,” Frank said. “And we do it in a way that’s impossible for them to ignore.”

  Which brings us here, tucked away in the shadows, ready to risk our lives yet again for this plan to succeed.

  “Either way, we need to head out,” Morgan says. “This is all for nothing if we don’t get there before they do.”

  With that, we load up and head out. We close the garage behind us, leaving the truck parked inside. From here, stealth is the name of the game. And with any luck, it will be safe here should we need it down the road.

  We move with cautious haste, balancing the need to reach the rendezvous and the risk of running into a patrol. I mentally go over the distance from our attack to the DoubleTree, trying to gauge how much time we have left. As Frank said, it all depends on Marco. I think of the unconscious man, recalling the bitterness in Frank’s voice when they spoke. There’s friction between them that stems further back than the past few weeks. If it weren’t for the plan, I wonder i
f Frank would have been so willing to leave him alive.

  We approach Main Ave, or "downtown" as they call it. I almost laughed my first time hearing the title. Being from Denver, the word downtown evokes a very different image; one of a sprawling cityscape full of tall towers and a menagerie of jaunts and attractions. Here, it’s a seven-block stretch of narrow buildings. Bars and restaurants. Coffee shops and clothing stores. The businesses are as eclectic as the people who lived here. I remember walking these streets in our search for Frank, and imagining the place as it once was. I wish I could have seen it, could have felt the vibe of the close-knit community Morgan so often spoke of. That community may be gone, but that doesn’t mean another one can’t be built.

  That feeling of nervous adrenaline increases as we reach the intersection of Main and College, our rendezvous now within our sight. We pass the intersection, keeping as close to the shadows as possible. Snow-covered train tracks pass below our feet, the train yard to our left full of locomotives and train cars. We veer right into the parking lot of a Wells Fargo. Frank peers around the side of the building and whistles. A return whistle sounds from the far edge of the parking lot. We approach quickly, using the snow and abandoned vehicles as cover till we reach our team.

  “Any trouble?” Richard asks softly. Behind him kneel Vince and Jerry.

  “All good,” Morgan says. “We tucked the truck in for the night. With any luck, it should be safe until we need it.”

  “Good,” Richard says. “I’ll feel a whole lot better knowing we have at least one running vehicle if need be."

  “How have things been here?” I ask

  “Quiet,” Richard says. “Only one patrol has reported back so far. Haven’t seen anyone on foot, either.”

  “Good,” Frank says. “That means we haven’t missed our window.” His back is to us as he faces the outline of the DoubleTree. A gas station and four lanes of highway are all that separate us from the place where the Animals call home. Seeing it, knowing our enemy is so close makes this all feel real in a way that even ambushing their patrol did not. The Animals have hunted us for so long, keeping us on our heels for fear of being caught. It’s liberating to finally take the fight to them. Still, it’s hard to shake that fear completely. I feel it grow the longer we wait, my mind seeing all the flaws in our plan, thinking of the many ways it could all go wrong. It’s a relief when the four Animals finally come into view, running down the highway and veering right into the DoubleTree’s parking lot.