by S A Ison
Lydia closed the door and locked it. She looked out the window, in the living room and saw Jael trot down her driveway and then disappear out of sight. She turned, looking down at her bloody hands and grimaced. She went to the kitchen and stuck her hands in a pan of water, sitting in the sink. She then grabbed a bar of soap from the back of the sink, that sat in a china dish, with small pink rosebuds. Looking over her shoulder, she noted that Yuma was glassy eyed. She smiled tenderly at him. The poor man had gone through so much hell, only to get shot in the hand of the injured arm.
There was an old fashion pitcher pump that was at the side of the sink. She wasn’t sure if it worked or was just for decoration, since there was the regular faucet. She pumped the armature a couple times and was splashed with cold water. She stopped pumping and rinsed her hands beneath the flowing water. It trickled to a stop.
Drying her hands, she turned the stove on. A tea kettle was sitting on the burner and she shook it. She heard water within and set the kettle on the flame. She mentally shrugged and walked into the pantry. There was some light coming from over her shoulder, it was a big pantry and she scanned the shelves. She found what she was looking for, tea. It wasn’t green tea or any such, but it was a nice peppermint tea. She grabbed two cups and set them on the table.
“How are you doing, Yuma?”
“I do not know. My head feels so numb but my hand hurts.” His hand was elevated, but the gauze was bloody. There was blood coming down his arm, but the bleeding had slowed. She pushed the peppermint tea to him in cup.
“This is pretty good tea. When the water is hot, I’ll pour it and you can drink. Hopefully, Jael will be back with the doctor soon.” He didn’t look good, there was a fine sheen of sweat that coated his face. She knew he was in a lot of pain, it etched itself into every line on his face. She felt helpless.
“Why did you jump that man?”
“I think he going to shoot you or Jael. I could not let that happen. I think he was crazy man.”
“I think you’re right, Yuma.”
“I think plane crash was bad. Today, was very bad. So many people shooting. Is this always America?” Yuma’s face was carved with sadness. Lydia took the kettle off the flame as it began to shrill. She poured hot water into Yuma’s cup and she could smell the peppermint float up to meet her face with warm steam.
“No, this is some crazy stuff. God love your little heart. I’m so sorry, and thank you for saving us. That was very brave of you. You’re so right, this has been a very bad day. It’s scary to think what our lives are going to be like. Now that things have changed. I don’t know what our future holds, Yuma. But know that you are surrounded by people who care very much about you.” Lydia said and placed her hand over Yuma’s good hand and squeezed gently. She didn’t know what was coming or how things would play out. But she did know that they needed each other to survive.
She smiled when Thor came to lay by Yuma’s feet, his liquid brown eyes looking up at the injured man.
“Thank you, Thor. You saved my life.” Yuma said softly, reaching down and gently patting the dog’s head. His mind was nearly fractured, and he couldn’t think straight. The pain was worse than the pain in his arm. The tea’s steam drifted up to his face and Yuma inhaled it. He closed his eyes, wishing for the millionth time, that he and Chizu were back in Osaka. He had survived so much, and today… He stopped the thought and shuddered. He couldn’t think any more.
NINE
Calkins, MT
Jael ran as fast as she could and still breathe. She was panting heavily; her mouth was dry with fear. Attacked twice in a span of hours. Yuma had saved her and Lydia, the intruder was either crazy or high as a kite. She wanted to cry, but her brain felt as though it were cocooned in wool. She would need to bring Rich’s guns up from the gun safe in the basement and make sure they were all armed. She was shaken to her core, she’d never been assaulted, never had anyone raise a voice to her. Yet today, she was nearly killed twice. Someone had meant her harm.
The heavy weight of her Glock G26 felt reassuring. She hadn’t thought of wearing it around the house once the power had gone out. How could she know? It was only because the shotgun had been by the front door, that she wasn’t killed. She had never hurt anyone, but today, she had killed a man. She oddly felt no remorse, perhaps that would come later, when she caught her breath. He tried to hurt me, he would have killed me, don’t feel bad at all, a voice whispered. She snorted and shrugged off the thought.
She had run little over a mile when she saw Bob’s tall figure ahead, running toward her. He had a large backpack on his back and she slowed down, waving her arms. She bent at the waist, her palms on her knees. At least it wasn’t freezing outside. She put the temperature just above forty. The day was waning and the temperature would begin to drop. Her heart was thrumming in her ears and she stood upright. Bob’s long legs closed the distance quickly.
“Bob, I was coming to get you. A guest of mine was shot. Some bastard broke into the house and shot him in the hand.” She panted.
“I thought something like that might happen. It might be the guy I shot. Someone broke into the house; he was attacking Marian when I came in from the barn. I shot the son-of-a-bitch, winged him. I was afraid he might head to your place. I grabbed my medical pack and came as soon as I could. The kids are in the back pasture with the all of the horses, so Marian won’t be alone for long. I’m sure they heard the shot. Are you okay, Jael?”
“I’m fine, just had ten years scared off me. Is Marian all right?” At Bob’s nod, Jael continued, “There had been two others, I think one had been your man’s brother. He busted into my home, screaming about his brother. I’d shot one man and my friend; Miles, killed the other. Thank God Miles came when he did, I’m not sure how this would have ended.” Her voice seemed to have lost its strong resolve, it shook and her mouth wobbled and her eyes began to fill with tears. At Bob’s worried look, she shook her head and lifted a hand.
“I’m fine, just shaken up a bit. This has really been a crappy day.” She said, clearing her throat. They were walking at a brisk pace and she was glad to see her home coming into view.
“My friend was shot in his hand. I think his pinky is gone and the tip of the ring finger. I tried to clean it with hydrogen peroxide and I wrapped it lightly in gauze. He’s keeping it elevated.”
“All right, that’s good. I’ll see if we can get him fixed up.” Bob smiled reassuringly.
When they came to the house, Lydia opened the door. The fear cleared from her face and she stepped back. Jael grimaced at the sight of the dead man at the foot of the steps. She shrugged apologetically to Bob.
“When the men get back, they’ll dispose of him. The dog, Thor, crushed his windpipe.”
Thor and Albert came to sniff the new person, their tails wagging. Bob held out a knuckle to each dog and let them sniff him. He grinned when they backed up and he laughed.
“I smell like a veterinarian, I think Albert remembers me, just hope he doesn’t bite me because he holds a grudge.”
“Bob, this is Lydia, Lydia, this is Bob. Yuma is in the kitchen.” All turned when the sound of vehicles approached the house. Both Jael and Lydia smiled to see Miles pulling into the dooryard. Phoenix behind, in Jael’s old Ford. Jael led Bob into the kitchen. Yuma was pale and sweating. The bandage she’d put on him was bloody. She stepped back as Bob placed his pack on the table and unzipped and pulled out the tools of his trade.
Ω
Phoenix saw Jael and Lydia in the door with a tall man. He wondered at it and got out. Then he saw the body, laying at the foot of the steps to the porch. Lydia went to Miles and said something and then Miles went to the body and then into the house.
“What is going on?” Julian asked, his eyes wide. Thor came over and sniffed at him and Julian absently petted the dog’s head. Phoenix looked at the downed man and then at Lydia.
“That man broke into the house. Yuma tried to stop him and the guy shot Yuma. Yuma is oaky, but
he was shot in the hand. Poor man. He saved me and Jael though. That man was either crazy, high or drunk. Thor killed him. Thor saved us.” Lydia said, her mouth trembling and her dark brown eyes filled with tears. Phoenix drew her in for a hug and he shook his head in amazement. Julian was shaking his head as well.
“Jesus. The world has just gone crazy as hell.” Julian breathed, his hands were laced in his long blond hair and he pulled.
“It’s okay Lydia, we’re here and we should be safe, at least for a while. Miles has a lot of weapons and he’s going to teach us how to use them.” Phoenix said, patting Lydia’s back. He felt helpless and useless. Their very lives were in danger and all he could do at this moment, was throw a rock. Or talk them to death. He had no real ability to fight someone with a gun. Hell, he’d never been in a fist fight. He would make sure he remedied that situation. They all turned when they heard a scream and they all headed into the house, avoiding the body.
The tall man was with Yuma and Miles’ hands were on Yuma’s shoulders, Jael holding Yuma’s uninjured hand. Phoenix saw that the doctor was sewing up the ugly wound on Yuma’s hand. The pinky was laying on the table. It was a grizzly scene. The doctor’s hands moved quickly, and Lydia got a pot from a cupboard and held it in front of Yuma, who promptly vomited. She reached for a cloth and wiped his face for him.
“While they take care of him, let’s get rid of the body.” Phoenix said to Julian, who looked a little green around the gills. He turned and left the doctor to his work, and both he and Julian left the house. Both dogs were sniffing at the dead man.
“Let me pull the truck closer, so we don’t have to carry him far.” Phoenix suggested and Julian nodded absently, closing the door to the house and the screams that bounced off the door like rocks. He shivered and grinned sheepishly.
“That stuff gives me the willies. Sorry. I’m a wuss, I admit it.”
“You and me too. Jesus. I think Yuma has taken the worst of it all. First his wife, then his arm and now his hand.” Phoenix breathed. He got in the truck and turned it around, then backed it closer to the house. Jumping out, he let down the tailgate. They quickly unloaded some of the supplies and bags and boxes Miles had shoved into the truck bed. They made room for the body. Then Phoenix and Julian hoisted the dead man’s body into the truck bed. Phoenix gritted his teeth, touching the bloody hand. He hoped the bastard didn’t have hepatitis or anything.
He drove the truck to where he and Miles had dumped the first two bodies. Come spring, this place was going to stink badly and reveal a gruesome monstrosity. When the body was dumped and covered, Phoenix filled his hands with clean white snow and began to wash the blood from them.
“If I never touch a dead body, it will be too soon. Christ. This has been one hell of a day. I sure as hope tomorrow is a hell of a lot better.” He grouched and Julian snorted, shaking his head.
“I think we’ve fallen into a freaking alternate universe. Or at least I wish we had, then there would be a chance we would get back to our own. Apocalyptic life sucks big ones.”
“Let’s get back and see how Yuma is. Man, I feel for that poor guy. I hope the doc can give him some good pain meds.” Phoenix grunted, getting back into the truck.
“I just hope his hand doesn’t get infected.”
Ten minutes later, they were back at the house and Phoenix felt the drop in temperature. The man was coming out of the house with Jael.
“Bob, this is Phoenix and that is Julian. Guys, this is Bob, my neighbor and veterinarian extraordinaire.” Phoenix took Bob’s hand and shook it.
“How is our friend, Yuma?” Phoenix asked.
“He’ll live. He’s going to be sore for a while, but I did give him some pain meds and also some antibiotics. They’re for animals, but he should be fine with them. I worry more about infection. Keep him quiet for the next day or two, I’ll be by in a couple days to check him. Let me know if you need me any sooner.”
“I’ll drive you home Doc.” Julian offered and Phoenix handed over the truck keys.
“Thanks Julian.” Jael smiled and hugged Bob.
“Thank you so much Bob, I mean that. Tell Marian I’ll be by later this week.” Jael said.
“No problem. I’ll be riding one of the horses from now on. By now the kids will have gotten back to the house, they went to move the cattle and a couple of horses to the front pasture. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden.” Bob snorted, shaking his head, and they watched as he got into the truck. He waved once more and Jael returned the wave, then she and Phoenix went back into the house.
“I’ve put you and Yuma in the same room. It has twin beds, they are the extra-long twin beds, so you’ll fit. There’s plenty of room in there as well.” Jael said.
“Thank you again, Jael.” Phoenix said, following her into the kitchen. The house was getting darker now, the light coming into the kitchen windows was beginning to fade. Miles pulled a small green lantern off his backpack and opened it. In the bright light, Yuma looked bad. His face a rictus of pain.
“How about we put you to bed, Yuma?” Phoenix suggested. Yuma said nothing, but nodded, dark circles under his eyes. There were slight tremors that ran through the injured man’s body.
“When Julian gets back, we can unload the rest of the truck and my jeep.” Miles said, helping Yuma stand. Gentle and helping hands guided Yuma up the stairs, to the second floor. Jael was in the lead, and opened a door. Phoenix and Miles led Yuma in and pulled the covers down from the bed. Yuma sat on the edge of the bed and Phoenix took off his boots. They helped Yuma get settled and covered him up.
“Thank you.” Yuma said softly, dried tears staining his tired face. His hand was bandaged up and he laid that on his chest.
“Try to get some rest, if you need any of us, just give a shout.” Phoenix said and patted the man on his shoulder. Yuma’s eyes closed and the group left the room quietly. Miles headed outside and Phoenix followed. Lydia and Jael trailed behind.
“Don’t worry, ladies. Me and Phoenix got this.” Miles assured them.
“Alright, me and Lydia will go start dinner. Can you bring in an armload of wood as well? It’s in the back of the house, stacked on the back porch. You can bring it in through the kitchen, when you get a chance.” Jael smiled.
“She’s a bossy wench.” Miles grinned and winked at Phoenix, causing Phoenix to snort with laughter. It felt good. It had been a horrible day, Yuma paying the highest price. He saw the truck coming back. It would be faster unloading than loading, he was sure.
“Let’s just stack everything in the living room. That way, Jael can tell us where she wants it.” Miles suggested.
“Sounds good to me. It’s been one hell of a day Miles, that’s for sure.”
“It has son, it really has. We’re all alive though, roughed up a bit, but alive.”
Yuma lay on his side; his hand was throbbing and he could hear that throbbing in his head. He could feel Pip and Pop at his back, their soft purring rumbled through his body, a solace to his beaten soul. Hot tears slid down his face. He thought he had been a dead man when that maniac came into the house. His world was a violent world now, today had brought that fact horribly clear. His mind was numb, yet so clear. His world had now narrowed to this house and these people. Were his parents safe? Was Osaka in the same state of violence? At least there, there weren’t many guns. But still, people can kill with anything. If someone wants to kill you, they will. Was the whole world in chaos?
The information vacuum they lived in was a double edge sword. Not knowing meant hope. If he didn’t know how it was in Japan, in Osaka, then he could cope. He could hope and know that his family lived on, without him. His Chizu was gone and a small part of him was glad that she was. She would not have to suffer the violence of this new world. He would not have wanted to see the fear in her eyes, like he saw in Lydia and Jael. Miles said he would teach them to use guns, and Yuma knew he would learn. He would not be a defenseless man.
These strange people had become h
is friends, and they cared about him. He would help care for them. He would help protect them. Shifting his body, Yuma groaned in pain. The pain was better than it had been earlier. Lydia had come in some time earlier with a pill and some water. He wished he had the whisky, but the pill was doing its job. He could hear the voices below, talking. He wanted to be down there with them, but his head felt too heavy and his body hurt too much. Tomorrow was soon enough. Tomorrow, he would learn about weapons. Tomorrow, he would learn how to defend himself and his friends.
Ω
Lydia was mixing up batter for biscuits, there was venison stew simmering on the stove. She was looking out the kitchen window, grinning. Julian was outside with Bob’s daughter, Jennifer. She’d been home from the University of Montana when the power had gone out. Her brother, Nick wasn’t so lucky. He had been out delivering mail and had to walk twelve hours to get home. Though Nick had the running of the farm, he was also a part time mailman.
Julian had been smitten with Jennifer from the moment he laid eyes on her. She was tall like her father, whom she had accompanied the previous week, to check on Yuma. They had come by horse, and Julian had tried to pet Jennifer’s horse when the horse tried to bite him. Julian had fallen back and onto the ground. Lydia snorted and bit back a giggle. It hadn’t been pretty. She watched the interlocutors, and from their body language, she thought there was romance budding there.
“What on earth are you laughing at?” Phoenix grinned, walking up behind her. He looked over her shoulder and laughed.
“That boy has got it bad. Did her horse try to bite him again?”
