When the call went out inviting the public within the walls of the government compound, the general warned it would cause problems. While it was the easiest way to find a surviving woman, it wasn't the logical way.
We ended up going out to search for her anyhow. Leaving us with hundreds of less than desirable survivors who were angry, bitter, mourning and lacking any true motivation to live a productive life any longer.
They lost everything.
They had nothing more to lose and they lived like it.
The rising smoke told us we had to find an alternate place to land. The airfield was destroyed and smoke was thick everywhere.
I was informed things were semi under control. Division One was secure, but not without loss.
A jeep rendezvoused with us at the alternate landing site and took us to Division One.
Being told we had multiple casualties was an understatement. Everywhere I looked there were burnt buildings, bodies being moved. The damaged hospital was packed with the injured.
I gave the order not to treat any rebels. As inhumane as it sounded, my men came first. Especially with only two doctors and limited medical staff.
Dr. Lewis had been moved to the safe house and unfortunately, Dr. Barry Chatham was killed.
Our geneticist. Our link to ending the path to extinction ... dead.
After a heartbreaking briefing, I made my way to the safe house which was located forty miles northwest. An inconspicuous exit from the highway led to a two lane road then a hidden narrow dirt driveway. After a half mile drive through the trees the driveway ended at a gate.
Just inside that gate was one of my soldiers.
I drove through and parked the jeep, the cool fresh air from the ocean hit me immediately. I saw a soldier walking the beach with another right behind him.
A path led to the house and I paused. The swing set caused an ache in my chest. Standing there for a moment I looked at it. I remembered the day I erected that swing set. It was before we moved into our dream house.
I was a man who feared very little, but at that moment, I feared going into the house. I hadn't returned at all. I was scared it would be difficult and as I stood in the yard of my old house, I wasn't wrong. It was difficult.
While preparing that house as a safe location, I never went alone. I always brought a soldier, he unloaded items, carried them in and I stayed outside.
I had been to the house several times in the previous week, but it was the closest I stepped to that swing set.
As I was gathering the courage to go inside and see Faye, another soldier emerged from the side door.
"Major," he snapped to attention.
"At ease. Where's Faye? Inside?"
He shook his head. "On the beach."
A part of me felt relieved that I didn't have to go inside. Not yet. "Thank you," I said and after glancing back to the swing set, I walked to the beach.
The one soldier walked back and forth to the water's edge. He was carefree, why wasn't he watching Faye. I called to him. "Soldier. Where is Faye?"
Then he turned around.
I was breathless.
It was Faye. She wore a tee shirt tucked into camouflage pants and not only was her long hair gone, it was shaved close to her head in what looked like number two comb buzz cut.
I watched her shoulders drop and she hurried to me across the beach.
I was relieved as well because if I didn't know it was Faye, then neither would the rebels who sought her.
"James." She threw her arms around me.
Instinctively, I returned the embrace. "Are you all right?"
"Yes. No." She answered in a weakened voice. "It was horrible. They were escorting us out. Barry was shot. He was shot right next to me. And Tyler, I don't know where he is. We were looking and they rushed me out." Her head dropped.
"That's what I need to talk to you about."
Faye gasped. She inhaled a backwards scream. "Oh God, he's dead."
"No." I shook my head. "He's not dead. But we have a situation. They got him. They have Tyler."
THIRTY-SEVEN - FAYE
I hated guns.
The hatred went back to my father and his death. I was only nine when he was accidently shot by a friend. Dodge tried to teach me while we were at my home but I didn't even want to touch it. I knew about them, just hated them.
So when we had to make the rush to leave the apartment and Farmer made me shoulder that M-4, not only was I thrown off balance by the weight but emotionally it pulled me down as well.
He expressed that since I was looking the part of a male soldier, I certainly wouldn't be moving about without a weapon.
The vest covered my breasts, the jacket or 'cover' as they called it hung too far down over my hand and the combat helmet was loose.
I felt like a sloppy mess and there was no way anyone would believe I was a man, let alone a soldier. But things moved fast, we ran as partners instead of him escorting me. My confirmation that I looked like a man was when we arrived at the hospital and Dr. Chatham blasted Farmer, asking where I was.
When he stepped closer to me, he could tell.
The intention was to get Tyler, both scientists and another doctor, then flee through the back of the hospital to the hidden jeep.
That was the intention and that was the plan, but when we got to the hospital chaos had already erupted. Getting to Tyler's room was like playing a video game, darting forward, back, staying close to the wall, all to discover Tyler was already gone.
The shrill sound of my voice was a calling card to the rebels and they caught up to us as Farmer dragged me to the back door.
We were there, we were out, Barry on my right. Dr. Lewis on my left. Farmer holding up the rear.
He directed Dr. Lewis to go through first with me between the two men.
Dr. Lewis pushed open the back door and in that brief moment, I guess when Farmer stepped sideways to shoot, Barry was shot in the back of the head. For as important as he was, as much as I liked him, I couldn't even take a moment to acknowledge his death.
I could barely scream when Dr. Lewis then yanked me hard to the waiting jeep that was buried in the brush.
A driver was in the jeep and after zero hesitation we zipped through the night, leaving me in a state of shock over Barry's death and in confusion regarding the fate of Tyler and Farmer.
The first news we received of the events came when James arrived.
Although other soldiers showed up for protection, they knew no more than we did. Farmer arrived with him, he had stayed back to help defend the hospital.
Dr. Lewis was a mess. An emotional mess. His cool exterior crumbled in the wake of the aftermath. I suppose he was better friends with Barry than he wanted to admit. He sat in the house, looking at a photo album. I hadn't been in the house; I stayed on the covered back porch. I found it soothing watching the ocean. Alternating between walking to the water and returning to the porch.
I was seated on the step, facing the beach, when James came from the house and sat next to me. He reached over laying a hand on my wrist.
His hand shook.
I looked at his trembling fingers then to him. "What's wrong?"
He shook his head. "Just dealing." He breathed out. "No word yet. I'm gonna have to go back and find out exactly what they want to do with Tyler. Why they took him."
"Because of me?"
"More than likely."
"We'll get him back, right? We have to."
"We'll get him back," James said with certainty. "But I don't think things will ever be the same again. There's been a lot of damage both to morale and property in Divisions One, Two and Five. Because of that, things will be shaken all over."
"Will they rebuild?"
"Yep. Maybe this time, they'll take more time. I know they were rushing to save people and give them hope, but they didn't think through the reactions of people, they didn't think through the human side. To me that should have been planned out before the lights we
re put back in place. Some things can't be rebuilt. The research wing suffered a lot of damage."
"The cure?" I asked.
"We recovered that. Dr. Lewis will be able to recreate it, we hope, but we have to take him elsewhere to do so. The gender altered embryos are done. The cases were burnt. So even if you had changed your mind, it's too late now."
I glanced to my folded hands and said nothing.
"I have to tell you Faye, this cutting off your hair, taking a male look ... it was a brave thing."
My reaction probably wasn't one he expected. I laughed, tossing my head back. "Brave? I am so far from brave." I shook my head in disgust. "This whole thing made me take a really deep look at myself. I sat right here and did a lot of thinking."
"How can you determine through that thinking that you aren't brave?'
"Because I'm not. I'm afraid; even then, I am weak, living in some stupid fantasy world that all will be ok because I let everyone else handle things for me."
"Faye ..."
"No James, it's true. When I got up from that mound of bodies, physically I was sick, but emotionally I was strong. I was determined to make it home and die. Then I met Dodge and I just handed the responsibility to him. He'd get me home, he'd help find food. I didn't worry about anything too much because Dodge handled everything. And here I sit, waiting on Dodge, waiting on you, so I can feel safe and better. That's not the way it should be. I should be able to do everything within my physical capabilities. Poor Dodge, the responsibility I put on him."
"In your defense..."
I laughed.
"No, listen." He held up a hand. 'You need more protection than you can give yourself. You are a commodity that is sought in this world. And like any commodity, food, water gas, it takes a team to keep it secure until things straighten out, if they ever do. One person cannot protect all the gas supply. You alone cannot constantly protect yourself."
"But I should know how. Dodge tried to teach me." I shrugged. "I blew it off. I figured he can shoot people. Hell, Farmer weaponized me and I balked."
James laughed. "Weaponized you?"
"Yeah, put a rifle here, pistol there, that sort of thing. I couldn't touch them. I felt sloppy and that I would hurt the wrong person."
"Farmer told me about your opposition to guns."
"I have to get over it. I have to at least be able to protect myself if Dodge isn't there."
"I know. I have something for you."
I glanced over at him when he grabbed my hand.
"You cannot effectively protect yourself if you are intimidated by the weapon you hold. Let's face it, an M-4 is heavy and intimidating. A 9mm is too. This should not intimidate you."
James placed what I thought was a toy revolver in my hand. It couldn't have been any more than four inches, with a barrel, tiny trigger and tiny hammer.
"It's loaded, so be careful."
"It's real?"
"Oh, yeah." He grabbed the revolver and handled it gently. "A 22 Magnum, not the smallest made but close. Barrel ejects up for easy load. It's a single action trigger, which means you have to cock it back before you shoot." He cocked back the hammer, aimed and then gently replaced the hammer. "I'm gonna tell you, it's not good at distances. But close up it is and perfect if you get yourself in a tight spot. It's a starter gun, and it shouldn't scare you." He placed it in my hand. "It can save you."
"Like when those guys grabbed me."
"Yep." He set a box of ammunition on the porch. "Take today. Learn how to use it. Be Dirty Harry." He smiled. "It sounds like a firecracker and it's not real loud. Will you practice?"
I looked down at the weapon.
"Please. You say you want to be strong. Protect yourself. You can only do that if you learn. I'll assign a soldier to work with you. Just have it with you and don't let the kids see it because they'll think it's a toy."
My response was a nod as I felt the weapon in my hand. I wasn't intimidated by it. "Are you leaving?"
"I have to head back to base. You're fine here. I'll check back if I can. But more than likely not, I don't want to be followed."
"Thank you for this. What did you do, stop at a gun shop?"
James laughed. "No, that was my wife's. I got it for her because she hated guns and I wanted her to have something she was comfortable with."
It was shocking to hear that because James had spoken about his fear of going back to his house. "You went home?"
"I did." He nodded.
"See. You didn't need me there."
"I wouldn't exactly say that."
I gave him a curious look.
He turned his head, looked at the house and waved out his hand. "Mine."
I gasped. "Oh, James this is your house?"
He nodded. "When I prepared it, I didn't step inside. Going in for this gun was the first time I went in since the virus hit. It was hard. But I had good motivation."
"Your photo albums? Pictures? This was your life?" I reached over and grabbed his arm. "This is wonderful. I love it here. I don't even want to leave. Ever."
"Unfortunately, staying isn't an option. Not yet. Maybe one day you can come back here. But until we deal with the problems. Until we can make life normal and safe for you and any other female, remote is best."
"Baby steps to normality?"
"Baby steps to normality," he said. "First one being, we get Tyler back."
Listening to James didn't give me the feeling that I would be hiding forever. Just as I would take the steps to keep myself safe, so was he. I loved the beach house, and I wanted to make it my goal to return there again.
Something inside told me James was going to make that a goal as well. His job before the virus was to fight to make the world a better and safer place, no doubt he was still doing his job.
THIRTY-EIGHT - DODGE
September 11
A sickening feeling hit my gut when I saw the smoke rising up in the distance. Though I wasn't certain it was from the government camp, my instincts said it was.
We were still twenty miles north of the place and I stopped.
Thank God, no pun intended, Deacon Jeremiah made the trip. Since we left the RV with intentions to return right away, he traveled with us 'just in case'.
It was one of those 'Just in case' moments.
"You got twenty miles." Jeremiah asked. "That should not take you long to get there, find out what happened, if anything and return for us. I think it's safer for me and the boys to hang back in case there is trouble."
Hating to do so, I agreed.
"No," George argued. "We need to see Faye and Tyler."
"You will. Let me make sure everything is good."
Jeremiah asked, "What do you think happened?"
"Could be something as simple as a house fire, or something like a raid by survivors."
Jeremiah looked around. "See that speed limit sign?" He pointed back. "We'll be in the wooded area. If need be we can retreat and run to the house not far down the road. But we haven't seen anyone, so I feel safe."
"Don't take this the wrong way but are you able to handle trouble?"
Jeremiah smiled. He wasn't old at all. Younger than me. "I'm protected. I have God in my heart ... and a 38 in my jacket."
"You're carrying?"
"Brother Daniel said God leads but man has free will, and in circumstances such as this, you can't trust what that free will is going to do."
My eyes shifted to the smoke.
How right he was.
After making sure they were hidden back and safe, I got in the car and drove. I hadn't made it ten miles before two big military trucks blocked the road.
Fifteen feet from the trucks, I was ordered to stop.
As if I wasn't going to do that.
One armed soldier approached the car and I was so grateful the boys weren't with me. I lifted my hands in the air.
"Step out of the vehicle slowly," I was instructed.
After opening the door, hands lifted again, I stepped out
. 'Look, I'm just heading to the camp. My family is there. If you don't mind this cast is heavy and I'd rather not hold my arms up too long."
He nodded. "Your family is in which camp?"
"There's more than one?" I asked shocked. "I don't know. I have two little boys waiting about ten miles back with a friend. I am here to find my son and ..."
I stopped.
"And?"
"And you're probably not going to believe this. But .... The woman, Faye."
The soldier stepped back. "Major." He called out to the side. "Major can you come here please, sir."
Out from the front of the truck, a man of average height and build walked my way. At first he walked normally, then he slowed down, tilted his head and picked up the pace.
"Major, this man says ..."
"Are you Dodge?" he asked.
Hearing him say that surprised me. "Yes, I am."
"Wow, last I saw you, you were down and out on the ground."
"Thank you for that."
"James." He held out his hands. "James Reynolds."
The soldier then said. "Is this the guy you were talking about?"
"Yes." James nodded. "Where are the boys? Is everything all right."
"I left them back with my friend. I saw the smoke," I replied, then noticed another man approach.
"Hey!" The upbeat second soldier pointed. "Dodge. You are doing great. You were really messed up when I worked on you."
"Thank you both for reminding me how bad I got my ass kicked," I told him. "And thank you on a serious note for helping us. Now ... where's Faye and Tyler?"
They all looked at each other, then faced me.
By the look on their faces the news wasn't going to be good.
<><><><>
James, the major and a man who went by the name Farmer drove me back to the road to get Jeremiah and the boys. We didn't say anything to the boys, just that Faye was moved to a really cool spot.
However on the way to get them, James informed me of the situation. One of the camps had an uprising. They were claiming they wanted what everyone else had. They also wanted Faye.
The rebels claimed it wasn't to hurt her but to have her so they had bargaining power. They knew what the main camp wanted with her.
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