by Kip Nelson
“Let's go,” Tillman said gruffly.
“We can't just leave him there,” Anthony said.
Jessica stood with him in agreement. Tillman was on edge and couldn't take this second guessing. His body was aching from having walked so much, and his emotions were frayed from everything he had been through. He could feel himself reaching his breaking point, and there was only so much he could take before he snapped. Tillman tried ignoring them at first and walking out of the store, but then Jessica pulled him back.
“We can't just leave him,” she said. Tillman turned, eyes flaring with anger.
“What do you suggest we do? Do you want to carry him to the cemetery and give him a burial? Do you want to set up a pyre and burn him? Do you want to do that to all the other people who have died throughout the night, and all the ones who just are waiting to die? How long do you want to spend caring for the dead when we need to get back to the ranch?” he said, spittle flying from his mouth.
“I don't know,” Jessica said, unnerved by the venom in Tillman’s voice, but she still had enough presence of mind about her to reply to him. She wasn't like her mother, who would wilt at any sign of confrontation. “It just feels wrong.”
“I'll tell you what feels wrong, watching planes fall from the sky while you're standing there helpless, seeing a child cling to her dead mother, seeing a man set himself on fire because he doesn't think he can go on. I've seen the face of hell and it is not a pretty sight. It's waiting for all of us if we don't wise up and adapt. We can't cling to the way things used to be, to what we think is right and proper. We have to be more callous. George is dead, and I hate that, I really do, but taking care of him only is going to cost us time and resources that we don't have. We've already spent too long in this town, and if the people who killed him still are hanging around, then we have to get out of here before we're their next victims,” Tillman shouted. This time it was his turn to march away, just as Jessica had done when she had left the arcade.
“Five of them,” Anthony said, mouthing the words to himself, “there were five of them who chased us,” he said. This made Tillman pause. Jessica gasped.
“Then it's like I said, we have to get back to the ranch ASAP.”
His face was grim. Part of him wanted to go warn Jerry and the others in the movie theater, but he knew he didn't have time. They each had their own war to fight, and it wasn't viable to help everyone. He wondered if Jessica had realized yet that Tanya's father likely wasn't going to return to her. Tanya was living with false hope. She should have come with them, but again, it was her mistake to make. Tillman couldn't save everyone, he only could do his best to save those within his purview and keep them all alive for as long as possible.
They walked with purpose. Anthony still was lagging behind, with Jessica supporting him, but with the news that there was a dangerous group around town, Tillman didn't want to stop. He clutched Major's leash tightly and tried to keep up a good pace.
“We can have a good rest when we're back at the ranch,” he said, trying to give Anthony the drive to make it back.
They rounded another corner onto the main street out of town and that's when Tillman stopped dead in his tracks. Major growled. There were five men blocking the town’s exit. The man standing in the middle must have been Khan. He was a towering man, with a bald head that reflected the sun.
“Stay behind me,” Tillman said. He wasn't in any condition to fight, but these men had to pay for the crimes they had committed.
Chapter Eleven
Tillman held out his hands, indicating for Jess and Anthony to stay behind him. Major was at his feet, growling. Tillman looked at the five men standing in his way. This was the only way out of town, and Tillman knew there was no backing away from these men. They were bullies, plain and simple, and if he didn't do anything about them now, they only would terrorize the rest of the town. More people would die, and eventually they'd make their way to his ranch. They'd already killed George, killed Major's owner, and threatened his niece. The crimes they had committed could not go unpunished and, once again, Tillman found himself being the arbiter of justice.
His throat was dry, his muscles ached. Pain throbbed all over his body. All he wanted was to rest, yet there was more sorrow that he had to endure. The odds were against him. Anthony wasn't yet recovered from his leg wound. Jess was young, and Tillman himself wasn't at full capacity. The odds wouldn't have been good, even if Tillman was at full strength.
These were the type of men who were hard and cruel. Tillman could tell that by just one look. The end of the world was a blessing for them. They weren't suited to live in the other world. They weren't civilized or interested in unity. All they wanted was murder and death, giving into their savage urges rather than trying to better themselves. It was a grim situation, but Tillman knew the only way out was to try fighting.
“Are you the one they call Khan?” Tillman asked.
“I am,” Khan said. The man was huge.
His bald dome gleamed under the glare of the sun. He had a fearsome appearance, with a huge, bulking frame and a thick beard. Two pink lips protruded from the dark brown thatch, and Tillman noticed that his mouth was filled with baby teeth. It was an unnerving appearance, and Tillman wasn't quite sure how to cope with the sight of him. The other five men were a surly lot as well. Tillman wondered how much of that anger was due to them being cast away in the previous world, told that it wasn't made for them.
The world was being remade in their image.
“And you,” Khan said, his voice deep and harsh, like marbles scraping together, “I know you, you naughty little girl. You've picked up another man, I see. Doing quite well for yourself, aren't you?” he said with a lascivious grin. Tillman shuddered at the way he was drooling over Jess.
“Let us pass. She's my niece. She's only sixteen,” Tillman said.
“All the sweeter,” Khan said. The men around him all cackled with laughter. Tillman was disgusted.
“You're a monster, a predator,” he said.
“No, I'm a king. Look around you. The world has changed. Democracy has failed. It's time for the mighty to rise and take what is theirs by right,” Khan closed his fist as he spoke.
“I am the first of a new breed of kings. You either can bow or die.” He glared at Tillman. Then, he turned his gaze to Jessica and smiled at her, his small teeth looking like little bits of snow in his large mouth. “You, girl, I'm keeping you. Every king needs a queen.”
“I can't let you do that,” Tillman said.
His eyes darted around the surrounding area, trying to find anything that would give him an advantage. The road was wide, and the stores had given way to two small slopes. There didn't seem to be anything that would help. He was sure that Anthony would fight valiantly, and Jessica would do her best, but it was unlikely they would emerge victorious, especially not against five cruel men.
The gun that had proven itself so useful rested against the small of his back, but how many bullets did he have left? He hated the thought of using it again, not wanting to be a murderer. But when it came to a situation like this, there was no choice, and he would have to deal with the moral quandary later.
“Stay back,” he whispered, without turning around. Tillman stared along the road at the five men, feeling as though he was in a Western, ready for a duel with a gunslinger. He wanted to try giving peace a chance, to try getting through to this man.
“You don't have to do this, Khan. You don't have to live like this. The town is big enough that you can do what you want without hurting people.”
“And what if I want to hurt people?” Khan replied.
He threw his head back and laughed. It was a terrifying sight. The men around him laughed too. They were like a pack of hyenas, bloodthirsty predators. Their laughs were devoid of humor and only offered a grim sense of inexorable doom.
“Then I can't let you go any farther.”
“You think you can stop us? You think you can stop me?”
the brute thundered.
Despite Khan's size he wasn't the biggest of the group. That fell to the man standing to his right, who was built like a sumo wrestler. The other men all were of average size, although the smallest must have been about five foot three, and he had a rather bitter look on his face. They were bound together by the sheer force of Khan's personality. Tillman had to show him that might didn't make right, and that he couldn't just declare himself a king.
He reached behind him quickly and brought out the gun, pointing it straight at Khan's face. The man who would be king was undeterred. In fact, he stepped forward.
“Do you really think that's going to stop me?” he said.
With that, all four of his companions brought out guns of their own. Tillman's heart sank. His one trump card, the one thing he thought wouldn't fail to defend him, had been neutralized. Given his skill with guns he knew he could take out the majority of them, if he was fortunate and the bullets flew by him, but in a gunfight he wouldn't be able to protect Jessica or Anthony. His grip tightened on the gun. His finger hovered near the trigger.
“It's your choice,” Khan said.
“You can shoot if you like. Maybe you'll get me, maybe you won't, but you can damn sure guarantee one of my men will get you. All of you. You surely didn't think you would be able to get the drop on me like that? Lone wolves don't live for very long. You see, I could just kill you right now, but I'm not going to do that. I don't want to conquer this world with guns. That's a weak man's war, a lazy way to overpower stronger foes. I want to earn my victory. I want to make everyone bow down to me and recognize me as the superior man, just like kings of old. I am on my own personal crusade, and I will not rest until I see a sea of people cowering before me. So, choose your fate. You can die like a coward, or you can fight and try leaving this world with some semblance of honor.”
Tillman noticed that both choices resulted in his death. He'd never liked the no-win scenario and wasn't about to start believing in it now. Being outnumbered by so many guns did decrease their odds of survival. Maybe Jessica could leap to find cover, but it was more likely she would try helping Anthony, and his lack of mobility made him an easy target.
Just as he did when he was faced with any dangerous situation Tillman visualized the various outcomes. He knew that, with his training, he could get off the first shot, and Khan would fall. But, at the same time, a flurry of bullets would be returned to him and his companions. It all would happen so fast that none of them would have time to react. Tillman, being at the front, would get the majority of the fire. Once he was down there would be nothing blocking the path of the bullets from finding the two teenagers. Jessica would try pushing Anthony down, but bullets would catch their flesh. Maybe they wouldn't be fatal wounds, but he doubted these men would show mercy. The two bleed out, gasping for help. Perhaps the only one who would escape with his life would be Major, but Tillman didn't think the men were humane enough to even show an animal mercy.
No matter how many times he turned it over and over in his mind he couldn't see a way out that left them alive. Not with guns. They would become useful later, but this fight wasn't the place for them. In a way, he had to thank Khan for giving him the opportunity to fight hand to hand, as it gave him slightly better odds of success.
He glanced at each of them. One of his strengths in video games was seeing the outcomes of various possibilities, turning over many of them in the blink of an eye. His mind always worked quickly, and this situation was no exception. He imagined the five of them would rush forward and seek to end the fight quickly. There would be no quarter given and no mercy shown. It was likely he would bear the brunt of the attacks, given he was the biggest threat, and he would have to try protecting the others as best he could.
Khan already had made his intentions clear with Jessica. Tillman would die before he let that fate find her. Anthony was struggling. It was going to be a short fight unless Tillman found a way to end it quickly, but even he didn't know how much strength he had left.
All the training he'd been through had been helpful up to a point, but it wasn't as though it was going to be easy as having a willing partner on the mat. Fighting was a chaotic, terrible mess, and although his skill would come in handy, it did not guarantee him victory.
But, neither did Khan's greater numbers. Anything could happen in a fight, and the chances were that they would underestimate him because he looked tired and worn down. But Tillman would muster every ounce of strength he had within his body and let it explode from him like a supernova. He'd give everything, and if Khan could take it, then maybe he would deserve to win.
He glanced back at Jessica and Anthony as he placed his gun back against the small of his back.
“Don't be afraid. Stay calm. Do what you have to. If you get a chance, run and hide. There are people in the movie theater who might help. If not, get to the chapel at the top of the hill. Try making it back to the ranch if you can. Tell your mom that I'm sorry,” he said. Jessica's eyes glistened with tears. She was a hardy child, but even she wasn't capable of dealing with this.
Tillman turned back to Khan.
“How about we settle this like gentlemen? Just me and you, Khan. Let's leave the others out of this. I beat you, your men go away. You win, you can have this town,” Tillman suggested. Khan laughed again.
“What's your name?” he asked.
“Tillman.”
“I like you, Tillman. You're not like the other weak people I've encountered so far. I've had people beg me for their lives, beg for mercy. All they do is beg. They look around and see nothing but fear. They do not see the opportunity that this world offers. None of them are worthy of living, but you, yes, I can see in your eyes you know what it takes to survive. But I am no fool, Tillman. You shall not outwit me. You won't play on a false sense of pride or goad me into a trap. I have the numbers, and I would be stupid not to use them. I plan to end every threat. Of course, there is an alternative, a choice that I reserve for those who impress me,” Khan said. His deep voice resonated among them.
“What choice?” Tillman asked.
Khan stepped forward with his hands held out.
“You can join my army. We are small at the moment, but powerful. As I move through the world I shall have to increase my forces. I shall have to trust more, and use those who have skills that are appropriate to this world. I'll need capable people around me, people who see the world for what it is and do not bend to fear. Too many have lost their heads. It is the responsibility of those who remain sane to drag the world back onto its feet by the sheer force of our will. I will spare the life of your wounded friend if you join me, and if she becomes my queen.”
He lifted his hand and pointed a thick finger at Jessica.
“No,” Jessica choked.
Tillman only briefly considered the option, knowing in his heart that it was wrong. The only opportunity it afforded him would be to get close to Khan with the eventual aim of killing him when he least expected it, away from the arena of combat. But, to do so, Tillman likely would have to earn Khan's trust by doing unconscionable things. As well as this, it would mean Jessica would be given to this man, and he was not prepared to make that choice for her.
It was too high a price to pay.
“You know I can't do that,” Tillman said.
“Then we must fight,” Khan said, a vile grin coming upon his face, as though he was glad that Tillman had refused his offer. As soon as Khan said this, one of the men by his side stepped forward.
Tillman glanced at each of the men he faced in turn. He blocked out the dry air, Major’s barking, and the gasps of Jessica behind him. He knew that if he was to win, he would have to prevail not only on the physical battlefield, but the mental one as well. These men professed to stand up to their fear. He'd have to give them something to be scared of.
He looked at the man built like a sumo wrestler who was lumbering forward. The ground almost trembled with the brute’s every heavy footstep. He had a
bald head but, unlike Khan, the man had no facial hair. He walked like a golem, his fists were like hammers. Tillman knew he would have to take down this unstoppable foe if he was to strike fear into the hearts of Khan and the others.
Chapter Twelve
Khan hadn't told Tillman much, but Tillman had gleaned some information from their brief conversation. These men were proud of themselves for not giving into their fear. As they saw it, it set them apart from the rest of the lowly people who were panicked and fearful. That's where they derived their strength. Tillman had to shatter their aura of invulnerability and prove to them he wasn't to be messed with. The way to do that was by taking down the first man—hard, without mercy or remorse--and showing them they had made a mistake by confronting him.
Tillman wished he could say more to Anthony and Jessica. He handed her Major's leash. The last thing he wanted was the dog joining him in battle, for he was afraid he would be kicked and thrown around. Jessica at least had her mace. Anthony looked as though he was one body shot away from another asthma attack. He held his inhaler in one hand, struggling to support his weight, given his wounded leg.
They were so close to the city. Tillman cursed himself for letting Jessica make them take the detour to Tanya's house. If they hadn't, they might have been able to get back to the ranch without encountering these villains. Then again, Tillman thought, it wouldn't make much difference. There always would be men like these in the world, and it was important to stand up to them, to make them realize they couldn't just walk through the world as if they owned it. Khan seemed sure his might would prove right, but it wasn't a foregone conclusion. Tillman would stand up to him, and perhaps make him waver in his conviction by defeating all of Khan’s men if it was necessary, beginning with this one. But no matter how much the fight took out of him, he would save something special for Khan
Tillman quickly glanced around at the houses and buildings around him, wondering if there was anyone left in them or if they all had retreated to places such as the movie theater and the church. Were there any people watching, unwilling to help? Too scared? Tillman almost wanted to shout a rallying cry to the people of the town, telling them they must come to his aid if humanity ever had a hope of emerging from this apocalypse with pride and dignity. The weaker would have to stand together and protect each other, for that was the only way they were going to defeat people such as Khan.
