After the Day- Red Tide

by Matthew Gilman

  Chung flew his MiG over New York City trying to get a clear view of the battle being waged in the harbor. He had already used his flares to take a missile off his heat signature and destroyed one tank that he could see. Flying back over the harbor he went in for a second look, hoping to see the enemy that fired on the Chinese ships attempting to dock. All he could see were Chinese tanks on the shore, the force that was supposed to meet them and secure the dock. In a split second he decided that the tanks must have been captured and were now being used against their own forces. He readied the missiles on his jet and tried to lock in. The buzzer went off again in the cockpit. Another missile launched at him. He banked to the left and watched as his wingman took a direct hit. The remains of the jet flew straight into a skyscraper. The explosion blew through the back of the building.

  Over the radio Chung heard the aircraft carrier was under attack. He turned around to see if he could help. There were no boats attacking the ship, or aircrafts for that matter. If there was a submarine in the water Chung had no way of attacking it. He flew over and watched as torpedoes rocked the side of the massive carrier and then he realized his ride home was going to be at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

  The second MiG in the air called him over the radio.

  “Looks like we have to come up with a plan B,” the other pilot said.

  Chung recognized the voice as Qi one of the more experienced pilots.

  “What’s plan B?” Chung asked.

  “Find a new runway to land.” Qi replied.

  For them the battle was over. They could try to attack the shore again but after that they were still left without a place to land.

  Chung looked for the nearest target to lose his payload. He aimed at the Statue of Liberty and fired his rockets. Both of them hit their target ripping through the copper structure blowing a large portion into the water. The statue stood torso and arm gone. Smoke rose from the remains as Chung and Qi flew off over the state of New York in hopes of finding a safe place to land and then escape and evade until their forces reached them when they finally worked their way in from the shore.

  Both jets had full fuel tanks and they were in no hurry to find a place to land. They spotted several long strips of highway that were clear for a safe landing. In their briefing of the invasion they were told how Eisenhower sold the project of the U.S. highway system as a military benefit, including doubling as a runway. Now that worked to their advantage. The jets flew over the Smoky Mountains and then they found open fields and long flat highways. Both men were from the fields of China and knew this kind of land well. They both agreed on a highway and looped back around to line up and slow their descent. Qi went first to get a feel for the surface. He touched down and the tires skidded. He hit the flaps to slow the jet. Then the front tire blew and the nose of the jet dropped and he started losing control. He pulled back the stick forgetting that the jet was no longer in the air. He pulled the handle for the emergency ejection and the glass dome above him shot up and the seat flew into the air. His parachute deployed and he dropped to the ground watching his jet engulfed in flames on the highway.

  Chung’s jet followed Qi’s and watched as things went wrong. Once the jet dropped nose first into the pavement Chung hit the throttle and took his MiG airborne again. He went into the air and circled the destruction to see that Qi had ejected and was going to land in a field with his parachute. Chung circled and decided to try and land his jet on the same highway. The worst he figured was that he would have to eject as well. Descending over the wrecked MiG, Chung slowed the jet and put the flaps up. Once all tires were on the pavement he hit the brakes and tried to stop the jet as fast as possible. The highway was rough but he was able to stop and turn off the engine. He gathered everything that he was required to have in his jet with him.

  He had a Tokerov pistol that looked similar to a Colt 1911. There was the giant road map of the United States that he had in his pocket. Food, a knife, compass, and a kit filled with survival tools. In his pocket rested the cyanide capsule that they were still required to have even though the Cold War was over. The Russians had them and used them on a few occasions and the Chinese followed their example.

  Chung climbed out of the cockpit and he could see Qi in the field gathering his parachute.

  Chung ran to Qi, there was some comfort in being with another Chinese in this strange place.

  “We need to get out of this field and far from these jets.” Qi said.

  “That smoke is not going to help,” Chung added.

  They took off on foot and ran through the field. They spotted a tree line and decided to use that to move in the brush for cover. There were hills in the distance and Chung figured there was more cover and places to get lost in.

  “Sounds good to me.” Qi added to the idea.

  When they stopped Chung pulled out his map and looked it over.

  “Where the hell are we?” Qi said.

  “I think we landed on this highway.” Chung pointed to a long line that ran below the Great Lakes. They looked over the mountains and tried to remember what they could see from the air. Then Chung tried to remember the number of the highway on the signs before they left in a hurry. They looked the map over and found they might be in southern Ohio. They were at the start of the Appalachian Mountains. The hills and mountains they were hiding in was the beginning of some of the oldest mountains in the world.

  They found water quickly and realized they had no way to carry it. They forgot their canteens in their hurry and Qi lost most of his supplies in the jet on the highway.

  They decided to move up the mountain and get a higher view of the land they were on. They spent the night half way up finding a small cave to take shelter in. The night was cold and they huddled together to try and keep warm.

  “You never tell anyone about this,” Qi said to Chung.

  The next morning they made their way to the top and had a look over the highway and the valley on the opposite side. They didn’t see any sign of life. No Americans were hunting them. The MiG no longer burned on the highway. They were completely alone.

  “Shit.” Qi said as he looked over the landscape.

  “I guess we get to claim this if we want it.” Chung said shrugging his shoulders.

  “Claim what? No home, no women, this is shit.” Qi kicked a rock down the mountain and then let out a scream.

  “What are you doing?” Chung said.

  “There is nobody here, nobody is coming for us. The fleet isn’t coming anymore. They went back home if they weren’t sent to the bottom of the ocean. We are fucked.” Qi dropped down and sat on a rock.

  “We don’t know they went home.” Chung was trying to be optimistic but he had the feeling Qi was right. He remembered watching the hull of the ship being ripped apart. Odds were it was at the bottom of the ocean. “Shit.” Chung sat down and joined Qi in his sulking.

  “So what do we do now?” Qi asked.

  “You’re the senior here, isn’t that your call?” Chung replied.

  Qi looked around.

  “There is a river at the bottom of this valley. There could be shelter there.” Qi pointed out.

  “No sense in waiting here.” Chung said standing up and starting his way down the mountain.

  They carefully climbed down making sure not to get injured. A twisted ankle or knee was not something that would help them in the middle of a wasteland.

  By the end of the day they had traveled the few miles to the bottom of the valley. They chugged water and rinsed the sweat off their faces.

  “Oh this is great.” Qi said.

  He wallowed in the water like a pig in a pen. He turned over and tried to catch fish he could see with his hands.

  “You can’t catch fish like that.” Chung said.

  “Are you saying my Kung Fu is no good?” Qi replied. He shot his hand in the water and pulled a fish up with a huge grin on his face. Then the fish slipped out and escaped back into the river.

  “I tol
d you, you can’t catch fish like that.” Chung said laughing. Then he stopped laughing looking across the river.

  Qi stopped and looked in the same direction. A deer stood on the shore drinking from the water.

  “Oh,” Qi put his finger to his lip.

  Chung pulled his Tokerov from its holster and slowly took his aim. He fired and watched the bullet ricochet off the boulder the deer stood on. The deer turned and ran back into the wooded hills disappearing from view.

  “Ah, you suck at shooting.” Qi said going back to trying to catch a fish.

  “At least I still have my gun.” Chung said bitter from the comment.

  When Qi finally gave up they walked along the shore of the river and found a house that sat on stilts off the bank of the river.

  They approached the house. Chung had his gun out. They were worried they were wrong about being alone. They found the front door and Chung stood back. He was about to kick the door when Qi turned the door knob and the door opened.

  “Who would have thought?” Chung said.

  “Americans are strange.” Qi added. They looked around and found the house was empty. Qi slid the back sliding doors open and walked out on the porch that overlooked the river.

  “I would claim this house.” Qi said.

  Chung followed him out and looked over the rail at the river.

  That night they had their own separate beds and the next morning went about their tasks.

  Qi found fishing gear in the house and went back to the river determined to catch the fish that got away. Chung went out into the hills looking for game to hunt and wild food that they could eat.

  Both came back with food but less than they wanted.

  Qi pulled all the food out of the cupboards and they looked over the packages trying to figure out what everything was. Chung picked up a can that read SPAM on it. The contents on the label looked strange. He pulled the ring and opened the lid. The spongy contents smelled salty and they used forks to pull out pieces of the meat inside.

  “Ew,” Qi said squinting his face.

  “How do Americans eat this shit?” Chung asked.

  They moved on to other items and still found nothing that tasted like home. Chung finished the SPAM out of hunger later wondering what kind of meat was really in the can.

  A week later, both men sat out on the porch after a dinner of fish and wild greens.

  “That fish wasn’t too bad today.” Qi said relaxing in a folding chair.

  “Good job on the catch today.” Chung replied.

  “I’m not even hungry for food anymore. You know what I miss? Women. Beautiful, fat, big tittied women. Did I ever tell you about the girl Shanghi?” Qi turned from his chair looking at Chung.

  “Yes, a hundred times now.” Chung threw a fork at Qi.

  “You’re just jealous.” Qi said sitting back. “I would give anything to fuck her again.” he said. He closed his eyes.

  Chung assumed he was day dreaming about his old fling.

  The two men waited weeks, months, years went by.

  They stayed at the cabin. They hunted and gathered. At some points they went back to the jets on the highway to see them untouched and no sign of a rescue team sent to get them. They left a sign on the MiG that was still intact giving anyone directions to where they were.

  Five years, and then ten. Qi gave up on ever seeing his girl from Shanghi. Both men contemplated walking over the mountains to the east coast. They never left the comfort of the cabin.

  Chapter 18: New York City

  The drive out of New York was quick and easy compared to what they dealt with getting there. The roads were still empty from the trees and vehicles they moved. The tanks on the opposite side of the river were left behind. The fuel needed to take them along was non-existent. Now the task was traveling light and getting home.

  John thought it was a major loss and hoped he wouldn’t regret it later. Options were limited and the time spent trying to get them back to the base would leave them exposed had the Chinese found another spot to set boots on the shore.

  The convoy drove to New Beijing, the abandoned city John had his men take the POWs. The infrastructure and the resources that the Chinese army had told them about were gasoline and other useful products. The militia men were at the gates standing guard. The prisoners were kept in the main hall. John’s Jeep drove through the gate with the men saluting him. It still felt odd but he kept up the appearance.

  The man he left in charge came out of a house eating a chicken leg and dropped it on the ground to salute.

  “Wasting chicken is no way to impress me.” John said stepping out of the Jeep.

  “Sorry sir.” the sergeant said.

  “I want to see the prisoners.” John ordered.

  Getting in the Jeep they drove to the main hall and the sergeant unlocked the doors. Inside were the few dozen Chinese soldiers that had been captured at the harbor. They were thin and malnourished. Cheeks sunk in.

  “How much have you been feeding them?” John asked.

  “Enough,” the sergeant replied.

  “Get out!” John said to the sergeant.

  The man hesitated then left.

  John looked over at Brown.

  “You are now promoted to Sergeant. Your first task is to make sure these people are fed.”

  “Yes, sir!” Brown was excited at his new promotion.

  The doors were closed and the two of them went to the food stores to find out what was available.

  A warehouse was loaded with grains and other stockpiles of food. Chickens ran around the city being shot by soldiers for dinner. The cooks and grunts were put on cooking duty to supply food for everyone.

  Porridge was made for the Chinese to get their digestive systems started again.

  While the prisoners were being taken care of John worked to collect the important materials the community would need for the future. He went to the university and found the botany and agriculture section. A library of books was boxed up and loaded into the trucks. The big find was a collection of seeds. The Chinese had planned ahead. The seeds were specially picked for growing in the North American climate. They were planning on settling down.

  “Load these up.” John ordered. Large boxes of seeds were taken out. The ones he was most impressed with were the Chinese medicinal seeds. He thought Fatima would be happy to have them.

  After a week at New Beijing the militia was ready to leave. All weapons were loaded up or destroyed. The Chinese still had a city, what they decided to do after that was up to them.

  John scheduled a celebration and ordered all the sake and liquor to be brought out. The militia had a feast and partied all night. Not all of it was good but the scuffles and problems that arouse were quickly taken care of.

  Chapter 19: New Beijing, New York State

  Wang stayed by Li, his woman, and watched over her the best he could under the circumstances. When they were fed he gave her some of his food making sure she was fed to the best of his abilities. The Americans were giving their prisoners rotten rice and a little water. The food wasn’t much and the men started to waste away quickly.

  Wang offered his food to his lovely sergeant. She looked at him.

  “You need your strength,” she said.

  “I told you I would take care of you.” he said offering his bowl of rice again.

  She ate some to appease him and then gave the remains back.

  “I’m full,” she said.

  He ate the rest and they waited in the dark hall. Days were long and the room became hot from the sunlight. The smell of the feces in the corner filled the air. The conditions were ripe for disease.

  The doors unlocked. It wasn’t time for food to be delivered, something else was happening.

  Three men walked in.

  One Li recognized as the commander who took her surrender. She respected him. He could have killed all of them but instead took them prisoner. She would have killed all of the Americans had the roles been reve
rsed.

  She couldn’t hear the conversation but he appeared to be upset. One of the men stormed out of the hall. The doors closed and everyone was in the dark again.

  An hour later the doors reopened and carts of food were brought in with armed guards. The prisoners were lined up and given bowls of food with meat and greens in rice porridge. Things had changed. Some of the Chinese were hesitant to eat it thinking they were being poisoned.

  “Eat the food. If it is poisoned it would be better than rotting away!” Li hollered to the men in Chinese.

  The men ate, some to the point of puking. Wang still offered his food to his sergeant and she turned it down.

  “I have a feeling things will be different from now on.” she told him while eating her food. “Thank you for taking care of me. I won’t forget it.” she said winking to him.

  He smiled and ate his food. When she smiled at him it made his day. Any day she smiled was a good day.

  The days that followed were filled with food and improving conditions. Men were brought in to clean up the feces in the corners of the hall. Shovels were handed to the prisoners and they took turns cleaning up the mess to be hauled out.

  At the end of the week fireworks were going off. The guards were in high spirits. The prisoners were worried about the celebrations.

  The doors unlocked and a group of three men walked in.

  “Which one are you talking about?” a man in tan camouflage pants said looking through the prisoners.

  “That one over there,” a second man said pointing at her.

  “Shit,” she said to herself.

  “What is it,” Wang asked her.

  “I think I’m in trouble,” she said.

  “You’re right. She is hot.” the first man said.

  The third man walked toward her.

  “You over here.” he said pointing at her.

  She shook her head and stayed back by the wall.

  Wang stood between them. She knew he was going to get hurt.

  “Get back, midget.” the third man said.

  Wang put his hands up in a boxing stance.

  The third man grabbed his head and pushed him aside.