The Long Walk Home

by Ison, S. A.

  When the government stuck its fingers into a pie, it turned it into a shit pie. Screwing anyone and everyone over, to gain power and money. Perhaps for all their sakes, they might want to think about eliminating Milo before they got to the end of the passage. He shocked himself with these thoughts. He’d never thought about murder or harming another human, yet, the loss of Rhena, and the stress of being in some other place and time, was screwing with him. Not to mention his dislike for the man.

  Could he do it? Could he kill Milo? What would he do to protect these aboriginal people? He was sure the others would keep the secret. Maybe he’d talk to Beckett, see what he thought. He wondered once more, could he kill another person? On purpose? And how would he do it? He could use Beckett’s gun. He forced himself from the dark thoughts. He knew it was grief, but he knew it was also destructive.

  Xx

  JP looked back and saw Beckett. Behind Beckett, he saw Milo. He nudged Lucas.

  “Shit head caught up. That guy is a real dick.”

  “Yeah, he needs to chill. No one needs that kind of crap. We don’t need his brand of bullshit; with all this stress we have going on. Can you believe this? Christ. That dude is a real Indian. I mean, someone we read about in school.” Lucas said in awe.

  “I know. Christ, I feel like I’m getting hit with so much information, my brain is feeling like jelly. But, I’m so damn happy to be going home. Christ all mighty, I know I’m being a baby, but I want to cry, I mean it, just cry.” JP said, his voice choked with emotion.

  “No, you’re not a baby. You’re one of the bravest men I know. I want to cry too. My god. Staying in this time is certain death, we both know this. We are ill-equipped to survive this time. I can run a multimillion-dollar ship, but I can’t survive this time. I know my limitations. No, I feel like crying, I’m so damned happy to be going home.” Lucas said and hugged JP to him. He felt his eyes prickle. This was as close to death as he’d ever come. He was not fooled either. They had a long way to go before they got out of this time. Each moment they were here was dangerous. There was no help here, as Rhena had learned and died.

  The thought of dying here, lost and forgotten in time, sent a shiver through him. No, he didn’t want to stay here and he didn’t want Lucas to be here either. This was not their time. He was an unwanted and unwelcome guest here. He smiled at Zoe and the little girl, Christy. He couldn’t imagine what her parents were thinking. They’d lost their child and he wondered if her parents were lost in this time or not. Christ. They’d be trapped here forever. Or, until something or someone killed them. He let out a long breath.

  Concentrate and get home, his mind repeated over and over. That’s all he wanted, with every fiber of his being. Thank God, that Beckett was with them. That the man could speak Cherokee, was amazing to him. With luck and a prayer, he and Lucas would get home and back to the ship. The next vacation would be spent way the hell away from this place or any place like it.

  XX

  Carter was ahead of Zoe and Evie and the girl. Beckett brought up the rear. Carter shook his head over Milo’s stupidity. Even if Carter half believed it, like Beckett had said, look around you. There were no markers, there were no stations. He’d almost not come on the hike. Something had niggled at him several days before, but he’d not listened. He should have. His mother always said to listen to that small voice within, it was God’s breath on your shoulder.

  He’d not listened and now he was here following some man from the long distant past who’d been dead five hundred years or so. Not only that, they had a wild card in their midst. Milo, who could cause them all to be killed with his big goddamned mouth. But Carter had wanted, needed to get away from Boston. He’d just finished up a hell of a trial and he’d lost and he’d felt bruised and battered. He’d thought a little time on the Appalachian trail would center him. He’d met both Zoe and Evie and had thought them both delightful company, smart and trail savvy women. He and Evie were getting on great and even with all the problems, they were sticking close together.

  The best thing was, that both women were from Boston and so, striking up a friendship was good. He’d thought perhaps next time, perhaps they’d all go together. Hell, now, he knew, he’d never come back to this place. When they had heard Beckett’s screams, he wondered if he and the women had been drawn into that bubble of time displacement or, if they were already in it. It didn’t matter now he guessed. In for a penny, in for a pound.

  He just wanted to get back home and once there, he’d begin prepping. That time might come, the EMP, and he’d not want to live worrying over it. He’d plan, maybe buy a place out in the country and fortify it. First things first though, they had to get the hell out of these mountains and off this trail. He’d talk to Evie and maybe they could figure out a plan, after this place. He never wanted to feel this helpless again. Jesus Christ, he never wanted to be without some kind of back up plan.

  He was sure that both Zoe and Evie felt the same. He’d also pick Beckett’s brain. It really was something to think about. And with that idea about the bugout bag, having food, supplies and so on, in your car. He only lived an hour from this place, but Beckett said it would take a week or better to walk there. Christ. No, if and when they got out of this, he’d start his own prepping. And, he’d have one hell of a bugout bag in his trunk.

  six

  Beckett knew that Milo was behind him, he didn’t need to look as the man made a lot of noise. He paused and took the bowstring out from his pocket. He strung his longbow and pulled an arrow from his quiver. Nocking the arrow in place, he watched for any prey that came across their path. He’d have to get something good sized and he hoped for perhaps a deer, but with all these people, he knew it would be impossible. He walked toward the front, stopping by Carter.

  “Can you bring up the rear and keep an eye on the women?”

  “Sure can, Beckett, going for a little hunt?” Carter nodded at the bow.

  “Yeah, I’ve got to get ahead of our group, before the game is frightened off. Otherwise, our dinner will be skimpy tonight.” He grinned.

  “Good hunting, then.” Carter said, walking to the back of the line, behind Zoe. Beckett patted Christy on the head as he passed and she looked up and grinned at him.

  Beckett walked up to Dustu, and Dustu looked behind and nodded.

  “Udiditlv awi, beyond deer.” Beckett nodded ahead.

  “Hawa, okay.” Dustu said and pointed ahead, indicating their projected path. Beckett nodded and went ahead at a quick pace, though he was as quiet as he could be.

  The world around him began to quiet and his blood and heart began to slow. He loved hunting, being a part of this world. He wasn’t crazy about being out here on the trail, and certainly not back in friggen god knows when. He’d be glad to get back and wouldn’t breathe easy until he did.

  He was ahead of the group now, nearly a mile. He could hear the creatures of the primeval forest; soft sounds reached his ears. He sniffed the air around him. His father had taught him to go slow, to stay down wind. Right now, there was no wind. He stepped and stopped, looking deep into the woods. His eyes scanned, not really looking but sensing the movement of leaf and twig.

  Then he saw it, a yearling. He slowly lifted his bow and took aim. He let the arrow fly and it was true, going through the heart of the yearling. It took a step and dropped down and fell over. He smiled and walked up to the animal. He placed a hand on it and bowed his head.

  His father had taught him to say a prayer of thanks. It was the People’s way. He smiled. The People, were these people here in this time. He was a caricature of the People and didn’t know their ways. His grandmother had told him stories. Told him legends. Told him of a noble people. Her people, his people. But he felt like a fraud. He only had a small bit of that noble blood in him.

  With a quick hand he began to skin the carcass and he pulled the gut pile out neatly. He cut the head off and now the meat was lighter to handle and carry. He kept the liver and heart and went back
to the possible path to wait for the group. He’d wrapped the carcass up in the skin of the animal. He didn’t want to be covered in blood. He closed his eyes and listened to the forest around him. He was calm, and the reason for that was the knowledge of going home. Twenty minutes later, he smiled when he saw Dustu walking toward them, a large smile on his face.

  “Wado udohiyu utsati, thank you very much!” Dustu grinned.

  “Gvlieliga, you’re welcome.” He grinned back.

  “Usdi, small.” Dustu said and indicated walking with his fingers. So, a short walk and then they could make camp. Beckett waited until Carter came abreast and he joined in. He saw Milo behind and ignored him.

  “I see you did well. I feel a full stomach coming on tonight.” Carter laughed and slapped Beckett on the back.

  “Yeah, hopefully, we can smoke a little bit to carry with us and eat on the way tomorrow. No trouble?”

  “No, Milo is still back there, lurking around us.” Carter sniggered softly.

  “Yeah, I saw him.”

  “Mr. Beck, I gotta go potty.” Christy turned and stopped Beckett.

  “Sure honey, have Zoe and Evie go with you and I’ll guard you. Here Carter, can you carry this, I’ll guard them.”

  “Sure, and maybe Astrid might want to join the ladies.”

  Beckett walked up to Astrid, and she turned, looking at him in question.

  “Zoe and Evie are taking Christy for a potty break; did you want to go with them?” Beckett asked.

  “Sure, honey, can you help Beckett stand guard?” Astrid asked Noland.

  “Sure, can babe.” He smiled and got out of the line. Ahead, Dustu turned and stopped, seeing the women cluster, a soft smile hit his countenance. So, the Cherokee women went off in clusters as well. Beckett grinned, recognizing the patronizing looks all men had when women went to the bathroom together. The world was not so different sometimes.

  Beckett followed the women up into the deep woods and stopped, letting them get farther ahead for privacy. Noland stood beside Beckett and looked around. It was quiet in the woods. The other men found trees to relieve themselves. Beckett looked up in the sky, the day was being eaten away quickly, they’d have to make camp in a bit.

  He was jerked from his thoughts when he heard Christy’s scream, it was shrill and echoed among the trees. A split-second later Beckett had his Glock out and ran to where the women had gone. He passed their packs, that were scattered. He looked into the wood and saw pink flashing through the trees. Someone was carrying Christy and then he saw Evie, she was being dragged away by two men. She was fighting and kicking the ground.

  He had no clue what tribe it could be, he didn’t know what tribes lived around this place. He only knew of the Cherokee. He saw Astrid and Zoe, who was unconscious or dead. He didn’t know. His heart shot into his throat. He ran as fast as he could and then he aimed his weapon, and pulled the trigger. A loud boom exploded and it reverberated in the woods. The man who carried Zoe, fell, half his head gone. Zoe tumbled to the ground, boneless.

  He ran past her, and he saw that the other Indians were running faster, leaving Evie and Astrid behind. Now, he had to catch up to Christy, and he ran past the downed women, as they crawled toward Zoe. He figured the others would help the women, he had to catch up to the child. He could not let these men disappear with her.

  His heart beat hard in his chest, his mouth was dry and his breath came in choked sobs. He couldn’t let her be taken. She would be a curiosity to them, and maybe they’d take care of her, and maybe they wouldn’t. He knew she’d be terrified. He couldn’t bear the thought of her fear. His legs pushed faster and he saw a flash of pink once more and he picked up speed. She was now limp in the man’s arms, slung over his shoulders.

  He had to shoot the man, but couldn’t hit him in the upper torso, or he’d hit Christy. He stopped, took aim and another explosion filled the air. He missed, he aimed once more and fired again. The man went down, a bullet punching through his upper thigh, near his ass. He screamed and tumbled forward, Christy’s limp body, fell and rolled toward him. One of the men looked at him and he took aim and shot the man in the chest.

  The last warrior disappeared into the woods and Beckett was about to turn when he felt air rush by his head and the man in front of him stopped, an arrow between his shoulder blades. His body stiffened and was propelled forward, his arms and legs boneless as he fell forward onto his face. There was very little blood.

  Beckett turned and saw Dustu behind him, the man’s face hard and blank, some of the color leached from his stern face. He came up beside Beckett and looked at him and then his gun.

  “Aniyvtiqualosgi duhasata, thunder dead.” Dustu said, his finger in his ear and he looked at the gun with fear in his eyes.

  “Tsinusdi vv, it is yes. Hasiyu? Are you okay?” Beckett asked.

  “Vtla, no. Ostu vtla. No good.” He said, pointing to the gun.

  “Hawa, okay. Ostu, good.” Beckett said, raising the gun and putting it in his holster.

  “Hawa, okay.” Dustu said and looked at the gun in the holster. He then walked over to the dead men and the wounded one, who’d been carrying Christy. Beckett watched as Dustu said something to the down man, the words were quiet. Then he took his knife and cut the man’s throat. He walked to each man and touched them and then walked back toward Beckett and then past him.

  Beckett walked over to Christy, she was still unconscious and he checked her. She had no injuries and he thought perhaps she’d fainted. She’d have nightmares, he was sure of it. Poor rabbit. He picked her up and held her in his arms. He walked back to the group. He hoped that Zoe was alright as well. Christ. He should have kept a better watch out. He should have been watching. It had never occurred to him, that there would be others in these woods, perhaps following them.

  He walked down and saw Zoe walking, Evie’s arm around her. He let out a breath, she was safe. They were all safe. Christ. Milo was standing there like a useless twat. The man was a coward. Wyatt came forward and took Christy, he laid her on the ground and checked her over. She was starting to come around, whimpering. Zoe stopped and sat down on the ground suddenly, putting her head between her legs. She was breathing hard.

  Beckett walked over to Zoe and squatted beside her. He reached over and squeezed her shoulder and tried to smile. Carter and Noland were bringing back all the backpacks. Milo stood about with his thumb up his ass and Beckett shook his head.

  “Are you okay Zoe? Christ, did they hurt you?” Beckett asked her, his eyes searching her features.

  “I think so, my head hurts a bit. I think I hit my head on one of the trees, when that man was carrying me. I was fighting him and I think I knocked him off his stride. Christ, is Christy okay?” She started to get up but he placed his hand back on her shoulder, to still her.

  “I think so, Wyatt is looking at her now. I think she fainted. I didn’t see any wounds on her.” Beckett answered, his hand going to her cheek.

  She smiled up at him and nodded. He felt gently on her head and felt the lump. She winced.

  “Don’t worry, Wyatt checked me out. He said I’ll be okay, just a nice long headache.” She smiled, but her mouth trembled and he gathered her in his arms and she fell to pieces, the brave façade falling away. She wept in his arms and he rocked her, pulling her into his lap. His hand petted her hair. She felt so small in his arms.

  He looked over; Carter was now holding Evie in his arms as she wept too. Beckett rocked Zoe, holding her firmly to him. He made small shushing and comforting noises. He didn’t know how long it took, but Zoe finally got herself under control.

  He looked over and Evie was still in Carter’s arms and Noland held Astrid. That had been too terrifying, and could well have ended badly, especially for Christy.

  He stood up and helped Zoe up and gathered up her backpack. He walked over and hugged Evie.

  “You okay Evie? Are you hurt?” He asked her gently. She shook her head and wiped at her eyes.

  “No,
I’m okay, just got the hell scared out of me. Zoe okay?” she asked, putting her backpack on.

  “I think she is; we’ll have to watch her.” He smiled. Carter hugged each of the women and they held him as well. He then picked up the deer carcass and the group began to gather around Christy and Wyatt.

  “Are you okay Christy?” Beckett asked tenderly, pushing her hair behind her ear.

  “Yes Mr. Beck, thank you for saving me.” She whimpered and Beckett pulled the small child into his arms. Her small arms wrapped around his neck and he held her to him tightly. She cried all the fear out and he rocked her. He could sense Dustu near. He looked up and he saw the concern on the man’s face.

  “Ostu. Good.” He told Dustu who grunted and nodded. Beckett picked the girl up and Carter helped him with his backpack. Zoe carried the girl’s backpack and they began walking away from the area. He figured Dustu wanted to put some distance between them and the dead warriors. Beckett was happy to leave the area. Christy clung to him and he accepted her weight and hoped she’d not be scarred for the rest of her life.

  His heart was starting to slow its rampant run. It had happened so fast. He was so glad he’d had his weapon. He knew it frightened Dustu, but there was no way he’d let those men take Christy. There was also no way he could have caught up to them. He was lucky that Zoe wasn’t hurt worse, if she’d had a concussion, there was no medical help for her. For none of them.

  Christy had stopped crying and she wiggled to get down. Zoe handed the girl her backpack and the child put it on. She held onto Beckett’s hand and refused to let go. He squeezed it and smiled down at her.

  “You sure you’re okay?” He asked her gently.

  She nodded, “Yeah. I think so. Was he a bad man?”