by Kip Nelson
Flies already were buzzing around the tarpaulin, trying to work their way onto the decaying flesh upon which they could feast. Mack felt a slight hint of jealousy as there would be an abundance of food for them. He didn't want to burn the bodies just yet as such a fire could alert the group that had attacked the bunker in the first place, and he didn't want to encounter them. So far, the only weapon they had was the pistol he had taken from Kathryn, and the only bullets were the ones in the chamber.
Aside from that, it was actually a beautiful morning. It was the middle of summer and the trees were dancing slightly as a soft breeze flew through them. White cotton clouds hung in the sky, which was a clear blue canvas. It was almost easy to forget the world had ended at all, as the surrounding area was quiet and peaceful. Mack had much on his mind for he knew Grace and Luis wanted to go on a different path from him. He had to wonder if he was being stubborn and blinded by his own hopes. While he had taken on the role of the leader, part of him did consider the idea that perhaps the two of them were better suited to this new world while he was used to the traditions of the old one.
After spending a few moments outside, Mack returned to the bunker to find Grace and Luis rising from their sleep. They ate a little breakfast and had some water but, as always, were left unfulfilled as they had to ration their supplies carefully. They ate mostly in silence, each of them occupied with their own thoughts. Mack noticed that Luis kept glancing toward Grace, but whenever she looked up he moved his eyes away, afraid she would catch him staring at her. Mack laughed inside as it reminded him that, no matter what happened to the world, some things never would change.
As soon as Mack finished eating he pulled out the map and spread it across the central table. Thanks to some of the information in the bunker they now had a better understanding of the surrounding area. It seemed the soldiers in the bunker had sent out scouting parties to map the area and any points of interest. The city and the river were the main two, while there were buildings scattered about all over the place.
“Luis, you've been backpacking for a while, are you able to make fires and hunt?” Mack asked.
Luis swallowed his food then joined Mack at the table. “I can make a fire; I don't know about hunting.” Grace soon followed, not wanting to be left sitting by herself. The three of them stood over the map as though they were plotting an attack.
“I've been thinking a lot about what the two of you said last night and I wanted to apologize if I came off as stubborn. When I was younger I never thought the world was going to end but I know it's been a theme in your pop culture, and you probably know a little more about it than me. Plus, you two have lived in the real world while I've spent my time on army bases. I still think we ultimately should head to the city, but not until we have more supplies. It's clear there are dangerous people out there and we need to be prepared to defend ourselves, but I also don't think we can get through this by avoiding other people,” Mack said.
“What plan do you suggest?” Grace asked.
“Well, first and foremost I think we need to think about food and water. I'm going to have to teach the two of you to hunt, just in case anything happens to me, or if we get separated. You see the way the river curves around here?” At this he pointed to where the wide blue part of the map curved east, back to the city.
“We wouldn't be taking a direct route to the city from here, but we could use the river to navigate, and eventually it would lead us back there. And we'd be able to have a constant source of water by our side.”
“I still think this is a bad idea,” Grace said, running her hands through the rainbow strands of her hair.
As she stretched her arm up the beginning of a tattoo was visible through the opening of her sleeve. “Look, I'm all for trusting people, but we've already seen what people have done. I think we should seriously consider just finding somewhere we can be safe and wait for a while until everything has calmed down.”
“Do you really think things are going to calm down?” Mack asked.
“I know it's scary to think about what's out there, but I don't have any plans to die anytime soon. We made it through the plane crash, and so far, we've survived the end of the world. We owe it to ourselves to keep going and keep fighting. But at the end of the day, this is a group decision. I don't just want to tell you what to do because I'm the eldest. We're all adults here and we all have our say. We can come to a decision after discussing it. Is there anything you'd like to add, Grace?”
She shook her head, almost surprised that Mack hadn't argued with her but actively encouraged discussion. She had been so used to people not treating her or her opinions with respect that it set her on edge, and she wasn't sure how to handle Mack.
Turning to Luis, Mack said, “What do you think?”
“All I know is I don't want to be captured again but, honestly, I've spent enough time on my own and there were nights when I really wanted some company. If it was just the three of us and something happened to one of us...I don't know, I think we need other people. I was impressed with the way you handled Kathryn back there,” Luis said, looking at Mack.
“It's what I specialized in,” Mack said.
“That's going to come in handy when we do run into other people. But the thing is...there are going to be other people out there right now having this same conversation. We're not going to be the only scared ones out there, or the only ones who don't know what to do next, but if we all decide to keep to ourselves then nobody is going to make it through this thing alive. I think we have to take a chance and go find some other people. We all have a chance now to make a new life for ourselves. We've kinda been given a second chance at life.
“I don't know if you two feel the same. Maybe you don't Mack because you were in a different stage than the rest of us; but I had nothing in my old life, nothing except ambitions that never were going to be fulfilled. The only thing waiting for me was a life of menial labor. I wasn't going to do or be anything special, and I didn't have any skills or talents that could help me in the real world. The reason I went backpacking in the first place was to find myself and my place in the world, and I don't want to waste my life again. I want to learn how to survive and how to be a better person, and the only way we're going to do that is by setting an example for others we meet. If we're friends to them then maybe they'll be friends in return, and who knows what we can find. I'm sorry Grace, but I'm with Mack on this one.”
Mack placed a hand on Luis' shoulder and stood behind him, looking at Grace. While Luis spoke Grace saw him differently than she had before, and even understood some of what he was saying. She nodded slowly as she looked back down at the map.
“You guys make sense, and I get what you mean about a second chance. It is like a rebirth, if you want to look at it that way.”
“We'll be okay as long as we stick together,” Mack said.
“I know, but you are going to have your work cut out for you if you expect to teach us,” she said, smiling.
“I guess we'd better prepare to move out,” she said, and looked down at the small smattering of buildings that lay close to them. The prospect of meeting other people at this stage was a daunting one for Grace, but as she looked at Mack and Luis she knew she was better off with them than she was alone.
For his part, Mack was pleased they had been able to come to a decision together rather than relying on his instinct alone. In his head he had made a long-term plan, which was to meet up with more survivors, make their way to the city, and try finding a way back to Anna. But for now he had to take baby steps and focus on getting through one day at a time.
Their biggest obstacle still was going to be maintaining their supplies of food and water. While the river was going to be a helpful ally he was sure other people were going to use it for the same thing, most likely including the group that had attacked the bunker. But food was another matter. They could survive on berries and small fruit from trees for only so long. He stood by the map and plotted out a ro
ute while he directed Grace and Luis to search through the bunker once again to see if there was anything they could take with them that was useful.
“Hey,” Grace said in a low voice, taking Luis by surprise. They barely had had a conversation by themselves, and this was the first time Grace had taken the initiative and spoken to Luis.
“I just wanted to say that I understand how you feel. I never really fit in either, and it was brave of you to go backpacking like you did.”
“Thanks, but it didn't really feel brave. It's not like I was the first person to do it.”
“I know, but it's something I never would have done. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I appreciate what you said. Since this all happened I've been wondering how I was going to make it through because I spent all my life with computers, and there's no need for them anymore. But you're right, this is a rebirth. We do get a second chance, and I hadn't realized that until you said it.” She smiled at him, and before he could say anything in reply she had ghosted away to the other side of the room. Luis wore a stupid grin on his face.
By the end of it they hadn't found much they could take with them. The lanterns were too clumsy, and were starting to run out of oil anyway. They wished their flashlights still worked. It was amazing how so many little things were out of commission, and it was eye-opening to see just how much they had depended on electricity. Whoever had attacked the bunker had done a good job of raiding it. There was practically nothing left to take, although they scrounged together some paper and rolled up the map with them. Grace looked longingly at all the computers and keyboards, running her fingers along the smooth keys, missing the feeling of sitting down at a computer and knowing exactly what to do. But they all were part of the old world now, and they meant nothing. Once they had sorted out all the supplies into three packs so each of them were carrying something (Mack gave himself the most) Mack led them out of the bunker.
“We're going to have to make good speed throughout the day. Without any flashlights we're going to have to move in the day. We'd get turned around too quickly at night, even though it would be safer. Make sure you always stay close to each other. Let's not do anything stupid and wander off. The first thing I think we should do is make some rudimentary weapons. We are going to have to hunt and I'd rather save the bullets in the gun until we really need them,” he said.
They moved past the pile of dead bodies and a hush came over them. There were hundreds of flies buzzing around and it was sad to see how so many lives were now nothing but rotting flesh. The smell was almost unbearable. They were glad to leave the bunker behind, hopefully for new and more promising pastures where they wouldn't have to be reminded that death was all around them.
The bunker had been a false dawn, cast into a gloomy shadow by a group of people who were still out there. These three brave souls were venturing into the unknown of the forest, trying to move forward with their lives because that was the only way to live.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ALTHOUGH GRACE HAD STRUGGLED with her physical condition after the plane crash, the days of walking non-stop already had improved her stamina and now she was able to keep pace with Mack and Luis. The three of them mostly walked in a line and they occasionally talked, although for a lot of the time they enjoyed a companionable silence. Mack continued observing the world around him, eyes searching every nook and cranny for anything of use, and Grace, in turn, observed him, trying to learn from his experience and expertise. Luis was the one who most often spoke. Mack put his need for noise down as a product of having spent so much time alone recently. So he let Luis ramble on and offered a few murmurs that passed as conversation.
“So, I know everything has been fried, but what about, like, really old cars? Like, the kind you see in all those really old movies? And maybe even steam engines? Would they still work?” Luis asked. It was a good question, as they hadn't really talked much about transportation yet.
“I imagine so, if you could find one. But do you know how to drive a train?” Mack asked.
Luis shrugged. “I've seen Back to the Future Part III, you just pull a lever now and then and shove coal into the furnace. It can't be that difficult,” he replied.
“If we ever come across one I'm going to make you put your money where your mouth is,” Grace said. Then she chuckled to herself before adding, “I guess that expression is going to lose its meaning sooner or later.”
“As for your question,” Mack said, “I'm guessing that if anyone does have such a car they're going to be very protective of it, so good luck taking it from them. Even then, you're still going to need gas eventually. And unless you want to spend all that time siphoning it from other vehicles you're going to be out of luck. Pretty much all of the pumps use electricity. Most of the transportation we know and love isn’t going to be useful anymore.”
“I really wish I'd brought my bike with me,” Luis said mournfully.
“Can either of you ride horses?” Mack asked.
They both shook their heads. “You're going to have to change your way of thinking. We're going back to a time like the Wild West. Horses, wagons, all that kind of thing.”
“Shame I don't see any horses around,” Luis said.
“I don't see much of anything around,” Grace added.
Mack didn't say anything, but he was worried about the seeming lack of wildlife in the forest. When they first had crashed he assumed they would be able to find some source of food. Yet the forest seemed devoid of any great beasts. But perhaps they just had not spent long enough looking. Mack had the map out and kept track of where they were going. While doing so he talked them through his methods of keeping everything in his line of sight, and using landmarks in the surrounding area to measure his distance and make sure he was keeping on the right path. They walked all through the morning and stopped in a clearing for lunch. So far there hadn't been any sign of any other person, and Mack didn't know if he should be relieved or worried by that.
The three of them tentatively nibbled at their rations and sipped their water, ignoring their bodies' cries for more, more, more. They quickly had become used to the nagging ache in their stomachs. Mack moved off, and the other two watched him with curiosity as he picked up sticks then flung them down, none of them seeming to satisfy him. Eventually, Luis piped up and asked him why he was looking at so many sticks.
“I'm trying to find the right one,” Mack said.
“What's wrong with all these?” Luis replied, kicking the sticks lightly.
Mack leaned down and picked up one, then thrashed it against the ground. The wood splintered and cracked, and the stick was proven useless. Luis jumped back at the emphatic gesture.
“The wood is rotten and weakened. We need a thick, sturdy branch to make a good spear or staff. The last thing you want in a fight is your weapon breaking on you,” Mack said. Luis picked up the rest of the sticks and tested them one by one, amazed at how Mack could tell they were useless just by a glance.
“How did you get to know this stuff?” he asked in astonishment.
Mack shrugged. “I read a lot, plus we had a lot of training camps for this stuff, and my father used to take me camping when I was younger.”
“Oh, so you've just always been a natural at this,” Luis said, rolling his eyes in the direction of Grace, who giggled.
“Actually, I used to hate it. All I wanted to do when I was camping was get back home and play video games with my friends, but my father always insisted on having his bonding time with me. So one weekend every month he would take me away from everything I knew and teach me how to set up a tent, how to fish, how to hunt, how to find my bearings using the stars. At the time I hated it but now, well, if he was here he'd probably say 'I told you so.'”
“Wait, you used to play video games?” Luis said.
“Oh yeah, I used to be down at the arcades all the time. I was the local champ at Donkey Kong. It was a good way to develop reflexes.”
“I used to love them when I was a ki
d! Although I never really went to arcades, just played at home on consoles. Super Mario 3 was my favorite. My life changed when I found out about the whistles and the secret levels.”
Mack smirked as he thought about long-forgotten childhood memories. “What about you, Grace, did you game much?”
“No, actually, I didn't,” she replied. Both men looked at her with confusion.
“Isn't your whole thing computers? How could you not game?” Luis asked.
Grace shrugged. “Just never got around to it, I guess. They were more of a tool for me to work with.”
“My father would have liked you. He was always about work. Always said that time was too precious to waste on things that didn't matter and if you weren't being productive then you didn't have a right to be on the planet.”
“That sounds harsh, but all I can say is thanks to your father. I think we'd be a little lost without you here,” Luis said.
“You managed to survive alright before we came along,” Mack said, furrowing his brow.
“Yeah, apart from falling into the trap of some crazy people. Thing is, when I went backpacking I knew I was just a cell phone call away from safety. Or I could just get to the nearest town and get on Wi-Fi. Even when I was alone I wasn't really alone. The whole world was out there waiting for me, but out here, right now, we're screwed if anything happens to us.”
“So you don't like feeling alone?”
“It's not that. I mean, when I first left I liked it. I came from a big family and it was always hard to get time to myself, but when I was away from them, I don't know, I kinda missed it. There was a lot of beauty in the world, and sometimes I wished I had someone to share it with.”
“And now you have us,” Mack said, grinning widely. Luis raised his eyebrows.
Mack walked back to where Grace was sitting and took another sip of water, then put his lunch away and slung the pack over his shoulder. “We'd better get moving soon, we don't want to spend all our time sitting around doing nothing.”
