Deserted Lands (Book 2): Straight Into Darkness

by Robert L. Slater

  “You okay, Mannie?”

  Mannie brushed past her. “No. Tired. Sad. Frustrated.”

  “Need some company?” she asked, quickly stepping out of his way.

  “No.” Damn it. Now he was going to feel guilty for being an ass. He strode to the dead cat and slid the shovel blade under its body. He didn’t want to bury it near the veggies, so he walked on until he came to a house with a big red X spray painted on the door. No one would mind the use of the yard. A small plot of roses grown out of control looked like a good spot. It had been a really nice yard. Probably some retiree with a passion for roses. The beds along the fence and against the house were brimming with snow laden rose bushes, not awoken yet from their winter slumber, still frozen in the same state they had been before the end of the world—lucky them.

  He plunged the shovel into the hard, snowy ground. He’d intended to throw the body in the trash. Burial seemed like a ridiculous waste of labor. He could have said as much, but he kept digging. He needed something to do anyway.

  “I’m sorry, Mannie. Was it something I said?”

  “No, Jess. It was nothing you said. I’m not good company, these days. Too much on my plate.” His chest spasmed. He grimaced and stood back motioning at the hole. “Dig a bit if you want.”

  “I think you’re good company.” Her eyes teased him.

  Mannie cringed at the flirtation, and Jess’ face fell. He panicked. He couldn’t stand the idea of hurting her. “I just feel powerless sometimes,” he blurted.

  She nodded and stabbed her shovel into the dirt. “I didn’t come to bug you, Mannie.”

  Her smile was gone and its absence made his heart ache.

  “I went to see Lizzie.” She dug until her shovel hit hard pan.

  “That’s probably deep enough.” Mannie used the shovel to lift the cat’s body into the hole.

  “Rachael was there with the baby. Lizzie was out. I thought maybe she’d be with you.”

  He stood out of the way as Jess went to work filling the hole; a girl unafraid of a little work and dirt. “Nope. Haven’t seen her.”

  “I can finish up here,” Jess said, “if you want to go back to being alone.”

  “Thanks.” But he didn’t leave.

  When Jess finished tamping the soil down with her boots, she came around the patch of dirt until she stood uncomfortably close. She pulled his work gloves out of his pocket and slid her hands into them, adjusted the fingers one by one, and turned on her heel and broke off a couple sticks. She tied them into a cross, twisted together with the wire from the plant tag. “There.”

  “That’s nice, Jess.”

  “Thanks.” She picked up her shovel and walked back to the tool shed.

  Mannie followed with his shovel. “Look, I didn’t mean to be rude,” he called after her. “If you’re hungry, I’ve got some leftover tamales. They’re pretty good.”

  “Thanks, Mannie. I’ll leave you alone. See you later.” She walked off the way she’d come.

  Mannie sighed, he missed her already, and for that reason he was relieved she was gone.

  Chapter Three

  AS THEY ROLLED OUT OF the suburbs and into the hills, the winds buffeted the RAV. Lizzie breathed a sigh of relief. Out here there was only the occasional dark house, and the chance of a patrol encounter was nil. The snow here lay undisturbed across the road like a blanket in the beams of the headlights.

  Zach drove on in silence, knuckles white on the steering wheel.

  She punched the red button on the dash until the audio to announce the RAV’s silent electric motion sounded like a landspeeder from Star Wars. “Trust your feelings, Luke.”

  Zach snorted, but his grip on the steering wheel didn’t let up.

  “You want me to text Nev and let her know you found me?”

  “I’ll do it in a bit. You need anything? We skipped this area on the way to collecting Salt Lake City. These houses are probably gold mines.”

  Lizzie shook her head. “I’m good. But we should go the last bit on foot, so nobody sees us coming.”

  “You think there might be people there?”

  Lizzie laughed. “Maybe. We’ll figure it out when we get there.”

  The information—or lack of it—did nothing to relax Zach’s knuckles. He pulled into a wide street with no snow in the middle.

  “It’s a military installation,” Lizzie said. “If they are going to keep anything manned and operational, I’d guess, it would be the military stuff, but we’re hoping that’s not the case. Glen says it has the best computers in the country. He’s counting on just moving right in to his own personal heaven.”

  “So, you were going to ring the bell and hide behind a bush?” Zach parked the car.

  “Something like that.” Lizzie’s hands were nearly warm. Just in time to go back out into the weather. “I’m a scout. And so are you, if you are on my mission. Leave the weapons behind. If we get caught, we play dumb.”

  He handed her leather gloves. “Put these on.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” She slid her fingers into the soft sheepskin. Much nicer than her mittens.

  Zach threw up his hands in defeat and chuckled. Finally the old Zach was back—he was over himself and genuinely interested in helping Glen escape the breeders. Mission accomplished, thought Lizzie, or at least one mission. She grinned, “Okay, the base is another mile this way.”

  “I’m gonna call Nev first. I’ll catch up.”

  Lizzie couldn’t resist miming dragging a ball and chain across the snow as she walked on. Zach’s glower returned. Lizzie picked up her invisible ball and stomped off toward the base. What was wrong with her, why couldn’t she just leave off on a good note for once? “Catch me if you can,” she said, sullenly.

  She hurried her pace, not wanting to hear what Zach had to say about her. His voice softened as he reached Nev.

  Lizzie pulled out her own phone out and dialed, “Glen. Almost there. Zach picked me up.”

  “Tell him thanks.”

  “Maybe.”

  “You two fighting again?” Glen asked. “It’s my fault.”

  “Well, it’s my fault you’re in the situation with the breeders. But hopefully this mission will fix that. After this we’re even.”

  “Just stay safe. I may need you for more missions.” Glen’s noisy breathing carried over the call. “I got something for you when the job is done.”

  “Something for me like a present? I thought I was paying you back.”

  “Doesn’t have to be like that,” Glen sighed into the phone. “I can do something nice for you.”

  “I don't like to feel like I owe somebody.” Down the street, Zach walked toward her.

  “Besides yesterday was your birthday.”

  “Don’t remind me.” Lizzie continued to walk away from Zach, but not as fast. “Can you give me a hint?”

  Glen chuckled. “Let’s just say it’s data.”

  “Ugh, really? Well…umm...I look forward to receiving your gift. I know how data is like your precious,” she said in a Gollum voice.

  He laughed. “Maybe you would be more excited if I told you it was a way to get around the traffic shutdowns to external IPs in Provo?”

  “Huh?”

  “A way to talk to survivors outside Provo—other than my genius self.”

  “Shit, really?” The explanation in The City was that Internet communications were out due to power issues elsewhere. This kind of bullshit was what made her want to get far away.

  “Someone went to a lot of trouble to keep the rest of the world out, but I figured how to circumvent their blocks.”

  “Glad you’re my friend, Glen, the geek god!”

  “Let me know what you find out, ASAP,” Glen couldn’t contain his excitement.

  “I will. Talk to you later. Thanks.”

  “Oh, and don’t worry, I already wiped the GPS tracker off of Zach’s phone.”

  “Wait a sec. Did you tell him about the mission? Did you let him track my pho
ne?”

  “Ummm.”

  “What the fuck, Glen. Some secret mission. What kind of a person tracks a friend’s GPS?”

  “He made a pretty good, though violently paranoid point about you being pregnant and alone out there. Plus he was a good way to get you your present. He is supposed to give it to you after the mission.”

  As Zach got closer, she hurried her steps.

  “Shit, Glen. This is fucked up.” Looking at her internet history was probably a lie. Zach was spying on her. Even if the tracker was deleted. He could go to Glen anytime he wanted another one—maybe this wasn’t even the first time.

  “Sorry.”

  “So is everybody else. Thanks a lot, Glen.”

  “Wait up.” Zach jogged toward Lizzie. “Hey,” he called softly, “what’s your hurry?”

  She turned and greeted him with a fake smile. “How’s Nev?”

  “Fine,” Zach said, with a hesitant skepticism at the honey dripping off her words. “She’s glad you’re safe.”

  “I’ll bet.”

  He stared at her like she was crazy. “What’s wrong? I thought we were good.”

  “Oh, you’re good.”

  “Who were you talking to?” he asked.

  Her first response was ‘yer mom,’ but it didn’t come close to dealing with how pissed off she was. “Glen,” she said. Let him wonder what Glen had said. She spun on her heel and stalked away from him.

  “Lizzie,” his voice begged forgiveness.

  “Fuck you, Zach.” Lizzie walked up a rise toward a glow of bright lights on the horizon. Glen would be happy to hear the base had power. Zach followed close behind her like a chastened pet. She hated that he’d lied to her—even if it was just telling her a part-truth—he hadn’t trusted her. With a sigh of annoyance and resignation she realized that he wasn’t doing anything she hadn’t done first. But it wasn’t the lying; this spying shit was messed up. She wasn’t sure what to do about that. Should she tip him off that she knew? Or would she have a better advantage if he didn’t know she knew? She knew to watch for the signs now. Of course it hadn’t been chance that he had found her out here and been able to follow her so precisely.

  “I’m sorry, Lizzie.”

  “Forget it.”

  When she got to the top she halted. Stunned. A giant conglomeration of buildings sprawled below them, lit by super bright lights and surrounded by a chain link fence with razor wire at the top.

  Zach pulled Lizzie’s arm.

  “What?” she hissed.

  “Get down.”

  She let him pull her down.

  “Anybody could be in there. Could be the military. Or could be someone has taken it over. Maybe Utah Independents?”

  “Utah Independents wouldn’t know what to do with a—what did Glen call it? ‘A Lottabyte capacity data storage facility’.”

  Zach chuckled. “Maybe not, but it doesn’t mean they wouldn’t want it.”

  Lizzie glared. “What are you laughing at?”

  “A Lottabyte?” Zach leaned up on his elbow, looking down at her like she was stupid. “It’s a YOTTAbyte.”

  “Bite me.”

  “Byte you?” Zach teased. “It’s a million terabytes. Probably could hold everything the human race ever created digitally.”

  “Thought you didn’t know what we were here for.”

  “I didn’t know, but at least I know how to say the word.” Zach stared at her, his brow furrowed.

  “Well, look who knows everything about everything—and everyone.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Nothing. Let’s just do this.” What if he wasn’t just spying because of the baby? Were the Provo people putting him up to it? His boss? Captain Foote? Maybe he couldn’t care less about her—it was all just a job to him. He had been enjoying his job way too much ever since they arrived.

  “I’m not some stupid hick,” he growled.

  His anger startled her out of paranoia overdrive. “You were the kid in high school stupid enough to cheat off me.”

  “Things change.”

  “Yeah. I know they do, asshole.” Lizzie punched him in the arm. “I’m not stupid either, and I don’t care if it’s a yottabyte or just a lotta bytes—I’m here to help Glen. What are you here for?” She put her hands on her hips and waited for an answer.

  Zach glanced away, “Let’s take a look over the hill.”

  “Whatever.” Lizzie crawled away from him along the ridge. She could just see the tops of the buildings and the lights.

  Zach knelt beside her, staring over the hill. “It’s huge.” He whistled softly. “Looks like an entrance over there.”

  “Looks empty,” Lizzie said. “But the gates are up.”

  Zach hunched down and moved forward awkwardly.

  “Can you see anyone?”

  “Nope. Seems quiet,” he muttered, collapsing to his knees and crawling further up the rise.

  “Okay. I don’t really want to walk in the front gate, but I want to give Glen something worth our time and his. Do you have fence cutters in your Collector gear?” She shaded her eyes peering along the perimeter. “Wait. I have a better idea. Let’s find someplace to keep an eye on the place. We can take turns sleeping and watching. If there’s no one here… Well, either Glen gets it, or The Shitty or someplace else is.”

  Zach glared at her.

  “Sorry, The City,” she said softly. “Come on.” She was finally starting to get under his skin. Good. Served him right for all his lying and spying. She wasn’t sure if it was her dig at his precious Provo or the thought of him spending all night with her and having to explain it to Nev that did it, but she felt some small satisfaction now and could focus on her mission again.

  They wandered further around the installation, checking out potential viewpoints, keeping carefully out of view along the ridge where they could just see the tops of the buildings and the lights. About half-way around, they found a large RV parked close enough to see the front gates.

  Zach jimmied the window and stuck his nose inside. “Smells stale, but nothing bad.”

  He helped Lizzie get inside through the open window.

  She let Zach in. There was a bunk above the driver’s seat that had a window facing out. “I think we can see most of the facility from up there.” She pointed to the bunk. “You sleepy?”

  “I could sleep,” Zach nodded. “But the cold will keep me awake. I’ll take the first watch. If I get sleepy I’ll wake you.” Zach climbed up into the bunk,

  “Suits me.” Lizzie walked to the back. Through a skinny door there was a double bed, all neat and made up, like it was waiting for some lovely couple to come through the door. Lizzie climbed in, not bothering to take off her combat boots. Sleep ready, she’d decided. The cool pillowcase made her shiver. She lay there thinking. What did Zach want? Did he really want to keep the baby safe?

  Lizzie pulled out her ancient iPod. Her father had laughed aloud when she showed him her treasure filled with all of his music from before she was born. He’d said the $300 player had been one of his last ridiculous splurges.

  That music had helped her through the rough years. Of course, it had died eventually and one of her techie friends, sort of a mini-Glen-guy, had switched in a solid state drive and new battery.

  She stuck in her ear buds, put it on the sleepy playlist. “Free” from the Empire Records soundtrack entwined around itself in her ear. She tried to empty her mind and let sleep come.

  Her father could fall asleep anywhere. He’d learned in the Army. Zach and Duke could both do it and neither of them were in the army. It had to be a guy thing. She couldn’t do it.

  She stared up at the funny mushroom-shaped water stain on the ceiling. Kind of like an atomic bomb—kind of like her life. Was it irony that the world ended without any bombs and yet here she was staring at the aftermath of one? She could never remember what was irony and what wasn’t—Alanis Morissette was not a reliable resource and no English teacher had e
ver said anything that stuck.

  Obviously, she wasn’t going to sleep. If she snuggled next to Zach it would keep them both warmer, but the thought of Nev finding out made her twitchy.

  Lizzie’s brain flashed back over her new life, the life since everything ended. Telling Zach and Nev about the baby had been the weirdest. The thing with her and Zach had been a drunken mistake, but it still hung over them like a black cloud.

  Not for the first time, she wondered if she should give the baby to Nev and make herself scarce. Or Rachael. Everyone would be better off without Crazy Lizzie around, especially the baby.

  She threw off the covers, grabbing the heavy top blanket and clumped to the forward bunk. “I can watch if you want to sleep,” she muttered.

  “Can’t sleep?” Zach asked. He didn’t get up.

  “Nah.” She climbed up the ladder and slid in next to him. “See anything?”

  “Nothing moving.”

  Lizzie lay down next to him and stared out the window. “So, can you go to sleep? Like on a whim?”

  Zach shrugged. “Sometimes. You can’t?”

  “Nah. Too many things chase around in my mind. Knock me over the head, exhaust me or get me drunk… That usually works.”

  “Go out for a run,” Zach grinned. “Don’t do any of the others.”

  “Oh sure. Why don’t I have a jog up to the gate and jump around naked in front of the guard house? That won’t get their attention. Shut up and let me steal some of your warmth.” She leaned in with her back against his side and pulled the covers over both of them.

  “Don’t you be trying anything, Lizzie.”

  “Fuck you, Zach. Just—just don’t say anything to Nev, okay?”

  He could not fulfill her needs for anything more than a warm body. Duke, the other male member of her Bellingham transient tribe, had been hinting and flirting for a month, but she’d managed to ignore it. He was hunky and hot, but her track record with boyfriends was pretty bad.

  Chapter Four