by Kip Nelson
“Believe me, I didn't want to think this was true anymore than you guys did, but it is. Do any of you really think these two camps would have been at war if Lisa hadn’t made it so? The only thing we knew about the other camps is what she told us. She played on our fear and we were too cowardly ever to believe anything otherwise. I saw a lot of you that day she tried to have me and the others executed. I know all of you wanted to step up, but you were just too afraid of what would happen if you did, just like I know that's why you went into battle for her.
“Well, there's nobody to be afraid of anymore. These people want to trade and cooperate, to work together. Isn't that what we all should be aiming for? Lisa has spent so long ransacking these people, stealing their food, and hoarding it. It's been fine for us because we've been reaping the benefits, but open your eyes and look around. These people are suffering, and they need your help.”
Her passionate words helped sway even the stoutest of hearts. There was some grumbling, for one of the most difficult things to do is getting a person to admit they had been fighting the wrong side, but once they saw the light there was peace and they arranged a trade with Matthew's camp. However, there still was the unresolved issue of Peter murdering Lisa. Matthew had to address this in front of his entire camp because it would set the tone for how he handled things in the future. He gathered them all together and talked about the problem, and then offered his solution.
“I have deliberated over this for a long time, and I have prayed to the Lord for guidance. I know this is not a decision I can make lightly, but it also is not one I can think about for too long. I do not condone what Peter did, but there are reasons that have been brought to my attention that go a long way to explaining why he did it. I believe in justice, but I also believe in forgiveness. I do not think Peter did this out of malice or with a cold heart. I think he believes in this and he only had taken these actions because he thought he had no alternative.
“After hearing his story, I believe he should not be condemned for murder. None of us are without sin, and I shall not be casting the first stone today. We have been embroiled in a war. There have been mistakes on both sides, and it is today when we make our stamp on the future. Today we promise to ourselves that we will be better, and Peter will not be able to do so if he is locked up, punished for being a soldier.”
There were some issues raised with Matthew's logic, but he held up his hand to silence them so he could explain himself. “You all were there at the trial. Lisa showed no sign that she wanted to redeem herself. Peter has made a mistake, but I think we owe him the opportunity to make up for that mistake, just as we must make up for the mistakes we have made. I would have offered Lisa the same opportunity in time as well, although I doubt she would have taken it. These are going to be trying times for us all, but as long as we trust in the Lord and in ourselves I know we will be able to make it through. Every challenge, every adversity, is an opportunity and it is our duty to make the best of it.”
With that he stepped down and talked individually with people who still held some animosity for the way things had gone down. To make things official Matthew offered to return to the other camp to broker a proper peace treaty and trade agreement. Adam, Diana and the others went with him, along with a few other people, and this time the mood was much different. Adam was now more accepted in the camp and had made friends with a number of people, although it was strange to be back yet again in the place he thought was going to be his new home. Without Lee or Lisa, the community was free of its deadliest tyrants and was far more amenable to hearing Matthew speak. There still was some opposition at first to what he proposed, but the mood had shifted entirely and the few who still were loyal to Lisa had no power, and were outvoted.
Adam felt bad that there were so many people who had died to make this happen, but he hoped it all would work out. There were plenty of people who still were living, and it was they who he had to remember. Matthew was amazed at the hoard of food Lisa had been keeping, and those who had followed her felt ashamed when they saw the gaunt, thin figures that had come with Matthew. They were quick to share the food with them and, soon enough, a dialogue had begun between the two camps. There was much regret and recrimination on both sides, but Adam was happy to see both parties were being reasonable about the whole thing. It was clear everyone wanted to move forward and work together, and it only had been people such as Lisa and Lee holding them back.
Lisa’s death had left a power vacuum,, although it seemed few people wanted the job. Matthew understood this, but he made it clear to all of them that they needed a leader, or at least a small council to help get things accomplished. “Perhaps in time we can make this city whole again, and we can have representatives from each community coming together to make policies and rule this city with a gentle hand, but for now we have to be concerned with our own interests.”
People looked and nodded at each other, and a few people were nominated for the council. However, that matter was going to be settled after Adam and the others left, although Adam was sure that this time they would make the right choice. In his opinion, it was better that they had a reluctant leader such as Matthew, rather than someone who made a quick grab at any opportunity for power, such as Lisa. He imagined when she first had taken control there was no vote or agreement among the people she was leading.
Before Adam and the others left they were told of other camps in the area, ones that Lisa had marked to be attacked. (Well, they had been marked as threats, but now everyone knew Lisa's idea of a threat was completely different from everyone else’s.) Matthew took down the locations of these camps and envoys were sent out to try brokering more peace. The area had been torn by war and it was time to begin the healing process. Everyone was in the same situation, and it was time they all worked together rather than fight. Adam only hoped the people in charge of these other camps were reasonable like Matthew, because he knew there always would be people such as Lisa out there. Those types of people would rise to the top of their communities and look to take the world in their grip, to fashion it in the image they had in their mind, an image that almost inevitably ended with them sitting atop a pile of ash, and the world crumbling at their feet.
However, one issue still plagued Adam, something that had been on his mind for a great deal of time. He pulled Matthew aside and reminded him about the apartments and how there were a lot of people being crammed into those buildings, with the stench of death drifting down from the upper floors. Matthew looked pensive and agreed that something had to be done because there was no reason why they should be kept like that. They were more like animals than people, and Adam hoped they would be able to regain something of their humanity after being herded like sheep for so long. He wanted to at least tell that there was some hope, and that it could nourish them even a little bit.
However, he also remembered what Clark had been like. How that man had been driven to despair by the conditions in which he was kept. Perhaps if he had been given a purpose he would have been able to deal in a better way with his wife leaving him, but he lost everything, in the end even his sanity. Adam wondered how many people actually could be brought back from the brink and be integrated back into what was left of civilization. How many were too broken though? He remembered how they all had been like ghosts of people, their eyes glazed over, merely going through the motions of life. Was the hope he provided just too late?
The diplomatic group were given accommodations and were shown grand hospitality, in order to make up for the war. There still was a lot of animosity on both sides as many had lost loved ones, and now that the war had ended so easily it seemed even more pointless. It was staggering how much influence one woman had had on all of them. By the end of the discussions they all agreed never to let it happen again. After Adam and Diana left to visit the nearest apartment complex, Matthew waited for the envoys to return. He walked around the camp and spoke with many people about what they were trying to accomplish. Each conversation wen
t the same. The people he spoke with were guilty and cast their eyes away, but in the end, they came around when they realized he was not going to persecute them for what they had done.
Matthew pondered this, and remembered what Adam said about Peter. Perhaps it was for the best that people be allowed to move on with their lives and do their own penance. He knew that now more than ever. Each person’s conscience would prove to be a suitable judge, for all of them had been pushed to do inhuman things. Of course, that is with the Lord there with his warmth and his comfort, to give them strength and show them the way of forgiveness. It would take time, but Matthew was hopeful everyone would see the light and work their way toward a better future.
Humanity had been plagued by these tests before, of course, and now it was up to those left to be good people and try overcoming their sinful natures. He looked up at the gray, murky sky. The grim clouds rolled together and cloaked the world in a dim, wintry cover. Beyond that sky rose the heavens, an eternal paradise. It was far different than the world upon which Matthew was standing. Those who had died had been taken to heaven and given the gift of eternal life, while those still remaining on Earth had unfinished business.
Matthew knew it was his job to be the voice of God on Earth. He never had been a preacher, and in his own mind he had not lived up to the standards of the saints. Yet, in his heart he was a devout Christian. All he wanted was to do his best, and try guiding people to the light of the Lord so that when they closed their eyes for the sleep that never ended they would do so with peace and contentment. In many ways, those who had perished had been the fortunate ones, for they were with the Lord, while those left on the earth still had much work to be done.
He said a silent prayer for the strength to carry on, and the hope that their trials were over. It was a futile hope, though. The trials of this world never would be over. There was always another crisis, or another enemy, or just the day-to-day rigor of survival. At least now the food had been shared and that eased a lot of the pressure. Sadly, so too did the loss of life, since there now were fewer bodies to feed. It also meant there were fewer people to help with the general maintenance of the camps and gathering food as well. However, now that they had no war to worry about Matthew was confident they could send out scavenging parties and start planning for the future.
He often thought about spring, even though it seemed more like a dream in those winter months, and how he wanted to see the flowers bloom and have crops planted. Once the harsh winter was gone he was sure life could flourish in the new world. He already had been amazed by the resourcefulness shown by the people around him, and they had plenty of good ideas for the things they could plant in the spring. They could store food so that next winter they weren't so worried about living from day to day, and they even could expand, trying to find new places to live. It was going to take a long time for them to be self-sustaining, but it was a worthy goal to work toward, and one that was attainable, too. Matthew wanted a world in which people were free to pursue their own happiness. One day, perhaps, he'd even figure out what would make him happy, because at the moment he was solely focused on leading his people. He almost had forgotten what it was like to have a life of his own.
Although he was enjoying these few moments of peaceful reflection they soon were broken by a few people coming up to him; a combination of those from his own camp and from the one hosting them. He did not like the looks on their faces, for they all were ashen and creased with worry. Behind them there was a man holding something. He was shaking, and Matthew wondered what was wrong.
“It...they...” he stammered, and then broke down in tears. “He was my best friend,” the man said, and handed the bag to another as he pulled away and sank to the ground, weeping heavily.
Matthew asked to see what was in the bag and he was horrified by what he saw. It was a severed head. It seemed that one camp did not appreciate their peaceful overtures, and Matthew felt his heart sink. There was another enemy out there, one that was brutal, and it was clear their trials were not over yet.
Chapter Twelve
Adam and Diana were, of course, unaware of this latest development. So, they were in quite good spirits as they walked to the nearest apartment complex. With all that had happened it felt as if it had been a long time since the two of them had been alone. Adam welcomed the chance, for by now he and Diana were old friends and shared a bond that ran deep between them. When he thought he had lost her he realized he loved her as he would a sister, although he hadn't told her that yet.
“Things went better than I expected,” Diana said.
“Yeah, I don't think we could have hoped for them to be any better. I'm glad they realized what Lisa was and that what happened wasn't right. I'm glad they're sharing the food as well. I think that will go a long way to bridging the gap between the two camps.”
“I wonder if they'll get the same response from the other camps in the area.”
“I hope so. I mean, surely people realize it's in everyone's best interest to work together? That's one of the things I never understood about the old world. People always were so consumed with looking at the differences between us when, really, we're all human, we're all people, and we all struggle with the same stuff. Instead of focusing on our differences, we should be focusing on the things we have in common.”
“Do you think that's the way the world is going then?” she said, looking at the gray abandoned city around her, peering into the shadows to make sure they were not being watched.
Adam kicked a stray pebble. It skittered along the ground and bounced against the wall of a store with a cracked window. Its sign read 'Open.' “I hope so, but who knows how things are going to turn out? I guess that's something left up to people like Matthew, the leaders of these communities.”
“I wouldn't sell yourself too short. You've had an important role to play.”
“Yeah, I've almost gotten us killed, like, three times.”
“Actually, I think it's four,” she said with a wicked grin. “But seriously, you and Tara seem to be getting pretty close.”
“Yeah. I never thought it would happen, not in this world. Especially not when I thought I was going to be alone.”
He paused for a moment and thought back to those first few days of the apocalyptic world. He had been so frightened. All he wanted to do was to run away from the world, to live like a hermit and never have any dealings with humans again, all because he had been scarred by that first night, when he had seen so much petty fighting. He had been keeping something secret from Diana all this time and now it felt like the right time to reveal the truth.
“Back in the early days, before I met Peter, I thought about killing myself.” The words almost caught in his throat, but when they left his mouth it felt as though a weight was lifted from him.
“In fact, if it wasn't for Peter I probably would have. At the time it seemed like such an easy, natural thing to do. I was alone, nobody cared about me, and nobody was going to miss me. It seemed like it was easier to end it all there rather suffer more, because I only could see myself dying eventually.”
“I'm glad you didn't do it. You know, I auditioned for a movie once. I didn't get the part, but there was one line from the script that always has stood out to me. It said that life is about the people you haven't met yet. I always thought that had a kind of beauty to it.”
“Yeah, I like that. It makes sense as well, because I now realize there's still a lot for me to do. I don't want to say goodbye to any of you. I know life was probably different for you back then, what with being an actress and all, but for me I didn't have many friends. Sometimes I thought I was broken and just didn't have the ability to connect with people on anything more than a superficial level. I thought I was happy, but now I see I was more just coping with the situation. In some ways my life actually has gotten better since the world went dark.”
Diana gave off a soft chuckle. “I'm glad you're looking at the brighter side of things but, you know, eve
rybody gets lonely now and then, even actresses,” she said pointedly. Adam smiled. “So, do you think that you and Tara is going to be a thing?”
“I think we are already,” he said, running his hand through his hair. The cold only seemed to be getting worse and his hands were shaking.
“It just happened without me realizing it. I guess in times like these people get thrust closer together. She's just...I don't know where to begin, really. It just feels so right being with her, and now that I have her in my life, I can't imagine ever being apart from her.”
“That's really sweet. Have you told her yet?”
“Not in so many words, but I think she understands.”
“Adam, you need to tell her, and tell her quickly!”
“Alright, alright, I'll tell her when we get back.”
“Good, because you don't want to keep a woman waiting about these things, especially not in a world like this!”
They walked on for a little while longer. Adam thought about Tara and how much he was looking forward to seeing her again. They did indeed have a long-awaited conversation ahead and he hoped they both were on the same page, because at the moment she was the brightest thing in his life. The one thing that made all the misery worthwhile.
Eventually, they came to the apartment complex that had been their home for a short time. It towered above them and looked as grim as it always had, the dark windows showing no light, the gray concrete walls looming ominously. It was like a foreboding fortress and Adam shivered as he looked at it. They stepped in and things had not changed at all. People slouched against the walls and barely noticed Adam and Diana as they entered the lobby. Everyone was a shell of their former self. They all were gaunt, and Adam gagged as he breathed in the heavy, wretched scent that hung in the air.
