Thick Black Theory: A Symbiont Wars Book (Symbiont Wars Universe)

by Chogan Swan

  Daniels opened his mouth but then snapped it shut. After a moment, he said, “I think that would be a good idea.” He turned his head sideways one notch. “Bennie..., Sam, thanks for bringing the fuel to us. We had best be on our way.”

  Bennie took half-a-step closer to Kaitlin, glaring at her. “You’re lucky, you’re a girl,” he said, voice inching towards a threatening tone.

  “I know, because then I might have testosterone poisoning affecting my brain too.” Kaitlin brushed by him on her way to the passenger door before he had time to register the insult. She climbed in and slammed the door behind her.

  Bernard opened the door on the other side of the van, looking at her with eyebrows raised in question marks. She shook her head, relaxed her face and forced her teeth to stop clenching. It took a concerted effort. After a deep breath, she climbed back into the observation bubble.

  “E-five,” Kaitlin said, testing the AA’s reaction to Sam and Bennie as they climbed back into their pickup. Sure enough, the algorithm misfired, cycling between green, yellow and red highlights even though it had been told to designate them as green when they’d arrived.

  Maybe the AA agrees with me... either that or its machine-learning function has been corrupted.

  She’d need to log a bug report.

  Chapter 28 — New plan

  Another group headed for the border.

  “Ten adult male, nine adult female, four children.” Kaitlin logged the count in the notebook section of the AA interface.

  Identifying children by sex was uncertain and optional, so she left it out. To her, it didn’t seem to make any difference in the scheme of things.

  Somewhere, somehow, it was contributing information for analysis at a higher level for the SimSociety 2.0 database. One thing was sure: the society models were all going to need a major rewrite since the EMP.

  The blackest of Black Swan Events since the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs.

  Not blacker though. The dinosaurs never had a chance. If homo sapiens dies off now, it will be our own fault, and civilization will, once again, prove to be an ephemeral phenomenon.

  Kaitlin pulled her moleskine notebook from her cargo pants pocket and jotted the thought down. Who knew? There might be a demand for firsthand historical insights in the future. She was a bit surprised she’d managed to muster such a long-term, action connected to the thoughts. But, it wasn’t as though she wouldn’t use the paper to start a fire to keep from freezing.

  The tone sounded that let her know the system had received another randomized pulse from the GPS satellite to update their position. “Ninety-seven kilometers to Del Rio,” she announced.

  “Why don’t you say, klicks, the way Daniels does?” Drew said.

  “Maybe because I wasn’t trained by the same fascist regime,” Kaitlin said.

  At the wheel, Bernard snorted, but then blew his nose on his handkerchief to disguise his amused reaction.

  “A bit less chatter would help the fascist get the sleep he needs,” Daniels said.

  “And so would earplugs,” Kaitlin suggested.

  Daniels sighed. “Okay, let’s just clear the air, now then. I admit that I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions back there. Maybe I do micro-manage... a little, when I have new team members. But...”

  Kaitlin stifled the urge to interrupt when she heard the qualifier. After all, that would be jumping to conclusions as well.

  “... as the team leader, you have to cut me some slack as well.”

  Kaitlin tapped her fingers on her arm as she considered the remark. “I agree with the last part of your statement. We all need to cut each other some slack, especially since we are a new team. So, consider the slack cut. We’ll put it behind us as far as I’m concerned.”

  She tapped an E6 on the keyboard to flag a sighting of a lone human silhouette on a far ridgeline. “In addition, I think we should consider the nature of our blended team. Each of us has unique strengths. For example, in addition to his mechanical and engineering wizardry, Bernard has proved to have many leadership qualities stemming from his career as a senior officer in the air force and a long and observant life... qualities that you would have no way of knowing in the short time since we’ve met.”

  She typed in more coordinates. “It would be nice if we had time to sit down and have a face-to-face conference about all the challenges and resources we have available to us as a team. But, until that time comes, perhaps we should consider that Amber and Ayleana put both you and me in charge of different projects. Now we are a blended team—four people who have all survived in tough situations, held leadership positions and been responsible for the lives of others. Both teams have contributed to the material resources available, and each individual knows their own abilities better than anyone else does. I think—considering those facts—that the notion that we need a top-down command hierarchy on a team this small is a constriction that could get us all killed. What we need instead is to communicate and trust.”

  She sucked on her lip for a second. “If you can’t agree to that—then, until Amber can structure the teams the way she wants—I nominate Bernard for commander based on his military seniority and proven ability to delegate.”

  The satellite update tone sounded again.

  “But I suggest we table the discussion for now. Bernard, stop. The satellite feed is showing a big crowd of people over that next rise.”

  Kaitlin held onto the handrail with both hands as the SUV skidded to a stop. Daniels rolled out of the bunk the instant the wheels locked. Bernard scooted out of his way, almost climbing over Drew’s lap on his way to the rear of the SUV.

  Drew waited until Bernard was out of his way before opening the dashboard, pulling the drone from its charging station and sliding it onto the roof of the SUV. A moment later, the whirr of rotors pouring through the window announced its takeoff, and a new video feed lit up in the lower left section of Kaitlin’s glasses.

  “Holy...” Drew said.

  “We’ll have to backtrack,” Kaitlin and Daniels said together.

  The video feed from the drone showed the highway ahead filled with a long column of people stretching down the road ahead. Some walked. Some rode bicycles or wheelchairs, carrying or hauling the few earthly possessions they could.

  “Where are they all going?” Drew whispered.

  “Civilization,” Bernard said. “They’re migrating. Somehow they must have heard the grid is still functioning in Mexico.”

  “Can you send the drone higher?” Kaitlin said. “I need to scout for other routes to make sure those aren’t blocked too.”

  “We have another thirty seconds to get off a request to change the rendezvous site,” Daniels said. “Voice to text,” he continued, ordering up the communications interface. “Route 237 blocked. Requesting reroute or new pickup destination. Send, priority one. Execute.”

  Kaitlin—seeing Daniels put the gear shift in reverse and turning off the ABS—gripped the handrail and braced.

  The SUV surged backwards, accelerating for about forty meters before Daniels braked and slid the wheels around in a controlled skid. In moments they were headed back the way they’d come, racing with time for a chance to reach the border.

  The chime of a return text sounded a heartbeat before the tone that signaled the communication window had closed.

  “We have a new pickup destination on this side of the border,” Drew said. “It’s at the boat launch near Seminole Canyon State Park.”

  “Kaitlin, can you plot a route using side roads?” said Daniels.

  “Yes, I know exactly where it is,” she said as her stomach clenched into a knot. “Head west on route 10 when we get back to Sonora.”

  Chapter 29 — Another penny

  As Bernard drove them through Comstock, the feeling in the pit of Kaitlin’s stomach had grown more distracting. The familiar vistas of desert sprinkled with tiny settlements of low-roofed buildings added to the sense of an inevitable tension like a fishhook pullin
g on her soul.

  Where is the dividing line between dream and reality?

  Daniels had announced after the last communications window that they’d be meeting their contacts at the State Park in the morning, so the plan was to camp there overnight. Kaitlin wondered if she’d be able to sleep... or if she’d be able to tell the difference. Her memory of a trip here with her mother and stepfather was like an ice cube on her soul.

  She remembered one of her talks with Brian.

  “I believe sometimes the universe brings us places for a reason,” he’d said.

  What had they been talking about? She thought maybe it was one of those shorter books in the Hebrew Nevi’im. Jonah, perhaps. The one who ran from God.

  She almost smiled, looking out at the desert landscape.

  Not much chance of a whale out here, and if Dan is supposed to represent God, then this story is FUBAR.

  FUBAR was a word Daniels used a lot.

  When they pulled into the Visitors Center parking lot, no one was in sight, only a dozen or so RVs. There was one with a custom logo she remembered—a big fish. The recognition fell on her like an inevitable rockslide. Dan’s

  He can’t be here. He’s already gone.

  It was no surprise that Dan would take this road to Mexico. It was familiar to him. He’d have brought the kayak and portaged to the Pecos Boat Launch. Then he’d just float downriver to Lake Amistad... border crossed; nothing to it.

  She wondered if he’d brought her mother with him, but it didn’t seem likely.

  “Daniels, I need to check out this RV. I know the owner and he’s not a nice person. He’s probably not here, but I’ll take Bernard with me for backup.”

  “Huh, what are the odds? Right, well, we need to check out the whole area anyhow. Let’s just be careful. I’m locking the van.”

  “I’ve got the spare key,” Bernard said, tapping his pocket.

  Kaitlin pulled a pry bar out of Bernard’s toolbox and stepped into the dry, baking heat, settling her hat on her head.

  The parking lot held a dusting of sand across its surface. Of course, no one had swept it since June 10th. She crouched to examine the surface and stiffened. Fresh tracks led from Dan’s RV and across the lot. The other RVs had a few footprints here and there, but all of those were old. These were recent. She pointed to the tracks, and Bernard nodded, pursing his lips.

  Kaitlin stalked to the tracks and examined them. The footprints leaving the RV were on top of those headed to it. One set was about a size 10 with a Vibram sole. The other, however, was from a small pair of sneakers.

  With a light touch, Kaitlin eased Promisekeeper in the holster to make sure the barrel would clear quickly if she needed it. “Cover me,” she said, glancing to Bernard.

  Bernard nodded, taking the bullpup off safety, but his eyes searched hers for information.

  “I’ll fill you in later,” she assured him. “Just be ready.”

  Kaitlin slid the right-angled end of the flat bar into the crevice below the lock and leaned back hard. The door popped open with a clatter. Kaitlin stepped back and took the .45 in one hand and the pocket flashlight in the other.

  She ducked her head in and out fast. No one was visible.

  Kaitlin paused, listening, but all she heard was Daniels and Drew walking across the lot to the other RVs. She motioned to Bernard to close in then stepped inside. The close, rank smell of him assaulted her, taking her unprepared. She caught herself and took her finger off the trigger, glad it was single-action and she hadn’t cocked it before entering.

  As with everything else about Dan, the interior was neat, precise, ordered. A short stack of coloring books on the table was topped by a large box of crayons. The kayak was still stored, hanging in a hammock inside the RV.

  Kaitlin checked the washroom—just to be sure no one else was inside—then came back and moved the box off the books.

  Rainbows and unicorns danced across the cover of the one on top. Kaitlin opened it, turning through the pages to find dark, violently shaded equines with red-wax blood pouring from their horns. Tiny, blonde-haired stick figures—added to the scenes freehand—cowered away from their hooves.

  Kaitlin shuddered and closed the book. As she turned to go, she caught sight of a long, blonde hair stuck to the fabric of the back of the bench.

  Her teeth ground together as she spun to the door and jumped to the pavement.

  “Get those two and follow me. He has a little girl with him and she is not safe in his company. He’s been mistreating her for some time. I have to find her. Follow quiet and walk in each other’s footsteps when you follow. I don’t want to miss anything if I have to backtrack.”

  “Good God,” said Bernard, almost snarling as he whispered. Then he turned to hurry toward where Daniels and Drew were working through the other RVs.

  The tracks led Kaitlin across to the footpath that lead down the slope to the canyon. He would go there for shade and water during the day.

  Not taking chances, she continued checking the tracks, but sped up as she passed the tall—abstractly human—metal sculpture. Like the pictographs it paid homage to, its hands were raised to the sky, bearing gifts.

  The tracks followed the right-hand fork.

  To make sure Bernard could find her, she scuffed an arrow pointing right and followed the most recent scuffs and partial prints.

  As she descended into the canyon, every sound seemed magnified by the sloping rock walls. Not a breath of wind stirred the sand or scrub. Kaitlin crouched, making the best use of the sparse cover she could find. As she ducked, the cough of a silenced gunshot and a ricochet from the rocks behind her made her throw herself to the ground.

  “Don’t shoot,” she called. “Dan is that you? It’s Kaitlin. I saw your motor coach and came looking for you. I just want you to take me to Mexico.”

  “Kaitlin,” Dan’s raspy voice was doubtful as he spoke her name. “What the hell? How did you get here?”

  “I bicycled here from Comstock. I figured this would be the best way across the river when I heard they hadn’t been hit.”

  Keep it simple.

  “Is my mother with you?” she called, knowing the answer but figuring he’d expect her to ask.

  She heard Dan snort.

  “No,” he said. “She left me not long after you did.”

  Liar!

  There was no way her mother would choose to be alone. But he’d left Kaitlin an opening—an opening that would be like crawling through a sewer with filth up to her neck.

  ... but there’s a little girl.

  “I can make it up to you,” Kaitlin said. Knowing the twists of blame his mind ran in, she put a note of submission in the words.

  “Come out where I can see you,” said Dan, voice even uglier than usual.

  She’d spotted where he was hiding—a shadow in the brush. Kaitlin slid left before rising, so she could keep Promisekeeper hidden behind a cholla cactus.

  When she stood, Dan stepped away from the rock he’d been using for cover, but he kept his gun pointed at her. “Take off your hat so I can make sure it’s you,” he said.

  He looked about the same as he had when she’d left home: cold gray eyes, lips poised to sneer, coarse, sandy hair clipped short beneath his baseball hat, and face shaved smooth—even at the end of the world.

  Kaitlin grasped the brim of her hat between the fingers of her left hand and slipped it from her head. She shook her hair back as she lowered the hat to cover Peacemaker, but kept her eyes on his gun, waiting. The red dot from his laser sights had not left the chest pocket of her shirt since she’d stood.

  “Well, well,” he said and laughed. “I’ve waited a long time for this.... Take off your shirt.” His voice had started out sounding like approaching retribution, but now it exulted in his control.

  Kaitlin slowly unsnapped the blue-checked shirt and slid her right hand from the sleeve. She let the shirt slide behind her, leaving her breasts exposed. Then, with her right hand, she took he
r left sleeve, and let the shirt slide down her left arm too, still covering Promisekeeper at her left hip. When her left hand cleared the sleeve, she transferred the shirt and hat to her left hand. “I’m glad I found you, Dan,” she said.

  Leaving Promisekeeper hidden behind the shirt, Kaitlin took a step to the right, and waited. The red dot from his laser sight danced across her bare skin.

  Dan frowned. “You’re all grown up,” he sneered, voice disappointed. His eyes—occupied with her breasts—weren’t on her hands. His face became thoughtful, and—for an instant—the barrel dropped. The laser dot flickering across the top of her left breast disappeared from her peripheral vision.

  Target, fifteen yards.

  Kaitlin’s left hand abandoned the shirt and hat less than a third of a second before Promisekeeper’s voice roared through the canyon. Dan staggered, and Promisekeeper echoed a second time. His head snapped back, and he fell.

  Kaitlin strode forward, with Promisekeeper still covering him, and stepped on the gun, but she could tell by his empty eye socket that he would never take aim again.

  “Real glad I found you, Dan,” she said. “You are under arrest.”

  She gazed at his corpse, surprised that she could feel so little of what she’d expected if this moment ever came. Knowing her own mind, it was all going on somewhere in her subconscious. She shuddered and removed the gun from his hand, startling when his fingers twitched.

  Cadaveric spasm.

  Kaitlin sighed. He’d probably continue haunting her dreams, but at least she’d be able to remind him he was dead... and that she’d killed him.

  Under arrest.

  Locked behind the bars of death now.

  Chapter 30 — Tracks

  Kaitlin pulled her eyes away from Dan’s corpse, looking down the canyon to search the mesquite cover and the shaded areas under the canyon walls. Now she wished she’d checked the coloring books more carefully. The girl might have written her name in them somewhere. That might help—if Kaitlin could just find her.