by Annie Berdel
“Oh, well we all ate about an hour right after I got home from Uncle Noah’s home. It was a while ago when you were sleeping. Didn’t want to wake you.” He responded
His words cut through her. She was already becoming a burden. Everyone was going on with life without her. She was being forgotten. What happened next? What else would change?
“You want me to bring you a plate?” Mountain Man asked
Why no, I’ll just either get it myself or lie here and starve, her mind twisted the words around until they lit a fire under her normally calm resolved. Catching her breath at the thoughts that came spilling out, her eyes darted to the glass on the floor. A deeper crimson crept up her neck nestling against her hairline.
“Jeremiah, you are doing so much already.” Her lip quivering as she spoke
“You are my wife, it is my duty to attend to you until you are better”
Duty was a very foul dirty word at times. He did it because he was obligated? Not because he loved her anymore? Was there another? Already? He couldn’t wait? How long had she been an invalid?
“Here” he said as he handed her the small pill. “Ridley said to take another one tonight so you rest better.”
Taking it, she popped it into her mouth and swallowed. “Ridley” she thought
“I’ll get you a plate now. You need food with the meds you are on. Don’t go breaking anything else until I get back” Jeremiah directed
Shelby gave him a faint smile and remained silent as he left the room. She really had no choice at this point.
24
Looking out the kitchen window, Emma stiffened. Somewhere out there was her husband. Was he hurt? Was he with someone? Was he coming home? If only she could remember something.
The kids would be heading over soon. They were going to discuss the next steps to take…except, she hadn’t figured out what the next steps were yet. As the matriarch, wasn’t that her responsibility? She was the one with all the training, the one everyone else relied upon. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. There didn’t always have to be an action.
If the path was unclear, pause.
Her eyelashes fluttered open as the words raced a crossed her heart.
Be still.
Turning slowly, the scenes flashed before her like an old flicker film from the 40’s. Before her, Tom was on the floor, beaten. His face swelling from the blows being dealt by the other fiend’s fist. Over and over he smashed into Tommy’s face, blood spewing from each contact. The sound of bones breaking overpowered the sound of flesh smashing into flesh.
Why couldn’t she see their faces?
The woman was on the floor, two men holding her by the upper arms so she had to watch Tom being beaten. Anguish disguised her own face before her.
Emma shivered as the images dissolved into a thick mist and finally dissipated. Tom was out there somewhere and needed her. Bruised and broken, Emma had no qualms that he were in trouble. Closing her eyes tight, Emma tried to will the scene back before her but got nothing.
Dixon, who had been lying in the corner of the kitchen, watched as she walked into her office. She sat down on a bar stool that was hidden under the large table in the middle of the room and Dixon followed. Reaching down in the cubby that served as a leg to hold the table up, Emma pulled out a long roll of paper. Sliding the band down and over one end, Emma gave a flick and extended the parchment out before her.
“Come on boy, where is he?” she said as she rubbed the dog behind the ear, his head above the top of the table as he watched with interest at what his owner was doing.
Her land. The land she had worked her ass off to buy. The land that she had sacrificed so much of her children’s early years for to give them a future. There was no way to go back and give them the memories of her attending school functions or church recitals like all the other parents but she could now give their children a safe haven for their future. It wasn’t about the money but about the hours she spent away from her family working for something she now realized wasn’t promised. Hope? Did she give them hope?
Her land encompassed roughly three hundred acres. The diversity of the plot allowed for a regeneration of natural commodities if needed. She had plenty of acres that were established with old wood so she had a renewable source for fuel. Just as many acres lay barren when she purchased it that she had planted with perennial fruits, vegetables and medicinal herbs over the years. Recreating a natural permanent culture of growth, the plots were well calculated out for food production that was well hidden from the normal eye. She even had kiwi growing on her farm. Something that a lot of people didn’t realize was that certain tropical fruits and vegetables could be manipulated for cold tolerant growth. These kiwi were not like their warm blooded cousins but had a rather smooth skin, but the taste and the nutrients were still there and that was important to Emma.
Following the lines on the map, Emma ran her finger out from the house in multiple directions. What made sense? Tom hadn’t been gone long, so he couldn’t have made it too far in the condition he was in. But what if someone took him by vehicle? There wasn’t much Emma could do about that currently but if they did take him, they didn’t intend to kill him. That thought alone made Emma feel a little better.
The nasty little ghost crept in quickly to Emma’s thoughts making her brows draw together. If someone hadn’t taken him, he was out there and in horrible shape. That made finding him even more crucial.
“Dix, we have to find him” she spoke to the dog with every intention that he understood her words, that at any moment he would speak back with wisdom on Tom’s whereabouts.
Looking at the clock on the wall, she had very little time before the kids arrived. They would have a fit if they found out she went out alone considering all that had happened, but she wasn’t going to wait.
“Come on Dix, let’s go! I can’t just sit here any longer. We need to find Tommy!” she said as she gave the dog a rough rub on both ears.
Picking up her Sig P938, she stashed her flashlight and knife in her pocket, grabbed a jacket and walked silently from the house.
Taking a sharp left out the back door, she decided to head down along the creek. The farm itself had an interesting layout, not only because it was involved in the Underground Railroad but because of all the natural resources it contained. Water alone, the land had not only a spring fed pond, but a creek from the nearest lake not 5 miles away. Add to that the water catchment systems on the house and outbuildings and it would take a severe drought or act of destruction by man to not be able to drink a fresh cup of natural water.
The driveway wound back from the main road almost a mile before it reached the main house, crossing the creek and a set of train tracks. If you were going to dump a body, that would be the easiest and quickest place to do so.
Emma picked up her pace as she skirted the edge of the driveway looking for any signs of Tommy. Her breathing increased from adrenaline as she noticed tire tracks off the side in the soft dirt. Bending down, her fingers touched the indentation from the tread. Not her truck tires, she thought. Bigger. Not a pattern she recognized.
“What do you think?” she asked her dog as he stuck his nose into the ground where her fingers had touched.
Glancing up, her eyes scanned the fields’ edges looking for anything out of the normal. Nothing. Checking the ground closer to where she was, no broken blades of grass, and no indentations.
Standing, she slowed her pace as she started the slight incline the drive took over the railroad tracks. “Damnit” she muttered still not seeing anything out of the ordinary.
“Come on, Dixon” she commanded as she started off down the driveway.
Up and over the tracks she went coming down the other side to the bend in the driveway that ran alongside the creek. The murky water was violent and brisk this time of year as the lake managers opened the dams to lower the water levels in anticipation of the spring thaw. Glancing around at the ground between the driveway and the rush of w
ater she saw no tracks of any kind. Realizing she was holding her breath, she released the now spent air and gave a quick thanks that there were no signs that someone had either driven or walked anywhere near the water’s edge to dump a body.
Walking back to the drive, she decided to check the other side coming down from the tracks. The road took a sharp right that left a natural ditch between the drive and the railroad tracks. Young trees now grew in the void, having being planted there by the wind or squirrels. Overgrowth filled the space beneath the trees, protecting their young roots from the summer sun and hungry scavengers. Emma had thought about planting berries here at one time but it was so far away from the house that if she would have, they would have been reserved for wild animal food and not human consumption. The railroad also used to spray along the tracks so not knowing what was in the chemicals, she chose to find a better location to grow her fruit.
Glancing around, she noticed the recess in the dirt right at the edge of the drive like someone had driven off the roadway. Laying her hand down into the shallow groove, she noted the direction the indentation made and looked off in that direction.
“Dixon, come look at this.” she said as the dog stuck his nose down in the dirt. Sniffing, he started walking back through the grass. Emma stood up and followed behind him, scanning the area for any indications of her husband.
Traveling further back along the railway ditch, the sharp blue caught her eye first. Nothing in nature could account for the hue that seemed so out of place. Stopping, the woman and her dog came to what would amount to a tree line once the saplings spent a few more years growing. Dixon looked up at Emma and started to pace the edge of the field, a high pitched whimper now alerting his owner that something had his attention. Emma looked for a way to get past the underbrush as Dixon twisted himself back through the trees with little effort. Her pulse quickened as she realized someone or something had already been there. Broken twigs, some trampled to the ground were attempting to bounce back to their natural position before they had been violated.
She heard the low moan, her eyes now a rapid movement back and forth.
“Please God” she pleaded as she watched Dixon’s white coat all but disappear into the overgrowth.
Picking her arms up and covering any exposed skin below her eyes, she waded into the brambles going in the direction of the now audible groaning. Thorns from the brambles tearing at her clothing, she pushed in with determination. The eerie sounds now matching in intensity with her pulse, Emma’s fears pounded in her ears. Whatever she was hearing was in obvious torturous pain.
The dogs bark tore her attention from the ghostly intonations emanating from the unknown before her.
“Dixon!” she yelled.
Her pulse quickened as she paused long enough to get her bearings, turning towards the sound, she continued on.
Coming out on the other side, Emma stopped. There before her, lay her husband Tomas with Dixon on alert beside him. The sides of the ditch cradled him while he lay on his back, not allowing him to roll one direction or the other. His left leg bent back over the edge of the ditch in an unnatural angle revealing an obvious break. Emma walked over to him and knelt, her soul shaking. Reaching out, her hand trembled as she hovered her fingers over his swollen eye and cheek. Inching herself sideways down his body, her eyes accessed every inch of him. He was thrown into the ditch in such a way his arms disappeared beneath his body. His swollen lips could not contain the expansion of his tongue from dehydration. Looking around, she realized she had no choice. Taking off her own jacket she lay it over his torso and said a prayer of protection over him.
“Dixon, stay!” she commanded the dog. Jumping up, she didn’t look back as she disappeared into the madness of thorns before her.
25
Ben kicked back in his chair running his hand through his hair.
This is just ridiculous. He thought. Why am I wasting my time here when I have better things to do?
“Sir. You are wanted in the communications room as soon as possible. Some call from Washington.” The deputy said disturbing Ben’s thoughts.
Turning around, Ben looked at the man like he didn’t understand what he was saying.
“Er, yes. I’ll be right there.” Ben replied
Some days he forgot that all hell had broken loose and they were still missing parts of their old life. Phones were still considered a luxury in this new world. Lucky for him that he happened to magically show up at Emma’s when the military was there.
“Gullible bastards” he muttered with a smirk
Lieutenant General Sean Kissler followed orders but something knocked in Ben’s gut that he may not be as naïve as Ben thought. He would need to handle the guy with some caution. Nina wasn’t around anymore but Kissler could give him access to areas of the government he wouldn’t have otherwise.
“Sherriff Olson here” Ben said over the mic
“Sherriff, Kissler here. How are things up your way?”
“As good as can be. Again, thanks for hooking us up with all these radios. It helps in a big way keeping us in contact with others and relaying up to date information. We had no idea this was so widespread.” Ben replied
“Yes, well…. I’m not sure if it’s all over yet.”
“Really? We still should expect another threat? Ben asked
“Always.” Sean replied “Hey, did you track down that dog that we were looking for?”
“Yes sir. Same night. It’s all wrapped up and put to bed.” Ben spoke the words into the handset quickly looking around to see if anyone was over listening.
“Outstanding! We will be having some type of services maybe next week. We will need you to get Nina’s kids down here by then?” the General asked
“Alrighty” Ben stammered still not sure how he was going to make that happen but it was an easy trade for the jeep those boys left at his disposal. At least now he didn’t have to ride that damn bike around town.
“We appreciate all your help. Let us know if we can be of further assistance.” Sean said
Yes, why yes you will be of future assistance, Ben thought “Ten-Four
Over and out.”
Ben clipped the mic back onto the front of the radio feeling foolish that he didn’t know how to speak on one of these things. Bloody hell! They were probably laughing their asses off at him right now! Walking out of the room, Ben yelled for his assistant. He needed to get his hands on information to run the radios so this didn’t happen in the future. He had plans and there wasn’t anyone or anything that was going to stand in his way.
26
Tom could feel himself floating, of being lifted high into the air, like on a cloud, soaring.
Was this it? He thought
This was how going to heaven was like?
Jolted back to reality, Tom let out a prodigious cry from his bones being shifted. Trying to open his eyes, he could only distinguish shadows looming above. Sweet Mother Mary, I am going to die! Please, please no! Don’t let me go this way! I have things I want to do before I go. Please, someone hear me. Stop this.
Tom emitted a cacophony from his throat like that of a dying lamb.
The sounds coming from the silhouettes continued to trouble him as his thoughts drifted to various animals that he knew walked these woods. A white flash caught his attention.
That damn wolf!
His whimpering increased causing the silhouettes to pause with concern.
They lifted his body leaving his arm hanging like a limp worm. The pain in his shoulder was excruciating. White bolts of light lit the insides of his eyelids. Tears fought to reveal his weakness as his breathing quickened. He could feel his heart beating in his ears.
Please don’t let me be eaten alive! His mind screamed. Trying to wiggle any part of his body he could to scare off whatever was trying to have him for dinner, Tom passed out from the intense amount of pain that he was causing himself.
Emma looked down at his face as the group lifted his lifeles
s body. So many memories were etched in the fine lines around his eyes, in each of the grey strands of hair that now resided above his ear. Her heart beamed from finding him alive but her gut wrestled with the pain she knew he was in. Judging from what she had observed so far, Emma knew that several bones were broken starting at his face and working all the way down to his legs. Mentally calculating the items she would need, she had already sent Mike and Chloe out in the RV to get the Sherriff and a physician, if they could find one. He needed to know what happened out here, if only the small amounts she could remember. And with the mess that town was in, she wasn’t sure if the local doctor was even alive after the hospital got hit.
Clutching the handle of the same cot they used to bring Dixon home earlier, she straightened her back, preparing for the walk ahead. They had to be as gentle as possible for she wasn’t sure if he had internal injuries or not.
Staring ahead, with each step she took, she said a silent prayer to God. Each footstep reminded her of the story about how God carried you even when you thought you were all alone and couldn’t take another step. Footprints….. In the dirt, she thought as she kept pace with her three helpers. She didn’t dare look at them as she would break down in tears. This wasn’t the time for that. Right now her main objective was to get Tom into the house and comfortable as possible.
Best she could guess, he had been out here since the night he disappeared. She had picked a few leeches from his neck and ears that had followed the trail of blood. He was left in stagnant water alongside the railroad tracks that she was surprised that there weren’t more ingesting on more of his dead flesh. As they rolled him gently onto the stretcher, she noted that his entire backside was covered in, best she could tell, oil that was alongside the tracks. The railroad sprayed every summer. She wished now she had paid attention to what chemicals they used. The wounds on Tom’s back were flooded in whatever the substance was.
