by Nelson, Kip
After a few moments had passed he said, “I'm sorry for what happened earlier. I didn't mean to be a peeping Tom, it was just bad timing.”
“Well, good timing from your perspective,” Grace said, offering a teasing gleam in her eyes. That didn't help Luis as he became more flustered and didn't know whether to compliment her on her body or just to leave it alone.
Eventually, Grace laughed and told him to forget about it. “These things happen,” she said, “and, to be honest, if we're going to be traveling together for the foreseeable future, I imagine the three of us are going to learn way more about each other than we'd like.”
“Yeah, that's probably true. Thanks for being cool about it.”
Grace shrugged. “We're all adults here.”
“Some more than others,” he said, giving her an impish grin as he tossed his head toward Mack and Saul.
“Your tattoos look really cool, by the way,” he said.
“Thanks,” Grace replied, and blushed a little, “I don't tend to show them off that often.”
“Did you get them because they look cool or because they have meaning?”
“A bit of both. I went on a bit of a spree between seventeen and nineteen. The musical notes are from the chorus of my favorite song, the webs symbolize how we're all caught within our own bodies and minds. All our lives are this tangled web of decisions and actions and consequences, and we're totally trapped by them. The writing is an old philosophy quote that I came across a while ago. The fairy godmother is to try reminding me to never stop believing, and that there are always more stars to wish upon, but I'm not sure how much I believe that anymore. I did have plans for more, but I guess that's going to have to wait.”
“I'm impressed you managed to find so many things to get tattoos of. I've always thought about getting one but I never could think of anything that had enough meaning that I'd want it to stay there forever.”
“Sometimes you just have to do something and hope for the best. I never tried thinking long-term about these things. I wanted them at the time, and anything else was a problem for future Grace.”
“And does future Grace regret any of these tattoos?” Luis asked.
Grace looked down at her body. “Not yet, but then again it's only been a few years. We'll see what will happen when I make it to forty. Hell, the way things are going, let's make it if I get to forty.”
“I know what you mean. It's only been a few weeks, but already more has happened to me than in the rest of my life. When I was being kept in that cellar, I really thought I never was going to see the light of day again.”
“I know what you mean.” she said, “When the plane went down, I mean,” although she also had meant how her future was going to be sitting in a prison cell. She still had not told Luis about that, and by this point she wasn't sure if she ever was going to do so. “What did you think about?”
“The usual things, I guess. How I wished I had done more with my life. Even when I went backpacking across the country I still didn't see or do as much as I wanted. One of the ideas I had for a tattoo was to get my home tattooed on my heart, and then whenever I went to a new place I'd get that added. So by the time I died my body would be a map of everywhere I've ever been.”
“That's really cool,” Grace said, impressed by his originality.
“Thanks, but it wasn't really accurate to get my home on my heart. What about you, what did you think of?”
“I didn't really have much time to think at all. The plane went down so fast it's all just a blur. I guess I just thought about what my life really had meant. Had I really lived as much as I was able to?”
“I think we all feel that way. I must admit I feel more scared now than I did before. If Mack wasn't here then I don't know what I'd do.”
“We'll get through it together. I'm scared, too, and I know he probably wouldn't admit it, but I think Mack is as well. I guess the only thing we can do is take each day as it comes and try to keep going.”
“You ever think about those times when people asked you where you see yourself ten years in the future? I guess all those questions don't mean anything anymore.”
“Yeah, but it is interesting to think about what this world is going to be like ten years from now. Will we actually manage to make it through, and will people start working together? What about the rest of the world?”
“I wonder how many people out there are having the same conversation right now? I know it's bad, but part of me is glad this happened. I wasn't getting anywhere in life and I don't think there was going to be a place for me in that world. At least now I don't have to feel bad about disappointing my parents or never being able to afford a house.”
“You and me both. I think it's different for them,” Grace said, nodding toward Mack and Saul.
“They had lives that were established. They'd worked at careers and had built up things, but we didn't have anything like that.”
“The only thing I ever built up was debt,” Luis said, smiling sardonically.
Then they looked over at Mack, who seemed to be in deep conversation with Saul. The two youngsters moved toward Mack and Saul to listen in. Saul was munching on the biscuits that Mack had given him, and still was sitting with his back turned to the sun. Alongside them the river still flowed, and there were not any signs of life other than the four of them. Just to be on the safe side, Grace kept one eye on her bow and arrow in case Saul tried anything, but for the moment at least the big, burly man was docile.
Chapter Four
Mack left Luis and Grace to talk as he wanted to try getting Saul to open up. One of the techniques that he was sure still would work was that of reciprocation. That being, if you gave someone something or did a favor for someone, they would be inclined to feel positively toward you. Mack offered Saul the meager bits of food, and while Saul eyed them suspiciously at first, he soon had finished all the biscuits.
Of course, Mack would have thought that saving the man's life would make him inclined to feel positive toward him, but he supposed that because Saul was unconscious at the time it didn't have the same effect. This time Mack did not try forcing the conversation. Instead, he stayed beside Saul and relaxed his muscles, showing the newcomer that he was not a threat. Mack made no effort to talk, and in time it was Saul who did the talking.
“That was a hell of a thing you did back there,” he began.
“I did what anyone would do. I'm just glad we managed to spot you in time. If we hadn't stopped there...
“Guess I was due for a break,” Saul said, laughing dryly.
He ran his hand along his mouth and shook his head. “Not sure that everyone would have done that, though. Right now we live in a dog-eat-dog world and there aren't too many folks who would put their necks out like that. So, really, thank you.”
“Just don't forget you owe me one,” Mack grinned. Saul took the comment with good humor and nodded.
“So you've had a rough time out there?” Mack added.
“You could say that, but I'm sure the same could be said for you. Have you just been in these woods since it happened?”
“Yeah, we've come across a few people, but we're trying to make our way to the city. Have you had any word from them?”
“Not that I recall, but I can't imagine it would be anything good. That many people in once place? Just a recipe for disaster if you ask me. That's why I like it out here. It's quiet and peaceful.”
“You been on your own for long?” Mack asked. Saul tried sizing up Mack.
“Look, you folks seem nice enough, but I'm going to be on my own. If I had any advice for you it would be to make your way out of these woods and don't look back. There's nothing good here, and eventually things are going to catch up with you.”
“We know very well what's waiting for us, but you can't blame us for being skeptical. It's not every day you come across a man floating in the river. We both know there's a story behind that and I, for one, am very curious what it is.”
“Fine. You know what? You people saved my life. I guess the least I can do is repay you with a story, but this don't mean we're friends, alright?” he said, pointing a finger out toward them.
“We all know the world has gone to hell and I'm sure you people have your stories, too, but let's not pretend they're anything special. We've all seen some dark stuff, and we all wish that things would be different, but you know what? Despite everything I'm kinda glad this happened because the country was going to hell anyway. Just instead of the big corporations and politicians being in charge, now it's every man for himself.”
“I appreciate this, but how does this tie into you drowning in the river?” Mack asked gently.
“I'm setting the scene. That's what you do with stories, isn't it? Had a friend once who was a writer, told me about the structure of these things. Said he was going to write a book about me, but that never came to be. Anyway, like I said, I never liked the world as it was. So I wasn't looking to rebuild it, I just wanted to find a nice place to stay and let the world pass me by. Unfortunately, there are some people who never can give a man peace. There's a bad group of people in these woods, and if you stay here for too long they'll be coming for you, too. If you don't join them they'll chase you down and throw you in the river.”
“You mean they just threw you in the river because you didn't want to join them?” Mack asked.
“More or less,” Saul replied nonchalantly.
“Thing is, I don't like anyone telling me what I can and cannot do, and these people are no exception. But mark my words, they can sure back up their threats. So I wouldn't go taking them lightly, like I did.”
“I don't suppose this group would be led by someone who goes by the name Mr. Smith?” Mack said. Upon hearing that name Saul looked surprised, and then his face turned into a scowl, and he muttered a few curse words under his breath.
“If you've met him I'm surprised you're still here,” he said.
“As yet we have not had the pleasure, we've only met some of the people who have attached themselves to him. There was a farm a way back. They took us in and gave us shelter, but then we were driven away. If we had stayed there these men threatened to burn down the whole farm.”
“That's the way they work. If they can't use something they'll destroy it. It's not right, but it's worked for them so far. Guess it's the way of the new world. Things change all the time. Instead of big governments being in control we're left with people like Mr. Smith (again his expression changed into one of revulsion), who take control because they're the only ones who have the balls to do it.”
“So you've actually met him?” Mack asked, his eyes lighting up with the spark of curiosity.
“Of course I've met him. I've met them all. I was in their camp for the better part of the last few weeks. All I wanted was to carry on my merry way, but they picked me up. At first they just asked me if I could help with fixing their wagon, so I did. Figured they might be able to spare a little food and maybe a drop of whiskey. Which they did, mind you, so it wasn't all bad. That's what I thought, at first anyway. Then they started asking more and more of me. For a while it was nice to be needed, but then I actually started asking questions.
“Things seemed too good to be true. There were plenty of supplies and ammo and nobody seemed to be starving, but that wasn't supposed to happen when the end of the world as we know it had happened. And I started looking closely at the faces of the people around me, the ones who were there doing the manual labor. Most of them didn't look happy to be there, and if they tried speaking up, well, nobody tried more than once. I started to see there were only certain people who were allowed guns, and these were the ones who had the run of the place. The kind who were hopped up on authority and didn't know what to do with it.”
Saul inhaled deeply and ran his hands through his long hair, testing it to see if it was dry, but when his hand came back wet he looked at it with derision. “Anyway, I kept watch over the place and figured I'd just bide my time. Then I started hearing rumors about the way they were treating people who didn't agree with the status quo and it seemed like we were making the same mistakes as we made before. So I sneaked out in the middle of the night.
“I had their guard patterns down, so it wasn't too hard, but I was obviously more conspicuous than I thought as they noticed I had left. I heard them in the distance, shouting for me, threatening me, telling me if I came back all would be forgiven, but I don't think forgiveness is a part of their vocabulary. I tried to make my way out of their territory, but they had too many patrols, and eventually my luck ran out. They hauled me back to that camp kicking and screaming because I'll be damned if I was going to make it easy for them. They dumped me in front of Mr. Smith,” again when he said the name his words were dripping with venom.
“Tell me about him,” Mack asked gently, but the prompt was not necessary as Saul was in full flow now.
He was ready to bluster his way through the entire story as his heart was burning with rage, and if he didn't get it out he was liable to smash his fists against the natural world. His eyes grew bloodshot as blood pumped through his body, fueled by incandescent anger. Grace and Luis stood on either side of Mack, slightly behind him, in fear of the elderly biker, but Mack was intent on listening to the story to the end.
“He's the worst of the worst,” Saul said, not skipping a beat, “he thinks he's the most intelligent man on the planet and he sees himself as a new Caesar or Alexander, ready to conquer the world. He's just got a lot of guns and has a silver tongue, so he's coerced weak-minded fools into joining his cause. Everyone else is only there because they're not allowed to leave. They get promises of this new paradise, and how can I blame them? It's not like sanctuary is easy to find in this world.
“Anyway, they dragged me through the middle of camp to make an example of me, but I wasn't scared. I wasn't going to give them the satisfaction. They dumped me down before him. He tried telling me I had betrayed everything they were working toward, and that if everyone acted like me we would be no better than the world they had left behind. I tried telling him where he could go shove it, but any time I tried speaking I caught the butt end of a rifle.” As he said this he raised his hand to his chin and winced a little from the memory of the pain.
“So I had to stay there on my knees and listen to this blowhard blather on about his grand vision for humanity. He likes the sound of his own voice; I can tell you that much. By the end of it he said he would be gracious enough to give me one last chance to apologize and become a productive member of the community. So, of course, I spat in his face. I still can see him flinch as my spit hit him in the cheek.” Saul smiled smugly, proud of this achievement.
“I wasn't going to be one of his minions who smiled and nodded just for the promise of a warm bed and food on the table. If you aren't doing what you think is right, then it ain't no way to live. So I refused his offer, because I know his game. He needs the manpower, you see, so he's willing to put up with troublemakers like me if the work gets done. Of course, there comes a point when a troublemaker no longer is worth it anymore, and that's the point I had reached. He thinks he's something else, but while he says he's building a new world for everyone, really he's just in it for the ego trip; he likes everyone looking up to him as a leader, and he's been so used to it by now that when anyone doesn't, he flies into a rage.
“So, as you might suspect, he didn't take kindly to my gesture, but to his credit he mostly kept himself under control for the sake of the others. But his face turned to that of a devil and he looked at me with a wicked smile as he told them to take me to the river. Then he turned his back on me. I called him a coward for not having the balls to do it himself, but he never gets his hands dirty, not that I've seen anyway. He didn't even res
pond, just walked away like I meant nothing to him. Everybody else stood around doing nothing while they all hauled me off into a wagon and took me to the river's edge.
“I asked them if they really believed in Mr. Smith, and if they knew what they were getting themselves into, but none of them wanted to talk with me. They just insulted me, said that I had made a mistake by not playing along, and that I was an idiot. Well, that may be so, but I'm not going to give my servitude to a man like Mr. Smith. I didn't bow to authority in the old world and I'm not going to do it here either. I thought about diving out of the wagon but they just would have caught me, or shot me. If they didn't have guns I might have tried my luck, but I wasn't about to go and throw my life away. I overheard them talking about plans for the future.”
“What kind of plans?” Mack asked.
“Oh, the usual stuff, the next targets, what they were going to do in the future. For a man who just wanted to build a community Mr. Smith sure seemed intent on expanding his territory and conquering things. Your farmer friends? I doubt they'll be left alone for too long. He's probably just acting nice and promising them they can keep the farm so they won't expect him to take it. But eventually he will. That's all he does. Anyway, so we drive for a while down to the river's edge and they pull me off the back of the wagon and throw me down to the ground.
'So which one of you cowards is going to do it?' I yelled at them. Then the damn fools did rock, paper, scissors! Mr. Smith has surrounded himself with the worst of the worst, I can tell you that much for certain. After they had finished their little game it was a man by the name of McCoy who landed the first punch. They didn't just want to kill me, they wanted to beat me first. When I tried fighting back they held my arms and legs while they worked on my body,” as he said this his hand moved to his ribs.
“I spat blood on the ground when they hit my face, and before I knew it I didn't know where I was. I already was losing my mind when they had been dragging me across the ground. In the background I could hear them all laughing, like killing a man was some big joke to them. I tried to cuss them out but my mouth was dry and all I could taste was my own blood. I was vaguely aware of the trees passing above me and the hands over my body and the ground scraping against my legs and ass, or was it the other way around? I heard them count down and then a cheer as the one who won the game pulled my collar and hurled me off the side of the world.
