EMP Crash (Book 2): The Path Ahead (An EMP Survival Story)

by Nelson, Kip

  He decided that knowing about the child only would cause them to get depressed. While part of him considered searching for the child he knew it would take time that they did not have to waste. Even if they spent days searching the area there still was no guarantee they would be able to find him. No, he would have to leave the boy to his own fate and hope that fortune protected him.

  There was still a fair way to walk to the city, and now that they didn't have the shade of the trees the sun beat down on them relentlessly, making them more tired. Mack had to remind them to drink their water sparingly, for he did not want to take time out of their journey to return to the river. Without that body of water in close proximity there was no telling if they would find another source of water before they reached the city. While they walked along Mack had the child of the previous night on his mind. He continually glanced to the forest to see if there was any sign of him, or anyone else.

  There must have been many children in the same situation and his heart went out to how lost they must feel. Society had crumbled and there were so many people who had slipped through the cracks; with everyone so focused on their own survival who was out there looking after the people who were truly in need? The sick, the elderly, the young. They all were going to be left alone and most of them wouldn't survive.

  Mack had noticed an attitude that had become more prevalent in modern society; that the world was becoming over-populated and natural selection should take more of a role in keeping the population under control. There had been a surprising number of people talking about how, in years past, most people today would not be alive. Advances in health care and general quality of life ensured that people were living longer, and some people saw this as a bad thing. They wanted a cull, as though somehow this many people were diluting the gene pool. Mack never could understand this attitude. He wanted as many people to live as possible, for living was the only thing that people had. There was nothing else. And to want some sort of a cull so that only the fittest would survive was an expression of the ugliest parts of human nature.

  But now it seemed as though the world was undergoing such a thing, that humans would die off in the millions because of simple things like no central heating, or diabetics not being able to get their hands on insulin. Children who weren't cared for eventually would wink out of existence and the whole thing made Mack sad. If it had been a world power who had caused this it was the worst act in human history, even outstripping the Nazi horrors.

  They kept an eye out for other signs of life, but there were none. Occasionally they saw some equipment lying around, like abandoned tools and containers, and, of course, there were still cars at the side of the road. Animals scurried near the forest edge as well, such as foxes and raccoons, and one of those would become their dinner. Grace and Luis still walked behind Saul and Mack, and to Luis' relief, Grace seemed to have forgiven him for whatever he had said that had set her on edge, which he was still not sure about. For Grace's part, she had decided to leave it be, as she did not want to explain to Luis why she had been so defensive of people in jail. Only she and Mack knew her secret, and that was the way she wanted it to stay for the foreseeable future.

  The four of them walked on in silence and the hours seemed to drag. Although they were glad to be safe they were hoping that, at some point, they would come across some horses or other animals that would be a better mode of transportation. Walking was taking too long, and if Mack ever wanted to make it back to Anna, he would have to find some way of making it across the country. The idea of getting a boat wasn't a bad idea, but they would have to make their way to the coast and then work down. Even if they made it to the coast there was no guarantee they would find an available boat. Although Mack had many skills, building a seafaring vessel was not one of them.

  The bodies they came across seemed to have died of exhaustion. Most of them were laying in cars, and Mack assumed that they had ran out of water and died of dehydration; probably wondering what they were going to do to survive. It was a sad fact, but he imagined many people probably committed suicide rather than trying to make a go of it in the new world, simply because it was too hard a thing to face.

  “This is when I'd usually be scared of them turning into a zombie,” Luis said as he approached the cars and peered in through the window. It was always strange to see the calm, final expression on someone's face, their eyes staring into an infinite nothingness as everything that they ever were, all their hopes and memories and dreams, were gone from the Earth.

  “The only thing to be scared of is the living,” Saul said grimly as he searched the bodies and scavenged whatever useful items they had, usually things like matches and knives. One car even had a packet of condoms and Saul waved them with a lascivious grin on his face. Grace rolled her eyes at this gesture.

  “Do you have to do that all the time?” Mack said, still thinking of that little boy, hating the idea of coming across his limp, lifeless body staring up at the sky.

  Somehow it was easy to forget these bodies once had been people just like the four of them, with their own lives and personalities. Just because they hadn't made it, it didn't give them the right to just loot their corpses. There had been so much tradition throughout human history when it came to death that it was almost a shame that those rites had been lost. It meant there were no final words or amazing graces. They would just pass by these bodies and leave them where they lay.

  “It's not like they're going to need them anymore. Leaving it would just be a waste,” Saul replied.

  “You could at least show some respect.”

  “I respect the fact that I'm living and I don't want to turn out like these,” Saul said, and didn't stop what he was doing. Mack didn't argue any further and walked on up ahead. Grace skipped ahead and joined him.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I just, I hate feeling like we're losing our humanity. I don't want to get used to seeing all these dead bodies and just walking by them like they're nothing.”

  “I don't either, but you know we can't spend all our time digging graves or having funerals.”

  “I know, but I think about the people on the plane, and the soldiers at the bunker and I just think...I mean, we all have ideas of how we'd like to be treated when we die. It seems so wrong to leave them out in the world. Maybe we are just like animals,” he said in a grave tone.

  “You know that's not true. If we were like animals then we wouldn't even care about things like this. And don't let Saul get to you. Part of me thinks he's doing this just to rile you up.”

  “Yeah, I know. What do you make of him so far?”

  “I was about to ask you the same question. You are the best judge of character around here.”

  Mack smiled. “It's not like my powers are flawless. I think he could be an asset, and he certainly knows how to survive, but I'm not sure that he'd ever put the group before himself. And I still get the feeling he's hiding something.”

  “You don't think he was telling us the truth about what happened before?”

  “I don't know yet, but it's just a feeling I get. I can't explain it. It's the same feeling I used to get whenever I was interrogating someone and they were giving all the right answers but there was just something nagging at me. Maybe I'm over-thinking it. It's not exactly like these are ideal conditions.”

  “Certainly not. But are they ever going to be? Do you have a plan for when we get to the city?”

  “Find some more people, see if there's some sort of organized community there. I'm hoping the people in charge in city hall managed to maintain some sort of order. If we can meet up with them we can try to find out more information about the rest of the country.”

  “But what if there were riots and people went crazy?”

  “Then I guess we'll have to keep our eyes peeled and be careful.”

  “And what about after the city? What then?” Grace asked, a sense of urgency creeping into her voice.

  “I don't know.
I haven't thought that far ahead. I thought we agreed to take it one day at a time?”

  “We did, but I don't know what's going to happen and I hate it. I'm just...I'm worried that we're trying to get to the city because we think there's going to be something there that we can use and it's not going to be what we think it is. And then what? Do we just keep moving until we find the right place? What if there's nothing out there for us? What if we never find what we're looking for? I know you want to find your wife, and I want to help you, but I don't know what I'm looking for. I don't know at what point I'll be able to look around and say 'Okay, I'm happy now.' Do you know what I mean? Are we ever actually going to be able to have a life again?”

  “It'll be okay, Grace. I know that things don't look good right now, but eventually things will get better and we'll find humanity again. Somewhere in this country it's out there, and I'm not going to rest until we've found people like ourselves.” Yet even he was doubting the chances of that happening.

  The longer the days went on the more he began questioning his own ideals and if anyone else shared them. In his mind's eye, he could visualize coming upon the city and being welcomed at the gates. They would be taken into a room and told the people had come together to make the city a safe haven for all those who traveled there, and they were working on contacting nearby settlements to create a trade network and rebuild civilization. But that was just a dream. Equally viable was the possibility that the city would be in ruins, buildings crumbling and windows smashed, with people scared to even walk the streets for fear of being attacked. There were two sides to human nature and only one of them could come out on top. Which one would it be?

  While they walked along the road they often took turns at the head of the line, although most frequently it was Mack and Saul taking the lead. While Grace and Mack were talking, Saul hissed at them to stop and held out his hand. They crouched down and ran to the side of the road where they hid in the tall grass. Saul raised his finger to his lips and then pointed down the road. Mack looked in the direction Saul was pointing and saw four bikes being guarded by just one person, who was looking idly in the opposite direction. There were no signs of the other people yet. The guard was leaning against a tree, his gaze drifting slowly from side to side. Mostly he was looking up at the sky, and didn't seem to be anticipating anyone coming up to him.

  Chapter Eight

  “It's them,” Saul said in a low voice.

  “What do you mean? They're a part of the group?!” Luis asked, his tone anxious. Saul nodded solemnly.

  “They are indeed. If we can get those bikes it'll make getting to the city so much easier,” Saul said.

  “But it'll also mean we piss them off. I don't want to go starting a fight if we can help it,” Mack said.

  “Trust me, if they see us they'll be the one starting the fight. Better to strike now and ride away. They won't be able to catch us. I can sneak up on the guard and take him out, then you all can run forward. We'll be gone before the others get back, but we have to move quickly. You wanted a new mode of transportation, this is it.”

  Mack thought about the proposition for a few moments before he made up his mind. “No, I can't allow it. You've already warned us to stay away from them and I don't want to provoke them. The last thing we need is for them to be hunting us for stealing from them. Right now, we haven't done anything against them, so they should have no quarrel with us, and I'd like to keep it that way. We'll stay to the edge and creep past them, leave them to whatever it is they're doing.”

  Saul stared at him with a dumbfounded look on his face.

  “You'd really pass up an opportunity like this?”

  “You were the one who told us to stay out of their way!” Mack said, trying to keep his voice quiet so they would not attract the attention of the lookout.

  “I told you not to attack the main camp, but when they are just a few people like this? It's fair game. You know what that group does, don't you want to get back at them?”

  “To what end? It'll only cause greater violence. I'd rather just leave them be and move on, that's the smart thing to do.”

  “You smart folks always end up doing nothing when action is required. I told you I wasn't going to be your lackey. I don't take orders from you and I want to get those sons of bitches back for what they did to me.”

  Before Mack could say anything else, Saul rose and ran across the road again, getting hidden before the lookout could see him. Mack rolled his eyes and gestured wildly for Saul to come back, but the grizzled old man refused to oblige. Grace, Mack, and Luis only could watch as Saul made his way forward, getting ever closer to the lookout, with a hungry look in his eyes, the look of revenge. Saul moved with great agility and grace, surprising for a man with his large frame. Although Mack didn't agree with his actions he couldn't help but be impressed with the way he was carrying them out. Now he had a feeling about what had made him suspicious of Saul; that he was out for revenge, and would put others in harm’s way for the sake of his own desires.

  Mack quickly glanced at Grace and Luis. He felt responsible for them and didn't want them to suffer because of Saul's recklessness. However, Saul managed to move forward, and by the time the lookout became aware of his presence it was too late. Saul subdued him. With a triumphant smile, he raised a fist above his head and waved the others to him. The trio exchanged glances. While Mack didn't condone Saul's actions he had to admit that having bikes was going to be a good advantage. If the group wasn't aware that they were responsible, well, it would be one to chalk up to the good guys.

  “I guess we might as well--” Mack began, but his sentence was cut short as the other members of the group emerged from the trees and surrounded Saul.

  They had seen him signaling and quickly jumped on him, beating him fiercely. While Saul was strong and had the heart of a lion, he was no match for the three men. He quickly was brought to his knees after a flurry of savage blows. Mack winced with every one and wished that they could help, but by the time he ran up he would have been in no better position, and he wanted to do everything he could to protect Grace and Luis. The men who attacked Saul were dressed in attire very similar to his and looked weary, as though the world had taken its toll on them. There was one who seemed to be the leader. He brushed his jacket aside and drew his gun, then pointed it at Saul's skull. Saul moved his eyes up and scowled.

  “We know you're out there,” the leader called out.

  “He was signaling to somebody. If you don't come out, I'll put a bullet in this man's brain.”

  “We can't go out there, they'll kill us!” Luis said.

  “If we don't go out they're just going to come looking for us, or they'll wait until we have to leave. We can't stay here forever,” Grace said.

  Mack thought about their words as he stared at the man holding a gun to Saul's head, and inwardly he cursed Saul for going against his orders.

  “It was his choice, though. Mack tried to tell him to stay. He got himself in this mess. We shouldn't have to clean it up for him,” Luis replied, clearly frightened by the prospect of being at odds with these men.

  Mack couldn't blame him. They had passed so many dead bodies that a few more wouldn't make much of a difference, and despite Saul having taken matters into his own hands Mack was not prepared to hang him out to dry. He already had saved his life once and he was not going to let that act be in vain. The world was going to need people to stick up for each other and to work together to overcome impossible odds. Saul could be a lone wolf all he liked, but as long as he was traveling with Mack and the others, Mack wasn't going to try convincing him there was another way.

  So, much to the surprise of Grace and Luis, who still were bickering about what to do, Mack stood up in plain sight.

  Chapter Nine

  As soon as Mack stood up Saul's head fell, disappointed that Mack would give himself up for Saul's sake. The leader grinned and gestured with his gun for the other two to bring them closer. He placed the gun bac
k in its holster and ordered Saul to stay down, otherwise there would be much more pain to come. He called down to the lookout, who just was stirring. The younger man moaned and murmured something unintelligible as he pushed himself up and rubbed his head. When he realized what had happened he glared at Saul.

  “You're going to pay for this,” he said. The leader told him to be patient.

  Mack told Grace and Luis to stand up and that everything would be alright, although he couldn't blame them if they didn't believe him. The two men came forward, both of them looking at Grace with lust in their eyes. So she stepped a little closer to Mack. They didn't look too kindly on Luis either. They grabbed the three of them roughly and pushed them forward, bringing them back to their leader. The four members of the group now were standing in front of the bikes. The youngest member, who Mack estimated to be in his late twenties, was rubbing his head and scowling toward Saul. The two who had collected them had their hands resting on their guns, while the leader of this little band was the calmest of all. He looked at them each in turn and had his hands clasped behind his back, while Saul remained on his knees.

  “Well, well, well, just when you think the day is going to be uneventful people like you show up and make it all worthwhile. And Saul, I really didn't expect to see you again. I thought you'd used up all of your nine lives.”

  “What do you want with us?” Mack asked, not in the mood for someone to lecture him. The leader pursed his lips and sized up Mack, walking forward a little to get a closer look at the man.

  “I'm surprised Saul managed to find some friends. He was never the sociable type.”

  “Are you Mr. Smith?” Mack asked. The other men laughed raucously.

  “No, our esteemed leader does not leave the compound unless it's absolutely required. I am one of his lieutenants, though. My name is James. It's a pleasure to meet you, although it's a shame it has to be under such circumstances. Now, why exactly were you going to steal our bikes? It's not a very nice thing to do, and you'd be leaving us all by ourselves. We very well could have died out here, it is such an inhospitable world.”