“I think we’ve got to try, Adus,” Bill replied.
“Who are the chipmunks?” Val asked.
“Three NASA scientists,” Adus answered. “We had a bit of a falling out when I shot one of them.”
“Ha!,” Val said with a smile, “I knew I liked you.”
“We don’t have any way of communicating with them,” Adus said. “And they’d probably shoot me on sight.”
“As crazy as it sounds,” Bill said, “we could send one of them.” Bill gestured towards Connor and Val.
“Well,” Adus replied, “all of this doesn’t solve the first problem. There’s lightning out there that will fry anyone. How would we even get to the Space Center? And that’s assuming they’re still living there.”
Connor was immediately struck by an idea. “Oh my God!” Connor yelled. “I’ve got a virus.”
Val's face showed her efforts to find the joke in Connor's statement.
“Computer virus," Connor quickly clarified. "Brady and a team of people made it when we were living in Colorado Springs. He said it would shut down Zalac’s network. Which probably means the weather witch as well.”
“Excellent,” Adus replied. “How do we use it against them?”
“It’s a CD,” Connor replied like that should be enough information to answer him. When Adus looked blankly at him, Connor confessed, “So I have no idea. I think we have to install it on them. Or use the download wizard.”
“Could we do that from here?” Adus asked.
“I would think we’d at least need a computer to put it in,” Connor replied.
“We don’t have one,” Bill answered.
“And wouldn’t that just infect ourselves?” Val asked.
“Well,” Connor answered, “I think you can tell the wizard where to put the files. So we would just select their CPU, right?”
Adus shook his head. “This is all beyond me. Since we don’t have a computer, I’m afraid we’d have to run it to the chipmunks. So we’re back to square one. Is there a possibility this thing is a plane that we could shoot?”
“If I had to guess,” Connor began, “I’d say it was a satellite. I’ve not seen a contrail and a plane may be unstable in the high winds of the storms. We know they have control of some satellites.”
“I’m not even sure all of this is a possibility,” Bill began. “I mean, wouldn’t all computers have stopped working with the same blast that destroyed all the other electronics?”
“What are you talking about?” Val asked.
“The chipmunks told us that. A blast from the sun fried all the electronics. That’s why the cars won’t start and nothing turns on.”
Val bit her lip to refrain making a joke about how she herself seemed to turn on just fine.
“Oh, I’ve wondered about that,” Val replied. “So all of this might be for nothing. If no one has a working computer, this virus is worthless.”
“Well,” Adus chimed in, “I wouldn’t count the chipmunks out just yet. They predicted this blast. Remember the Learjet?”
Bill rolled his eyes.
“What Learjet?” Connor asked.
“The chipmunks had us line a whole airplane hangar with the craziest stuff. Apparently it would protect the plane inside from the blast. So as far as I know it’s still working.”
“It took months,” Bill complained. “Most tedious thing I’ve ever done.”
“What I’m saying is,” Adus continued, “that it’s possible to protect electronics. If the chipmunks saw this coming, surely they protected their equipment. As much as I hate to admit it, I think we’re going to need their help.”
“So wait,” Val said. “You have a working airplane?”
“As far as I know,” Adus replied.
“So why are we still here?”
“It’s got eight seats in it. You physically couldn’t cram more than a dozen or so people in it. And I’m not even sure it would take off if you did. And, in case you hadn’t noticed, there’s a bit of a storm brewing outside.”
“Wait! Wait! Wait! So they told you to save an airplane,” Val said in a somewhat angry tone, “and you save an eight seat Learjet? You couldn’t do a cargo plane or something?”
“Hey, it took us months to line even that small of a hangar. Back then I didn’t have dozens of people. And let’s not forget that you were supposed to be an army. We were never thinking we’d need to abandon this place!”
“I take it back. I don’t like you after all.”
“All of that aside,” Connor tried to refocus the group, “it sounds like someone needs to run the CD with the virus over to them. At least so they can check it out. Or we could rule out the possibility of using it.”
“Which means someone is going to have to risk being struck by lightning,” Adus replied. “They can go as far as they can underground, but at some point they’ll have to surface. Let’s hope they’re not very accurate with their lightning strikes. Cory is our fastest runner. Something tells me he’d be willing to try it.”
“Carlos is our fastest,” Connor answered. “He used to run around cracking heads with a baseball bat. I can see if he’d be willing.”
“I can just send another one of mine,” Adus replied.
“No,” Connor replied, “I’d like to help out. I’d go myself if I could. And besides, Carlos is ridiculously fast. If anybody has a chance of outrunning lightning, it’s him.”
“But we won’t send them out just yet. If Zalac is as all-knowing as they appear to be, they’ll surely be watching any runners. If we move into the Space Center, they’ll know we’re held up there. No doubt an army will attack it. If they find us in the tunnels or see us coming out of them, an army will find us here in no time. We have to have a detailed plan of what we’re going to do – with or without that virus. And before I’ll know that, I’ll need to speak to Sara. I’ll make a few more preparations and go talk to her.”
“Very well,” Connor concluded. “Want to reconvene in a bit?”
“I’ll find you,” Adus replied.
∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ • ∙
Val went to check on Sara and found her physically changed. Sara’s face fell some as if a great tension had been released.
As soon as Val entered, Maya excused herself.
Val smiled at Maya as she left.
“Sara,” Val whispered to the woman resting on the bed.
“I never realized how bright everything is,” Sara said in a trance-like voice. “The colors are all so rich.” Sara’s blindfolded head turned towards Val. “I wish I had more time.”
“Are you ok?”
“Have you ever had some great terrible thing set before you? You dread it ever since you became aware of it. But then somewhere along the way, you make peace with it. You accept it. You submit yourself to it.” Sara smiled. “That is how I am.”
“That might be the single clearest answer you’ve given me in months, Sara.”
“I love you, Val.”
“I heard. I love you too.”
Sara took Val’s hand. “I want to go home, Val.”
The notion of home struck Val as altogether foreign. But even the thought of it warmed something inside of her. “I do too,” Val said softly.
Sara leaned over to her side inviting Val onto the bed with her. Val climbed onto the bed and pressed herself up against Sara. Together the two women laid silently in harmony.
“Adus is coming to speak with you,” Val said.
“I know,” Sara replied.
“Of course you do.”
For a moment, Sara slept and dreamed in time.
She woke to find her hands moving across the brilliant stars. They moved like rippling water behind her fingertips. The experience made her laugh. Rich colors swirled about the heavens all around. Reaching out her hand again she realized her hand to be that of a man. Quickly, she detached herself from the vision knowing where it would lead and returned again to her familiar place of safety on the beach by the sea. No s
ky in the halls of time, no matter how wonderful, could match these heavens.
Sitting on the beach outside of time for what seemed like days, she let her mind betray her and dream of Brady. For a moment, the anger didn’t seize her and she remembered the nostalgia of being with him in peace. On those warm grains of sand she began to realize just how deeply a part of her missed him. All her hatred couldn’t kill that. But when she thought of missing him, the anger returned. The undeniable deeds of hate he’d thrown against her. His terrible words of hate.
She yanked herself from the painful memories and opened her eyes to find the familiar beach. The waves washed in so beautifully Sara thought her heart would burst. She couldn’t stop herself from moving into their warm waters and floating away from shore.
When she woke again, Sara found Val sitting up. “Adus is here,” Val whispered. Sara sat up and covered her legs with a blanket. Val opened the curtain door and Adus slowly entered. Val excused herself.
Adus looked on Sara finding her a completely different person since her arrival. Her skin returned to a much brighter, healthier state and she emanated a glow. Even her eyes seemed less fearful and more aware and at peace with the world around her. She seemed less like a humble human desperately clinging to her agony and more like a wise woman fully aware and alive. He looked on her as he would a woman of high esteem.
Sara’s blindfolded head turned slowly to meet his gaze. “Faithful Adus,” Sara greeted him.
“I’m sorry for disturbing you, Sara. I avoided this conversation at first because of your comment to me, but now I need to speak to you. We are in need of your foresight.”
“Thank you for asking. I’m sorry I said that at first. I was hurting and protecting myself. So you have your pieces and you’re wondering how they fit? Let me solve to you a puzzle.”
Taking breaks for contractions, she told to him the end.
“And what about you, Adus?” she asked when everything had been shared. “I will tell you if you want to know.”
He looked at her knowing full well she could keep that promise. “No, I need my full attention on my men.”
“You have been very kind to me, Adus,” Sara said softly. “I thank you for that.” She extended her hand to him. He took it not sure if she meant for him to kiss it or vice versa. “I will not see you again.”
“And what of your end, Sara?”
Sara sighed. “None can tell me.”
“You do not see?”
“Only so far.”
The two held each other’s hands for a moment until Adus turned to leave. He took a long glance at Sara and then slipped behind the curtain to find Connor and Val.
∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ • ∙
Seeing Adus left, Maya quickly moved into Sara’s room to see if she needed anything.
Not knowing if Sara’s eyes were opened or closed, Maya sat in a chair close to the bed silently.
“I am old, Maya,” Sara greeted her. “Like an elderly woman full of aches and creaks my mind groans under the weight of its age.” A small tear slipped from Sara’s eye. “There comes a time, for those who grow old, when you’ve just seen enough. You’re tired and you just want to go home.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No,” Sara whispered. She continued speaking but more to herself than Maya. “She stretches out her arms and they bathe her. She leans forward to stand up and they help her. They put her in a chair and lead her where she doesn’t want to go. She knows it’s a nice gesture and they’re only trying to help but it’s all so humiliating. She’s caught in the web of memories of a world gone by. Like a monument she stands alone testifying to a forgotten and uncared for time. And they wonder why she stares out the window and won’t speak. Let her be. This one’s seen enough. So just let her be.”
Maya could not tell if Sara spoke of herself or someone else. Whichever the case, Maya made no reply. She sat solemnly across from her wishing she could help. Finally Sara raised her arms signifying she was ready to be moved. Maya quickly jumped up and helped her to her feet. Sara feared her sadness would consume her again, but when she thought back on it later, she realized it to be just the last clutches of winter thawing.
∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ • ∙
Adus always had the appearance of a man of action. But after speaking with Sara, his footsteps echoed through the concrete halls with new decisiveness.
“I know what is required of us,” Adus burst into Connor and Val’s conversation.
“Someone’s been talking to Sara,” Val said.
“So what does the future hold?” Connor asked.
“Cory and Carlos are the runners. They’ll take the virus to the chipmunks. With some convincing, they’ll help us and will successfully shut off the weather witch. This will give us enough time to get Connor and your team to the Kennedy Center for the launch.”
“Whoa, slow down!” Connor exclaimed. “What team? What launch?”
“I’ll assemble the team for you. But you’re taking a shuttle ride to space.”
“What could we possibly need to do in space?”
“To manually destroy the weather witch.”
“But you just said the virus would disable it,” Connor protested.
“Actually, I said it would ‘shut it off.’ They’ll turn it back on shortly thereafter. We’ll need it permanently put out of commission.”
“And I’m going to shoot it with laser beams?”
“Ram it. Whatever it takes. Physically destroy it with the shuttle.”
Connor raised his palms like a scale. “Hmm, suffocate in the vacuum of space or be eaten by a horde of zombies. I’m all for having choices but... Why me, anyway? Why aren’t you or one of your men leading it?”
“Because Sara said it had to be the last free human. And apparently that’s you.”
“I don’t even know what that means ‘the last free human.’”
“She said you’re the only living person outside of Zalac who never took the infection. Everyone else took it and was cured.”
“Oh that ‘last free human!’ Well, of course, I’m that.” Connor thought all this over for a moment. “Well what about Val?”
“I’m staying here,” Val replied before Adus could even say anything.
Connor looked at her startled by her reply.
“My place is with Sara. You know that, Connor, as well as I do. She’ll need me.”
“Is that right?” Connor asked Adus.
“Sara said nothing about Val,” Adus replied.
“She knew my mind was already made up,” Val said.
“Well, what is the Learjet for then?” Connor asked.
“Sara just asked that it remain out of the plan. Even with the weather witch down, we’re not supposed to use it.”
“So,” Connor said drawing out the word. “What’s the point of all this? How are we escaping?”
“We aren’t,” Adus said abruptly.
“I fail to see the logic in this plan,” Connor replied.
“It doesn’t make sense. But what has so far? Your little band of humans running across America. Brady’s joining Zalac. Your whole journey so far has been beyond comprehension. Why should it change now?”
“Still,” Connor replied, “I’d like to think our last plan of action held some type of intelligence. At least a ‘go out in the blaze of glory’ type of stand.”
“It all boils down to Sara.” Adus’ face fell into a faraway look. “Maybe that’s why she did it.”
“Oh my God,” Val almost screamed. “If more people start talking all cryptic, I’m just going to start shooting people!”
“Sara,” Adus continued. “Maybe Sara told me not to abuse her ability so I’d see it for the first time here when she cared for my men. I don’t know, that may just be reading into things. Nevertheless, I trust Sara completely. You can order your crew however you want, but this is what my men are going to do.”
Connor sighed. “I’m not trying to be difficult. I just
want us to do the best thing.”
“We are on the heels of the same decision. It’s a terrible thing to have to spend lives. But I’m convinced this is the best way left to us.”
Connor looked to Val for a quick confirmation before he answered, “We’re with you.”
∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ • ∙
When the time came, everyone assembled in the main room.
Carlos and Cory changed into all black clothes and used oil to darken their faces.
Adus addressed them. “Here is the map we’ve sketched of the tunnels. Use it to get as close as you can to the Kennedy Center without going up to the surface.” Adus handed the map to Cory.
“Here is all the silenced weaponry we have. There’s almost enough for everyone.” Adus handed them out to the two runners and then Connor, Kristi, and gave one for Holly and Bill to share. “Even though they’re quiet, please use them sparingly. We all know how you kill one and suddenly the others seem to swarm the area.
“Bill will carry the other heavy guns. They are to be used to defend the Kennedy Center.”
“So dumb question,” Carlos started to say. “And no offense to you Cory. But should Cory not make it, how am I going to find the Kennedy Space Center on my own?”
“Here,” Adus said handing him a piece of paper. “It’s a rough drawing but it should get you there. The Kennedy Center is on a bit of an island. There are bridges. It’s pretty obvious.”
Carlos looked at the piece of paper. Rough drawing seemed a bit of an understatement. The map portrayed a sketchily drawn coastline and a few primary landmarks.
Carlos pointed to the map. “And this is like two or three miles total, right?”
“It’s probably going to be about thirty after we surface,” Cory answered.
“Thirty miles!”
“I’m sure we can find some shelter to stop in along the way.”
“You’re expecting me to run thirty miles!”
“We’ll take breaks.”
“With lightning trying to kill me!”
“Why don’t we ask someone else,” Adus suggested.
“Oh, I’m not saying I’m not up for it,” Carlos replied. “I just hope somebody here realizes the insanity of this.”
“We all do. But I have faith in you. And besides, what other choice do we have?”
Sorrow: A Novel Written by Brian Wortley Page 45
