After The Fires Went Out: Coyote (Book One of the Post-Apocalyptic Adventure Series)

by Wolfrom, Regan

  Justin rose to meet him, giving him a shove.

  Lisa hovered around them, too... I knew she wouldn’t hold back for much longer.

  I looked over to Sara. She caught my glance and looked away. I stood up from my chair and tried to insert myself between the two men.

  Justin pushed me and I pushed back. He then took a swing at me; I dodged it and slapped him across the face.

  “Enough,” I said. “Sit back down... everyone.” I could hear in my voice that I was losing my temper; I’m sure I wasn’t the only one to notice.

  Justin came close to growling at me, but he didn’t take another shot.

  “This is ridiculous,” Graham said. “These meetings have become a farce.”

  “That’s because there’s no point to them,” Rihanna said. “If Baptiste is supposed to decide, then he should just decide.” She looked up at me. “Well?”

  “Just a minute, please,” Eva said. “Why does Monsieur Baptiste get to decide? There is a vote, no?”

  “It’s my call,” I said. “So I’ll ask all of you to sit down and be quiet so I can think for a minute.”

  That had the opposite result, and soon it seemed like every person in the room was trying to shout out their opinions at me. So I started yelling too, telling people to calm down and somehow managing to make everyone that much louder.

  “Enough!” Sara screamed, as loud as I’ve ever heard her. “Just stop it!” She stood up and glared at me. “This is ridiculous... all of it.”

  “Things got a little heated...” Rihanna said as she rose from her chair.

  “Just shut up, okay?” Sara looked around the room and then she shook her head. “This is so effing ridiculous. Why do I even bother?”

  She turned and walked into the kitchen, coming back out with a pair of scissors. She walked over to the living room and the two prisoners.

  “Ridiculous,” she said again as she began cutting the plasticuffs off the native boy’s wrists.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  She cut the girl free as well.

  The two prisoners grabbed their jackets and ran out onto the side porch. They kept going until they’d disappeared down the path that ran along the lake. I wondered how many deer trails they’d memorized to find their way home through the woods.

  Sara turned and went over to the front door. She grabbed her coat off its hook and walked out.

  “Where is she going?” Rihanna asked.

  “She’s going,” I said. I hadn’t even thought of following her.

  “It isn’t safe,” Fiona said. “She can’t go out on her own.”

  “Well she just did,” Justin said. “And she just gave New Post permission to keep stealing from us.”

  “I think things will be getting a lot worse than stealing,” Lisa said.

  “We’ll need to hook up with New Post again,” I said. “Matt... send them a message that we want to talk things through.”

  Matt looked over to Justin, who gave him a nod. Like Justin was his goddamn boss.

  “Okay,” Matt said. “I’ll set it up.”

  “Baptiste?” Fiona said. “What about Sara? Aren’t you going to go after her?”

  I nodded and sighed, and then I grabbed my coat and made my way outside. Sara was already on the road, walking along one of the ruts in the snow.

  “Sara,” I called out. “Come back here.”

  She didn’t answer and she didn’t look back.

  “Sara... I’m sorry...”

  I heard the clattering of footsteps on the porch as pretty much everyone came out to watch.

  “Will you please talk to me?” I said. “Please... I need you to talk to me...”

  “Leave me alone,” she yelled back. “I don’t want you anywhere near me.”

  “It’s not safe out there by yourself.”

  “It’s not safe with you, Baptiste. I’ll take gun-toting marauders and those godforsaken coyotes over you.”

  There was no point in walking fifty feet behind her all the way to James Bay, so I turned back to grab my gear.

  “I’m taking the truck,” I said to Graham as I passed him on the front porch.

  I took the shotgun, and then I drove up the road, watching the fuel gauge creep that much closer to the E. I caught up to Sara at the junction with Nelson Road, pulling just in front of her and stopping. I rolled down my window.

  She took a sharp left and headed towards the ditch.

  “Are you going to tromp through ten inches of snow rather than talk to me?” I asked her.

  She stopped walking, but still she wouldn’t look at me. “Why can’t you give me a little space?”

  “You know why.”

  “I don’t give a crap about being safe right now.”

  “I love you, Sara.”

  “You love me... and all that sex with Kayla was a mistake... and I’ll bet you’ll never hit me again... blah fucking blah, Baptiste.”

  “I’m not making any promises.”

  That got her to turn and face me. “What?” she said.

  “I never thought I’d do anything to hurt you. And I don’t want to hurt you, Sara. I don’t. But it doesn’t matter what I tell you, because it happened...”

  “Yeah. It happened. And now we’re done.”

  “I love you. I don’t want to lose you.”

  “You cheated on me. With that skank. And you hit me. You fucking hit me. Did you really think that I’m the type of woman who lets guys beat on her? Did you really think I’d let you do that?”

  “I lost control.”

  “You’re goddamn right, you lost control. But that’s not my problem anymore. I don’t ever need to see you again.”

  “So you’re going to leave? Like right now?”

  “I’m going to leave. Right now.”

  “You’re going to live in the woods.”

  “I’m going to live in the woods.”

  “You’re going to eat nuts and berries.”

  “Nuts and berries.” I could hear her voice starting to soften.

  “You’re going to squat down to take shits in a little hole you’ve dug with your bare hands.”

  She sighed. “This is ridiculous. I’m stuck here. I can run off to a new cottage, but I can’t get away from you.”

  “I don’t want you to get away.”

  “I’m not coming home. I haven’t forgiven you.”

  “I know.”

  “Not by a long shot.”

  “Here’s what needs to happen... if you ever want a chance with me again...”

  “Yes?”

  “No more Kayla. Ever.”

  I nodded, but I wasn’t sure I was willing to do that.

  “No more anyone else,” she said. “You wait for me. You wait and you wait, or else you don’t get me. Understand?”

  “I understand.”

  She climbed into the passenger side of the truck. “It’s a good thing you came after me,” she said. “I forgot my gloves.”

  I leaned over to give her a kiss.

  “No,” she said. “Not now.”

  “Then when?”

  She sighed. “I don’t know. Just... not now. You need to wait.”

  She turned and looked out the window. There were no tears in her eyes, no sign of worry on her face. It was like she’d made her peace with how things would be from now on, like she didn’t mind at all that she and I would never be the same.

  It was Sara not giving a shit about the two of us that hurt the most.

  9

  Today is Monday, January 7th.

  I don’t recall anyone from New Post ever coming up to see us. It’s always been us visiting them, and that had always suited me fine until we’d realized that they’d been coming up here the whole time, only they’d come up along the deer trails so they could steal our supplies.

  So even though we’d heard back from them, and I’d been expecting them to show up today at noon, it was still a little bit of a shock to see two forest green pickup tr
ucks making their way down the road toward our gate on Nelson Road.

  We brought out our two trucks, as well as a snowmobile. I’d been tempted to suit up all the way, but I knew that showing that level of distrust would destroy whatever positive feelings might be left. So Sara and I walked out to meet them, unarmed, while Lisa and Graham watched from the grain truck, vests on, with their guns and helmets kept out of sight, down on the seats.

  The Marchands and the Porters were holding a second line halfway between the gate and the cottages, just in case.

  Gerald Archibald came to talk to us by himself. He seems to have become their spokesman when it comes to us; maybe they think he understands me.

  “I want to apologize,” he said. “What some of our young people have been doing is not okay.”

  “It’s not just your young people,” Sara said, beating me to it. “Just be honest with us.”

  “Why didn’t you ask for our help?” I asked. “Maybe we could have worked out a trade.”

  “We’re not allowed to trade with you,” Gerald said.

  “What?”

  “We’re not allowed. It’s not something I can change.”

  “Then who can change it? Who made such an idiotic decision?”

  “We have commitments in place,” he said. “It allows us keep our people fed. Now those commitments mean we can’t trade with you.”

  “So all that time we’d drop by to help out... you were just leading us on? Or when you talked about trading for our crops?”

  “The trade embargo is more recent.”

  “Embargo? That sounds pretty targeted. So you can trade with anyone who isn’t us?”

  Gerald shook his head. “Baptiste... there’s barely anyone else out here now.”

  “Except the Walkers,” I said. “But that’s who you’re working with. That’s why we found them last month... driving back from the rail bridge.”

  “We did some work for the Walkers. They would bring us supplies in exchange. But that’s changed now. We’re part of the Nation. Walker works for us. He brings us supplies because that’s a condition of keeping his land.”

  “But not enough supplies,” Sara said. “Or else you wouldn’t be stealing from us.”

  “They give us the basics... but we need more than that.”

  “So how long have you been stealing from us?” I asked.

  “Not long. We scavenged quite a bit from the places between here and Iroquois Falls... but that couldn’t last forever.”

  “None of that matters,” Sara said. “What does matter is that you guys have been stealing from us.”

  “We can’t give anything back,” Gerald said.

  “We don’t need anything back. We just need a promise from you.”

  “I’m not sure I can make that promise.”

  “So wait,” I said. “So you’re actually telling us that you’re going to send your kids back to steal some more?”

  “We need those supplies,” Gerald said.

  “Then get ‘em from the Walkers, Gerald. Or from your new best friend Ryan Stems.” I shook my head at him. “We’re going to be adding even more security over the next few days. You should tell your people that it won’t be safe to sneak up on us anymore.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It can only mean one thing,” Sara said. “We are going to protect ourselves. Obviously no one wants things to get out of hand.”

  “I don’t do well with threats,” Gerald said. “And neither does Ryan Stems.”

  “Let’s make this simple,” I said. “If anyone approaches McCartney Lake from anywhere other than the main road, they are putting themselves in harm’s way.”

  “It’s not a threat,” Sara said. “It’s just the way it’s going to have to be from now on.”

  “We are stronger than you,” Gerald said. “The Mushkegowuk Nation is sovereign and it is powerful. We want peace, but we won’t let our people starve while you hoard supplies.”

  “Hoard?” I said. “Are you kidding me? We need those supplies to live.”

  “So do we.”

  “No you don’t... I’m sure Ryan Stems and your precious Nation have tons of supplies in some warehouse in Kapuskasing. If they aren’t cutting you in on that... well, then you’re a sucker.”

  Gerald sighed. “I guess there isn’t anything more to talk about.”

  “I guess not.”

  Gerald turned and started to make his way back to his pickup truck.

  Sara looked at me and frowned. “That didn’t go well,” she said.

  “I don’t see how it could have gone any better. At least we know where we stand.”

  “Yeah... around six feet underground.”

  I heard footsteps behind us. I swung around to see Justin. He was dressed in a riot suit, vest and helmet and holding his hunting rifle.

  “What the hell are you doing?” I asked him.

  Justin ignored me, pushing right by. “Hey! Asshole!” he yelled out.

  Gerald turned to look.

  “Yeah... I’m talking to you,” Justin said. He pointed the rifle and fired.

  Gerald starting running towards his truck.

  “Dammit, Justin!” I yelled. “Put the rifle down!”

  He fired again.

  Gerald fell into the snow.

  I ran towards Justin, hoping to tackle him.

  “Back off, Baptiste,” he said. “I’m going to teach these shits a lesson.”

  “Then you’d better shoot me,” I said.

  He pointed the gun at me.

  I didn’t slow down. I went for his knees, bringing him down to the snow and gravel. The rifle flew out in front.

  Sara walked over to it but she didn’t touch it.

  “What the hell?” I said to him. “Are you a fucking lunatic?”

  “Maybe,” he said. “Did I get that fucker?”

  I couldn’t help myself. I punched him right in the mouth.

  I heard the sound of boots; a number of people rushing towards us. Before I could look, my face was in the dirt.

  They wrenched my arms behind me and I could feel the plasticuffs tightening around my wrists.

  I watched from the mud as they did the same to Justin.

  “Fuck, Baptiste,” Justin said. “Who’s side are you on?”

  “Baptiste’s the one who stopped him,” Sara said. “This isn’t right.”

  Two of the men from New Post grabbed Sara roughly and bound her wrists as well.

  “Start shooting, dammit!” Justin screamed. “Shoot these assholes!”

  “No one listens to you,” I said. “Just shut up.”

  I looked over at Gerald; two of his men were helping him up. One was applying pressure to his shoulder. The other was scanning the trees as he lifted one of Gerald’s arms.

  Lisa didn’t show herself.

  I saw Sky walking up to me, his rifle drawn.

  “I don’t know what just happened,” Sky said. “But it was a huge mistake.” He reached down and picked up Justin’s rifle.

  “So that’s it,” I said. “You’ll take us up the road and put bullets in our heads.”

  “We’re not the ones who started shooting.”

  “It wasn’t me, either.” I nodded my head at Justin. “That idiot doesn’t speak for the rest of us.”

  “He’s wearing your equipment, isn’t he?” Sky said. “We’re taking all three of you back with us. The council will conduct an investigation, and they’ll decide what actions need to be taken. You’ll have due process.”

  “You have no right to take us,” Sara said. “This is kidnapping.”

  They shoved me into the first truck box, and Justin into the second. He and I both got two men by our side. Sky handed Justin’s rifle to one of the men beside me, and the one on his shoulder to the men watching Justin. He then loaded Sara into the second truck, while Gerald was helped into the passenger seat of the first by one of this other men.

  And that’s when Lisa started shootin
g.

  Two shots rang out, and then I heard Gerald’s man start the engine. Two more shots and he reversed too quickly, slamming into the front of the truck behind him. Two final shots made him ditch the truck completely, running towards the other one and climbing into the box.

  Gerald opened the passenger door, but I could tell he wouldn’t make it on his own.

  I wondered if Lisa was going to take him out. I wasn’t about to tell her not to.

  The two guards who were with me jumped out, leaving me in the box. They grabbed Gerald and pulled him into the box of the second truck as Sky started it up and slammed into reverse.

  Lisa came running by, with Graham not far behind, both with helmets on.

  “Don’t shoot,” I called out to her. “Sara’s in there. It’s too risky.”

  “Takay,” she said. “They’re too far out. Let’s go.”

  She and Graham helped me out of the box and into the cab of Gerald’s truck. As Lisa drove, Graham cut my cuffs with his pocket knife.

  I wondered if any of her shots had done enough damage to the engine block that we’d be left stranded halfway to New Post.

  “I didn’t see many weapons,” I said.

  Graham pointed behind us at a couple of rifles mounted on a gun rack at the back of the cab.

  “So a gun each, maybe?” I said.

  “More than we have,” Lisa said. “But since we’ve got the body armour, we can take them. As long as we catch them before they get to their gate.” With that, she sped up some more, even though I already couldn’t believe how fast she was driving.

  Sky didn’t seem willing to go as quickly as Lisa; we were gaining on them quickly.

  “We’ll catch up to them,” Lisa said. “I can run these assholes right into a snowbank.”

  “Don’t forget about Sara,” I said.

  I could see Sky slowing down as they reached New Post Road. As the truck turned the corner, I saw someone get thrown from the side of the box.

  “Shit,” I said.

  “What?” Lisa asked.

  “They just threw Justin out of the truck.” I took a breath. “We’ll have to come back for him.”

  “We’ve got to check him over.”

  “Sara’s more important.”

  “Sara’s okay right now... I’m not sure Justin is.”

  “I don’t give a flying fuck about Justin Porter.”