Afraid of the Dark

by Chris Hechtl

  “The food's hot and the water's cold daddy,” she said smiling.

  “It is, sugar,” he said smiling.

  “Oh them?” Bert asked looking at Wanda and then to the family. “They are in charge of this mess. Shane and his wife Jen. The twins are um... I forget.” He looked at Wanda for help.

  “Trina and Tori. The boy is Nick. He's thirteen or fourteen I think,” she said shaking her head. Jen was moving slowly, firmly preventing any of the family from helping her along. People ahead of them in line would look back and say something about having something to do and step aside. She'd move forward thanking them with a gracious smile.

  “I...”

  “Jen's got cancer,” Wanda said softly before Bert could get it out. “Its terminal. She's a great lady. Real smart. She figured out all kinds of stuff about the aliens. She and Jayne got the domestic side organized a real treat,” she said indicating the food court with her free hand. Her right hand speared a cubed roasted potato and popped it into her mouth for proper mastication.

  “Um... we're still ah...”

  “I know, digesting it all. It’s all new and different and yet the same. It takes some getting used to actually,” Robert said nodding. He kept eating.

  “Where did they get the fresh potatoes? These are fresh right? Or is this from a can?”

  Robert shot Wanda an amused look. She smiled. “Told you so,” he teased. She shrugged and turned to Eddy.

  “The potatoes and other tubers we grow ourselves now.”

  “Really?” Eddy asked, looking surprised. He looked at his plate.

  “We've got lucky and landed both home improvement stores on this end early. We also lucked out, we've got some smart motivated people who can be right bastards about getting things done and done quickly. Which is why we're growing about nine or ten percent of our food now.”

  “Wow,” someone else new said quietly.

  “We're working on getting that number up there,” Wanda said with pride. She'd read the farm report this morning. The first harvests were helping immensely. And they had slaughtered the second crop of roosters yesterday. There should be some chicken in a day or so.

  Robert swallowed and then looked at Eddy. “They get you a job yet?”

  “A job?” Eddy asked. He shook his head as they all looked at him. “No, not yet,” he said quietly.

  “You'll get one. No sweat. You did what? Factory work?”

  “Machinist,” Eddy said.

  “Good. You'll find a place easy. No sweat. We've got machine shops all over the place here. They are crying for experienced help. You'll fit right in,” Darius said nodding to his father. Robert nodded back.

  “Go see Walt or Jesse, after they show you where you’re bedding down for the night,” Wanda said helpfully.

  “You were in the group heading up the 215?” Kelly asked.

  Jerrica nodded. “We were until we ran out of road,” she said.

  “We cleared the strip here,” Bert said smiling as he took a sip of water.

  “You did?” Eddy asked surprised. He had thought it was odd.

  “Course we did. Any vehicle we couldn't use either got recycled, scrapped, or buried in the wall after being stripped. We yanked the engines, fuel, and stuff out first of course.”

  “Really?” Eddy asked.

  Bert smiled. “Oh yeah sure, we’ve got a crew over at the warehouse stores turning them into generators for other enclaves as well as our own. I think what; ten percent is used for us now? The rest is traded,” he said looking at Wanda.

  “I work in procurement and trade under Terra,” Wanda said as Eddy looked at her. “That means we find the stuff we need or trade for it. Generators are our third biggest item. Well, no fifth, I forgot fuel.”

  “What is the other... oh food, water, and weapons right?” Eddy asked.

  “You got it,” she said smiling. “You want my dessert kid?” she asked looking at Jerrica. The girl stared as she pushed the plate over to her. “I'm not a big fan of apricots.”

  “Uh, sure,” Jerrica said taking it. She smiled her thanks as she dug in. “So what else do people do here?” she asked.

  “You name it,” Darius said, smiling. She caught the shy smile and replied in kind. The adults glanced at each other. Wanda hid a smile.

  “Bob, the big guy with the white hard hat and black suspenders, over yonder, is in charge of construction,” Bert said nodding his chin as he took a sip of coffee. Eddy smelled the fragrant aroma and practically swooned. It had been months since he'd had coffee.

  “Let's see... just about everyone here is the local crowd. I don't see anyone from the other sites...”

  “Other sites?” Eddy asked finishing his potatoes.

  “Yeah, we've expanded again. We're splitting at the seams even though we did. Seven or eight thousand here,” Kelly said shaking her head. Eddy stared at her. She nodded soberly. “Not as bad as when it was up to thirteen or fourteen thousand. Thank god they opened up Lowes and the other places. Took a butt load of pressure off here and the supports.”

  “Lowes... you mentioned Sams. Costco?” Eddy asked.

  “This entire area.” She used her finger to indicate a circle of the entire area.

  “All of Towngate and even a bit beyond that. We've got nearly thirty thousand people here now. Most of Moreno Valley and a good chunk of Riverside ta boot,” Robert said with a nod.

  “Damn!” a newbie said shaking his head. “How, I mean how the hell did you guys achieve that?”

  “Blood, sweat, and a shit load of luck,” Bert said saluting them with his cup. “Some of it came from them, the leaders. They got everyone organized into departments and stuff from day one and kept us all working towards a goal.”

  “What goal?” Jerrica asked.

  Bert had to smile at that. “Why survival for one. Kicking alien ass is another. See that group of guys in camo over there?” Most of the noobs turned to look. They noted a couple of tables with guys in camouflage uniforms. Some were makeshift; others were either military or hunting gear. “They are our military component. Militia. They protect the perimeter and some go out and kill the alien predators during the day.”

  “They do?” a noob asked, wide eyed. “I thought that wasn't possible!” he said, voice rising in disbelief.

  “Keep it down,” Wanda said softly. “It’s possible,” she said looking around. “If you know how. Jen and the other scientists figured out how. Her husband showed us that the aliens can be killed during the day and how to do it. They train people to kill them now.”

  “But not all,” Darius said shaking his head. “We learned that in school right off. We don't go after the herbivores, the plant eaters. They are ignored.”

  “School?” Jerrica asked wrinkling her nose. He grinned.

  “Ignored? They should all be burned off the face of the Earth!” a man said. Tears were in his eyes. His dinner companion patted his arm as his fists clenched.

  “We have to ignore the herbivores because they pose no threat and we need to conserve ammo to kill the damn predators. We've cleared out half of our side of the city here.”

  “Really? I saw the dozer work,” Eddy said nodding. He meant the dozers working on the perimeter and on the wall. Some of them were further afield, knocking down entire neighborhoods.

  “Yeah, that's so the aliens can't go back and nest inside around us. And so we've got clear fields of fire,” Günter said. He was a stripling teen. “I'm learning to drive a front end loader,” he said proudly. His mother smiled at him in approval.

  “I work in carpentry at Lowes,” Chico said waving a hand. “Which I need to get back to. My shift,” he said getting up. He bussed his tray at a series of trash cans.

  “We recycle everything here,” Wanda said. “Dinnerware is washed of course, but left over food scraps are separated for the animals. Plastics are either washed or recycled.”

  “You can do that?” a person asked, sounding shocked.

  “Yeah, we've got
a system set up in Towngate. We ship them our plastic, they melt it down and reform it into stuff we need. Most of it is domestic stuff, but they also make butts and other bits for weapons.”

  “I heard you're making weapons?” a guy down the row asked. Wanda leaned forward to see him. He had a gnarled face and hands. One hand was missing a pinky finger.

  “Yes, weapons and ammunition. Vehicles are converted into war machines too,” she said.

  “Wow,” a girl said. “I'm into electronics though, I mean, IT. I well...” she looked at the others.

  Wanda smiled. “We've got an IT department. See Gabriel. He's in charge. Big fluffy guy. Bit of a nerd, but smarter than everyone in this room put together. He's the one who put the boards together, got the net set up, and the cameras to watch for aliens,” she said pointing to a camera nearby.

  The table looked at it. They each took it in and then looked down to see a guard below it. “What's with him?” Eddy asked.

  “Security,” Bert said looking. “Yeah, we've got security inside and out. Plus we've got cops and a full court system. They warned you to stay out of trouble right?” he asked looking at each of the noobs.

  They each nodded. “Well they meant it. If you screw up or hurt someone you're in deep shit. One guy raped a little girl. They cut his well... I won’t go any further with the kids here,” he said. He could see a few of the men wince as they got the message. The women though either looked torn or savagely satisfied. More than one pair of eyes glittered.

  One guy nodded after a brief time. Bert picked at his plate and then pushed it aside. “It’s a bit of frontier justice, but we're getting better.”

  “We had medical checks and stuff,” one woman said tentatively. “I was a tech.”

  “Are you going to apply for a job?” Kelly asked. “I was thinking about a lab tech position,” she said. She had black hair and a pale complexion. “I don't like working in the farms,” she said.

  “Me neither,” Günter said. “I'll take driving any day,” he said.

  “It’s not for everyone,” Wanda said with a smile to her son.

  “Farms... so this place has everything? Can we stay daddy?” Jerrica blurted out, eyes locked on her father. He nodded.

  “Hadn't made up your mind yet?” Bert asked amused. Eddy shrugged under the gaze. “Toe in the water, typical Eddy Newman,” Bert teased.

  “I'm...” he looked down and hugged his daughter. “We’re staying,” he said rubbing her bicep. “If they'll have me,” he said.

  “Oh they will. Any of you willing to do stuff, or at least willing to work can stay. KP or kitchen duties are some jobs if you can't hack anything else. They sound demeaning but it’s vital to keep everyone clean and fed,” Wanda said. The veteran mallers all nodded.

  Bert pulled out a smart phone and tapped it. He set it down in front of them and waited. After a moment it rang and a voice picked up. “Yeah Bert?” A man said tiredly.

  “Walt, I've got an old friend here, Eddy Newman, machinist. He was in the navy for a spell. Good guy, hard worker.”

  “Send him my way,” Walt said immediately. “I'll be in Sears around five,” he said.

  “Thanks Walt,” Bert said nodding and cutting the connection.

  “As easy as that?” Eddy asked looking surprised.

  “As easy as that,” Wanda said chuckling a little. “He's done some work with Walt so he's got him on speed dial.”

  “You've got phones?” the woman who'd said she was into IT asked, surprised, as Bert put his away.

  “Yeah, told you, all the comforts of home,” Bert said absently. “Check with Gabriel. We've got phone service internally right now, and to some of the enclaves nearby. We're trying to set up a system to expand the network but it’s a pain getting everyone on the same page.”

  “Tell me about it,” Wanda said rolling her eyes. “Jerrica, you are what? Twelve?”

  “Fourteen ma'am,” the girl said. She sat up straight after a moment. “I'm short,” she said shrugging.

  “And young looking,” Wanda said with a nod. “Well, you'll have your pick of which high school classes you want to take.”

  “I will? You mentioned school...” She looked uncertainly to her father.

  “School and hell, college and trade school. We've got just about all of it here,” Bert said proudly. “Don't rock the boat; keep moving forward, it’s some of the mottos here. We all pull together and we can get back to civilization,” he said smiling and standing. “I've got the afternoon shift, so I'll see you folks later,” he said.

  “You... ah...” a nooby asked.

  “What?” Wanda asked checking her kids and then nodding to dismiss them. Jerrica looked at her dad who reluctantly nodded. She smiled and went off with the other kids.

  “You work during the day. You go out during the day?” the guy asked shocked.

  “Of course!” Wanda said. “Can't do it at night after all,” she said shaking her head. “Everyone works like a dog during the day. Harvesters go in behind the soldiers and pull out everything they can. Food, weapons, fuel, stuff to build and live with. We process it and store it or whatever. At night we sleep,” she said.

  “You can just...”

  “Sleep? Sure,” she said smiling. “Oh it took a couple of days to get sorted out. Quite a few people have a hard time with it. Some still do. The adjustments and well, trauma,” she said. “You can see a shrink if you need to. The kids had nightmares,” she said nodding to the departing kids.

  “So no alien attacks?”

  “No. We've had a couple of Hoppers, but the aliens tend to avoid us. We keep a low profile at night you see. Lower our heat signature and they can't see us. Or so the scientists say,” she said shrugging. “It’s worked so far, so I'm all for it. By day our people go out and work on building better defenses or getting stuff or just killing the damn aliens. That's helped keep them in check around here too,” she said smiling a tight lipped savage smile.

  “Thinned out the herd,” Robert said nodding. “Or at least the predators preying on the herds and us. Make us something they'll choke on so they go after their natural prey. Eventually we'll get a handle on things and restore balance. I hope,” he said. Wanda put her hand on his and gripped his fingers.

  “We all do honey,” she said smiling a little at him. He nodded and turned to the others.

  “You can see the screens around, right?” he asked. They looked around to the screens in the corners and strategic places. “They are playing the news channels and stuff. Both here and out there,” he said.

  “So I mean...” one woman asked. “Civilization exists?”

  “Oh yeah,” Robert said. “Here, twenty nine palms, some of the desert cities, and in small pockets. Biggest city still alive is New York but its emptying fast.”

  “Why?”

  “Food and utilities. Without that you're dead. Some people are trying to convert to roof top greenhouses and such but it’s not going well,” Wanda said shaking her head. “We're having a hell of a time here in a desert valley; I don't know what their problem is. I know they had a few places already set up years ago. Saw it on TV.”

  “It takes time honey, even Rome wasn't built in a day,” Robert said getting up. He kissed her on the cheek. “Speaking of which, I've got to get moving. We're burning daylight, another saying around here. Can't dawdle anymore,” he said. “Nice meeting you folks,” he said nodding to the noobs and then taking his tray away.

  “It’s...”

  “It takes a bit of adjustment I know. You'll fall into the groove,” Wanda said. “Eventually,” she said cocking her head.

  “What about the nuclear plants?” a guy asked. I heard...”

  “That there are problems?” Wanda asked looking tired. “There are. The ones here have been shut down and are supposed to be safe. I hope so. I know some in Europe, Russia, and Asia melted down. It’s pretty ugly. Chloe can get you up to date on different stuff and different places if you want. I've got to do invento
ry,” she sighed, getting up and stretching.

  She picked up her tray and paused looking directly at Eddy. He was arrested by her eyes. “Don't forget your appointment you hear me? Make a good first impression.” He nodded. “Good.” She turned to the others. “Just remember folks, if you don't see the job you want or there isn't a vacancy or a new opening, have a bit of patience. Just keep plugging at whatever you're assigned and either train for something else or keep applying. We're expanding all the time now. We're going to be expanding into the old Home Base area soon. Just keep the dream alive and you'll do fine,” she said. She glanced at the clock and grimaced. “Lord, look at the time, I gotta jet,” she muttered moving off.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Eddy looked around surprised by how the Sears store had changed. The entire ground floor was one giant machine shop. Upstairs had people doing stuff he wasn't at all sure about.

  “You Eddy?” a big guy asked coming out from behind a drill press. He was wiping his hands on a rag.

  “Yeah uh... I'm looking for Walt,” he said.

  “I'm Walt,” the big guy said, sizing him up with a steady gaze. After a moment he nodded. “Machinist?” Eddy nodded. “What, second mate?”

  “First,” Eddy said, pride stung awake. “I put ten in before I strained my back off duty and was discharged as unfit.”

  “Ah,” the head mechanic said nodding. He winced at the sound of a grinder nearby. “Come on, my office,” he said waving to the doors. Eddy followed him outside and across the path to the automotive shop. They went up to the manager's office.

  Walt went inside and sat behind the desk and pointed to a chair. “You ate right? Showered?”

  “Yeah,” Eddy said nodding. “We've had a tour,” he said nodding. He wasn't sure how he'd find Jerrica when it was time for bed. Chloe had said something about a curfew.

  “What was your specialty?” Walt asked, toying with a screwdriver. “Machining I mean.”

  “I've done a lot. Turned axles, machined stuff for custom jobs, wheels, I've used a CNC machine, welded, cut, the works,” Eddy said with a 'done that' shrug. Walt eyed him for a moment and then nodded.