Inoculation Zero: Welcome to the Age of War

by S. Ison

  “Sounds good to me. It may take us a while, but I’m sure we’ll be able to find our way back. Dad is a great tracker, and I know he’ll never give up. And I learned from the best.

  “We better stop talking. The rain is getting harder, and I don’t want to raise my voice to be heard, because those guys might hear us then. Let’s try to get some sleep. Freedom sleep.”

  She laughed for the first time in days.

  ⅏

  Larry shifted his weight, he’d been dozing off and on, the heavy rain lulling them both into a kind of stupor. He could feel the heavy warmth of Jewel’s body, spooned into his chest. It felt wonderful, and he moved his head slightly to take in the smell of her hair.

  It was dirty, of course, but it smelled wonderful to him, musky and a hint of floral.

  “I smell pretty bad, don’t I?” Jewel whispered.

  Larry jerked as though stuck with a cattle prod, and he heard a soft giggle from the woman against his heart.

  “Ah, no,” he stammered, “you smell wonderful. Sorry if I woke you,” he mumbled, unable to think of anything else to say.

  Jewel shifted and turned carefully in the small fissure. He could not see her, but could feel every bit of her length next to him. He placed a hand on her small waist, trying to help her settle into a comfortable position.

  “I wanted to apologize for getting us captured and kidnapped.” Larry said in a miserable whisper.

  “What? What makes you think all this mess is your fault?” Jewel asked in a surprised whisper, her voice going up a little.

  “I should have been on watch. I should have been able to fight and protect you. I let those guys take us and didn’t even put up a fight.” His voice was wretched with self-loathing

  “Larry, how can you say that? How can you take ownership of something that was beyond our control?” Jewel asked softly.

  Larry could feel her soft hand come up to his face and cup his cheek. Heat swam over him, and his heart thudded into his ribs.

  “But I should have been watching out, instead of just sitting there like an idiot. I mean, really, they got the drop on us so fast, but if I’d been watching out, it might not have happened,” he said.

  “First off, how could any of us have known that there were three military assholes wandering around in our forest? Really, the world has come to an end, humankind has all but been wiped out, and those three shouldn’t have been anywhere near us.” She snorted softly with humor.

  “Next, we were all responsible for it, not just you. These guys had been watching us for a while, so no matter how much you would have been watching out, they would have struck when you weren’t watching. Third, they would have killed you easily and not thought anything of it. And then they would have taken me, and I’d have lost you,” she whispered.

  The blood was now pounding in his ears, and he worried she would hear it. “So, you’re not mad or disappointed in me?” he asked in a small voice.

  He could feel her lean forward, and then she kissed him gently. “No, silly, I’m not, and never was.”

  Though there wasn’t much space between them, Larry pulled her to him in a tight hug, his hands splaying on her back as he buried his face in her neck.

  “Thank you, Jewel, I know I don’t deserve it, but thank you.”

  Jewel laughed and pulled back, but didn’t let go of his waist. “You are a silly man, I don’t ever think I could be mad at you.”

  Larry could hear the smile in her voice. Before he lost his nerve, he leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. He almost missed in the dark, but caught the edge of her full mouth.

  “I know we’ve not known each other long, and I may never have the nerve to say this, but I love you Jewel. And not in some kind of flagrant way, but I truly see you for what you are. Incredibly brilliant, strong, and a rare woman.”

  Her hand once more took his face, and she kissed him back. If he died at that moment, he would be the happiest man on earth and would count his life well lived.

  “I know it is fast too, but, Larry, I know what you mean. I love you too. From the first moment I saw you and talked to you, I knew you were mine,” she said softly, her hands stroking his face and hair.

  “It was as if I’d known you all my life, and when we talked while hunting, I knew in my heart you were for me,” she said, and kissed him again, long and hard.

  Larry pulled her into him, holding on for dear life. He’d felt the same way: she was a flame he needed to feel warmth within. He’d never met anyone like her, and knew he never would again.

  “I know this is fast, and I know we don’t fully know each other, but I think I’ve been looking for you all my life. Jewel, will you marry me?”

  “I know I’ve been looking all my life for you too, Larry, and yes, I will marry you,” Jewel said softly, and Larry felt his heart shatter into a million pieces of happiness. He laid his head in her neck and wept with joy. He could feel her strong hand rubbing his back and holding him to her. He’d found his home, he’d found his life in her. He was whole.

  Epilogue

  Topsfield, Maine

  Kelly sat out in the camp chair by the fire, Tim beside her holding the baby. Timothy Kenneth Beranger was born on the tenth of October, with the help of Patsy Summers. They had weighed him on Patsy’s kitchen scale, and he was a healthy seven pounds.

  It was nearing the end of October now, and Timmy was swaddled in numerous wraps. It was a warm day, but Kelly didn’t want to take chances. She was a new mommy after all.

  Schrodinger’s Cat came over to snuffle the baby’s blond head. She gave him a wet lick, then lay down by Tim’s feet. Chance was off in the woods hunting, and Chloe in the barn chasing mice. The ever-present chickens were scratching away peacefully around the yard.

  “I still can’t believe we have a baby,” Kelly said for the thousandth time.

  “Me either,” Tim said, a foolish grin on his face.

  “He’s so tiny and fragile. And he’s so beautiful, it breaks my heart,” Tim said, then cleared his throat.

  Kelly smiled at him. He was so tender and sweet with the baby. She still marveled at the new life. Labor had hurt like hell, but it was forgotten when she held her son. The prune-like baby was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen in her life. She was enchanted and in love.

  It had been a very good summer; their double crops had come in, and she and Tim had spent a lot of time canning the fruits of their labor. They’d also traded a bit of it for hay, honey, and other goods.

  There had been no more trouble, and Kenny’s intel said all was quiet. Many people too were simply too busy trying to survive to cause much trouble. Word had gotten around about Chum and his cohort’s demise, and that in and of itself was a cautionary tale to be told over the winter.

  Kelly knew their lives would be busy and full, she knew that they would have their joys and hardships, but she wouldn’t want it any other way. The world may have died, but life went on just fine without mankind’s input.

  She picked up her coffee and inhaled the fragrance. That was one thing she would miss, but for now, they had plenty, and she would enjoy it. Looking over to Tim, her face softened. He was nibbling on Timmy’s soft hair with his lips, kissing and sniffing that lovely baby smell. She brushed a happy tear away from her eye and sipped her coffee.

  Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina

  Randal and Pearl sat in lawn chairs, watching Greg and Becka run back and forth with the dogs. They had a new puppy, Mr. Smith’s daughter, Nice Dog. Greg had named her that so Mean Dog would know they were related. Nice Dog was a German Shepherd and Mastiff mix. She was a gangly, fuzzy thing with plenty of energy. Mean Dog wasn’t impressed, but put up with her.

  “I wish I could harness some of that energy,” Pearl said, sighing.

  “Yeap, that sure would be a nice thing to have,” Randal agreed. He sipped his sun tea and smiled over at Clive, who was coming toward them with his lawn chair.

  “Just got finished talk
ing to Johnny Lee, said that he and some men had gotten back from Mt. Pleasant,” Clive announced as he set up his chair and sat down.

  “What’d he have to say?” Randy asked, his eyes still on Greg and the dogs.

  “Well, said they didn’t get too far. Said there were more bodies on the street, the virus still active. He didn’t want to take a chance on bringing it back to the island, so he and his men got out of there real quick-like.” Clive said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

  “Well, that is good news and bad news,” Randal said.

  “How so?” Pearl asked, a frown forming between her brows.

  “Well, bad news is obvious – the virus is pretty damn virulent. Good news, we may not have to worry about people coming to hurt or steal from us. Because we’re so isolated, we’ve avoided being contaminated. There may not be very many people left out there in the world.”

  “True, and we are essentially all we have. I’m glad we have Johnny Lee and his people, though,” Pearl said somberly.

  “Yeah. There are enough young people there that I think we will survive. It is a different world for Becka and Greg, but they will grow up not really knowing anything different,” Randal added hopefully.

  Clive grunted his agreement, and poured himself some warm sun tea. “I still can’t make up my mind if I like this life or not,” he said, taking a sip of his tea.

  “I guess it doesn’t matter whether you like it or not. It’s here,” Pearl laughed.

  “I guess,” Clive said, rolling his eyes, and laughed.

  They could hear the laughter of the children, and the growling of the puppy.

  “Well, those kids sure are happy, and that is really all that counts. Their world has gotten smaller, but I would have to say that it really hasn’t gotten worse, at least for them,” Pearl said.

  “If what Johnny Lee says is true, then we should be left in peace. I think we would have seen more of it by now, and it’s been nearly seven months since those idiots tried to attack us,” Randal said.

  “How is the new girl, Bobby Lynn, fitting in?” Pearl asked.

  “She’s doing great. Johnny Lee said all the boys are crazy about her, and acting foolish to get her attention,” Clive laughed.

  “How many teens do they have on that island?” Pearl asked.

  “Oh, they got eight boys and five girls. There are also three kids under the age of twelve. So, there’s another generation growing up,” Randal said.

  “Don’t forget June’s grandkids. And her adult children,” Clive said.

  “It isn’t a lot, but it is enough,” Pearl said, and sipped her tea.

  San Gabriel Mountains, California

  Larry was chopping wood and stacking it. He was filled with excitement. Jewel and Jack would be there on the morrow. They were coming for a visit before the snows began. Then it wouldn’t be until the following spring that he would have a chance to see Jewel again.

  They had stayed in the cave for two days, waiting out the three men. When they’d finally emerged, they’d made their way carefully back the way they’d been taken. It had been slow going, because they were afraid to be caught again. The men must have given up, because they’d seen no sign of pursuit. For food, they had hunted small game and eaten plants. They had survived easily. On the third day, they had run into Charmain and Rubin, who’d been ecstatic to see them.

  It had taken a few more days to rejoin Jack, who’d looked like he’d aged a decade. Larry had again felt the pangs of guilt. He should have been on guard. Both Jewel and Charmain had repeatedly told him he was being foolish, but he could see in Jack’s eyes that he too felt Larry should have been warier.

  It had been a hard lesson, and Larry had learned it well. He would never again let down his guard. Charmain simply rolled her eyes and shrugged. Larry knew she let him off lightly. She had a soft spot for him, and was very forgiving.

  He planned to ask Jack for Jewel’s hand in marriage. He loved Jewel, and wanted her as his own. He knew he could be a good husband to her, and he knew Jewel cared deeply for him. They’d lain in the cave whispering for hours, even held hands and kissed. She had his heart, and there was no getting over that. He would love her and protect her until the day he died.

  He wasn’t sure where they would live, but figured that would come later. He’d have to gird up his loin to ask Jack for his daughter’s hand first. He suspected that he’d have to move to Jack’s home, as he didn’t think Jack would do without his daughter. He didn’t care. He just wanted to be wherever Jewel was.

  He knew he’d miss Charmain, but knew too that he’d see her again. The world had changed around him, and he’d changed too. He’d have never imagined himself strong and capable of surviving in the wild, but he could do it now. And he’d found someone to love. He knew that if they ever had a boy, he’d name him Jake, after his friend.

  He had hope for his future, Jewel, and wonderful friends. Life was worth living, and full.

  Bridgman, Michigan

  Zack tottered toward Mike, who was bent over a bucket washing clothes. Jada was beside him, rinsing them out and hanging them on the line. The trees were a brilliant orange and red. Fall was upon them.

  Zack squealed with glee, the brown puppy nipping at his heals. Mike had found the mongrel on one of his last forays out. It was about seven weeks old by then, and he hadn’t seen the mother. He’d brought the puppy home, as they could always use a dog. There weren’t many left, as most had sadly been eaten.

  The dog had survived, much to Mike’s relief, and had become Zack’s bosom buddy. They’d named him Buddy. Zack tried to say the name, which was cause for laughter. Janet was watching the child while Mike and Jada did laundry.

  It had been a good summer. They had plenty of food, and had scrounged clothing for themselves and Zack.

  The bite of winter was around the corner, but they were prepared. They had stacked up firewood, and Jada and Janet had canned quite a lot of the summer produce. Jada had blossomed under Janet’s care.

  Being a chef, Jada was now in charge of cooking, and she did wonders with their food supply. She’d even managed a birthday cake for her thirtieth birthday; an applesauce cake, and wonderful.

  They’d not seen another living soul when they’d gone on scavenging hunts. They’d eventually run out of gas and, unable to find more, they’d stopped their wandering.

  From time to time they caught the scent of death on the wind. It was the same putrid smell from when the virus had struck. It was always on Mike’s mind.

  “You think there’s anyone else out there?” Jada asked, as though reading his mind.

  “I think so, but I think the virus has started again, and has started wiping out others who’d survived the first go round. I don’t think we should leave this place anymore. Not even to walk, or ride the bikes,” Mike said.

  “Yeah. There’s no telling how long that virus will survive. I would have thought the winter would have killed it,” Jada said, shaking a small shirt out and hanging it on the clothesline.

  “I don’t know, but that smell, that horrible smell is in the air again. You just can’t forget that stench,” Mike said.

  “And even if we wanted to go somewhere, where the hell would we go? There’s no one we know, and really no one I would want to see,” Jada said.

  “Yeah, that’s true. We are all we have. I feel bad for Zack, though. When he gets older, maybe we can look around farther out,” Mike suggested.

  “Maybe when he is eighteen and a grown man. I’d hate to have him go out when he is a kid. We don’t know who’s out there,” Jada said, a nervous tremor in her voice.

  Mike knew she still had nightmares from time to time. She was getting better, but the life she’d lived before they’d met was a hard one. He did his best to be a constant for her, but they each had demons they had to overcome.

  “Our lives will be quiet, that’s for sure, but lively,” Mike said, eyeing Zack and Buddy. Zack was being led along, his chubby hand clutching the pupp
y’s tail.

  Jada laughed and shook her head. Mike liked to hear her laugh. They were becoming closer, and though they’d not done anything remotely romantic, Mike thought that, maybe in a few months, he might make a move. He didn’t want to push her or make her feel uncomfortable, but he really cared for Jada. He knew she cared for him too.

  They both needed time to heal from all they’d gone through. They had time; they had the rest of their lives. Mike took each day and enjoyed it. They were safe, they were well fed and warm. They had each other. For now, that was enough.

  Zack came tottering back up to Mike. Mike bent and scooped up the boy and held him over his head, smiling.

  “Da da!” Zack squealed.

  Mike’s heart melted, and he lowered Zack to his chest and kissed the boy’s golden head, giving him a big hug.

  Life just doesn’t get any better than that, he thought.