Z-Railed

by Holcomb, Joshua

  Katelyn said nothing in reply. She launched herself at Jesse, causing him to lose his balance and fall to the floor. She wrapped herself around him as they fell. Without saying a word she began kissing him, passionately.

  After a full minute the couple gradually parted lips and helped each other stand up. Jesse was the first to speak.

  “Wow, Katelyn,” he said, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. “You certainly know how to greet a guy.”

  Katelyn pouted, “That’s the response I get? After all I’ve been through, and you can’t even tell me how glad you are to see me and that you love me?”

  “I’m sorry, Katelyn.” Jesse hung his head in shame. “Things haven’t been easy for me either.”

  “I get it.” She moved in closer and wrapped her arms around Jesse’s neck. “Jesse, I am overjoyed to find you again.” Tears began escaping from her eyes as she continued, “I need you, Jesse, more than you know. I don’t want to lose you again.”

  “I’m here right now.” Jesse’s lifeless eyes stared back.

  “I’m pregnant,” Katlyn wailed. “I’m having your baby, Jesse. I’m pretty damn scared right now. I don’t know what to think. Ever since we slept together and we were separated I’ve felt so vulnerable. And now to find out we’re having a baby, and you’re suddenly back… My emotions are all over the place.” Her tear stained face gazed back at Jesse. “Talk to me, babe. Please say something!”

  “I… I…” Jesse stuttered. He recoiled backwards and placed his hands above his head. “I don’t know how to take this,” he muttered.

  “Jesse,” Katelyn burst into a fresh round of crying. “Don’t do this to me.”

  “I’m sorry, Katelyn. I just really am not sure how to handle…” Jesse was cut off as Adelaide strode around the corner.

  “Jesse, what is going on?” Adelaide asked, as Katelyn’s sobs echoed through the hallway.

  “I ran into Katelyn… My girlfriend,” he muttered, lowering his gaze. He shivered as Adelaide placed a hand on him.

  Katelyn’s eyes opened wide at the sight and screamed, “Get your hands off my man you stupid bitch!” She spun around and scurried into the clinic, slamming the door behind her.

  “I’ll come find you later,” Jesse called after her.

  “What was that about,” Adelaide asked, when the echoes of Katelyn’s crying faded.

  “She’s pregnant,” Jesse replied, banging his forehead against the wall.

  “What did you say?”

  “Not much of anything.”

  “My dear boy,” Adelaide chuckled. “You have a lot to learn about women.” She tossed her hair back and flashed Jesse a seductive smile.

  “Can we just get to the loading docks?”

  “By all means,” Adelaide responded. “I’m anxious to see where you stand.”

  “Can’t be that hard,” Jesse mumbled arrogantly.

  * * *

  So far, Jesse had performed flawlessly. He had expertly directed the unloading of stockpiled supplies, weapons, and building materials. Adelaide stood silently in the shadows, watching Jesse’s every move and listening to every given order. As the cargo operation was concluded she smiled and nodded approvingly. As the last rail car containing the humans was opened, however, Adelaide moved in closer.

  One of the guards signaled for the first man to step up to the table. “This guy we didn’t really get any background on,” he said.

  “Timothy Callow,” Jesse spoke, comparing a low resolution image from the manifest, to the man’s face. His eyes took in Timothy’s features for a few seconds. “Here’s the deal, Tim. You wouldn’t tell our capture crew any information about your past work experience. This is your last chance to do so. Do you understand? If you don’t I’ll be putting you on an initial labor crew for one of our new colonies. Those guys are out in the worst of it. Their average life expectancy is three weeks.”

  A large lump rose in Timothy’s throat. “What does it really matter? I’ll probably die wherever you send me.”

  Jesse sighed. “You had your chance, man.” He scribbled on the manifest and motioned for the guard to lead him away.

  The line of people shuffled forward and Jesse continued to decide the fate of each particular individual. Adelaide only intervened once, and that was to move a young girl to the very last position in line. When she approached the table, Jesse immediately knew why she had done it. A feeling of dread washed over him like a flash flood and shattered any optimism clinging to his mind.

  “Ashley Fields,” Jesse said. “Age sixteen so you have not graduated high school yet.”

  The girl looked up at him with sullen green eyes. Her long brown locks of hair were matted and dirty, collecting around her shoulders. A torn t-shirt complimented a ratty pair of jeans and hiking boots.

  Jesse struggled to swallow, sorrow spreading through his body. Even though he already knew the answer he asked, “Did you take anything extra in high school that you could use as a trade—anything at all?”

  “No,” Ashley stammered. Fresh tears began arcing down her cheeks, cutting a clean path across the dirty skin.

  Jesse struggled to maintain his composure. He now understood that Adelaide had specially orchestrated this to test his resolve. Can I really sentence this poor sixteen year old girl to go live with some strange man and produce children?

  “Jesse!” Adelaide suddenly called out. “We don’t have all day! We have other tasks to attend to!”

  Jesse squeezed his eyes shut and tried to block out the pain. “Ashley, you have been chosen to partake in the noble task of repopulating our colonies,” he choked, flatly stating the phrase he had been instructed to previously in training. Never in his life did he think he would be subjecting a young girl to this fate.

  As Ashley’s renewed wails or sorrow echoed through the underground loading facility, Adelaide approached Jesse.

  “Congratulations, Jesse.” She wrapped her arms around him and embraced him. “You passed.”

  “I don’t feel a sense of accomplishment,” Jesse murmured.

  “It gets easier,” Adelaide whispered, gazing into his eyes. Then she kissed him.

  * * *

  Jesse panned the flashlight through the darkened hallway and rechecked the piece of paper in his hand: 412. It matched the placard above the door in front of him. He slowly balled his hand into a fist and rapped sharply on the door three times.

  After a full minute had passed he heard a lock disengage, followed by the door opening. Before him stood Katelyn, clad in a pink nightgown, her brown hair braided in one length. Her normally exquisite eyes were weary and red.

  “Oh, it’s you,” she said. “I was expecting Jackie. She said she’d be coming down later.”

  “Isn’t it past curfew?” Jesse inquired.

  “They’re not as strict on us medical staff,” Katelyn retorted. “Did you come down to apologize?”

  “I just want to talk. Katelyn, can I please come in?”

  “I suppose.”

  Jesse walked in and surveyed the room, dimly lit by a small lamp. He hadn’t been shown living accommodations for most of the workers in the Louisville colony. He was so used to Adelaide’s spoiled lavishness that he didn’t realize how simple everyone else lived. A twin mattress was placed on a simple box frame, with a crude desk, dresser, and a small wash basin in the other three corners.

  “Are they treating you well?” Jesse asked.

  “I get two meals a day, and work long hours… I know I didn’t get that living with Franklin’s group but at least I had people I called family. Instead I’m surrounded by strangers. My only interaction is with people in the laboratory and clinic.” Katelyn paused to rub her eyes. “But I know that’s not the case with most people that come through here. I hear their screams sometimes. They keep the more valuable people in better shape to sell, but they abuse the others.”

  Jesse shrugged. “It’s all about your perspective, Katelyn. Most of those people are better off now.”

&n
bsp; “So just because these people are one step up from the monsters outside these walls makes it okay to kidnap, rape, and sell human life?”

  “If you look at it that way, than yes. But Katelyn, what spiritual force can make sense of the calamity outside? Who can argue what is right and wrong, anymore? If it wasn’t for people like Adelaide running this business, mankind would have no hope. Do you realize that there are bands of survivors in cities, and their survival is thanks to what is being done here right now?

  “Bands of survivors? Don’t you mean slaves captured against their will and forced into labor and sex service?” Katelyn scoffed.

  “Just be thankful that you and Jackie were deemed valuable enough to avoid that fate.”

  “Deemed valuable, Jesse? So now I am a commodity?”

  “In this new culture, yes, you are,” Jesse said, his face lacking any compassion.

  Katelyn looked into his eyes. “Something in you has changed, Jesse. You’re not the same man as when I met you. I don’t like it. I knew you were questioning things, but… Damn!”

  “Experience has a way of shaping one’s beliefs.”

  Katelyn sighed. “Jesse, can we talk about us?”

  “We’re over,” Jesse blurted out. “This is going to be the last time we ever speak to one another.”

  Katelyn’s eyes widened with bewilderment. “What do you mean, Jesse? What about the baby? We have to name it. I was thinking if it was a boy you could choose. If it is a girl, I thought we’d name it Emily, after my mother.”

  “Katelyn!”

  “And I know we did this backwards… Most people get married and then they have kids. But I was thinking that even though this place sucks we are safe, and we could get married.”

  “Katelyn stop!”

  Katelyn was crying now, but still managed to spit words out as if she refused to believe Jesse’s words. “I know you don’t agree with me on everything now but we can work this out! I will…”

  “Katelyn, shut up!” Jesse gripped her shoulder with a vice like grip, while the vein in his neck throbbed uncontrollably from the suppressed anger boiling inside.

  Katelyn sat stunned, not uttering a sound even from Jesse’s forceful hold as he stared at her. She detected a small bead of moisture liberating itself from his eyelid. It was the first expression of sorrow since coming to her room.

  “Katelyn, I don’t want to have a baby with you.”

  “It’s a little too late for that, so why don’t you act like a man and make the best out of this situation?”

  “I don’t love you,” Jesse continued. The burning shame turned his skin bright red that was detectible even in the poor lighting.

  “I wish I could say I was surprised,” Katelyn sobbed. “But I’ve feared the worst ever since I saw that woman with you.” She peered at him, with tear stained eyes, in one last look of desperation. “If nothing else, please stay with me for the baby? It’s going to need a dad…”

  “I can’t!” Jesse lost control of his emotions and stood to his feet, and turned his back. “You’re being sent to our new colony near St. Louis, in the morning. They have lots of work for you there.”

  “You can’t do this Jesse! I love you! I gave myself to you! You don’t want to do this!” Any restraint Katelyn had before evaporated and her crying escalated to a level even Jesse didn’t believe possible.

  Jesse didn’t utter another word. He opened the door and stepped out. In the process he startled Jackie who was just approaching from down the hallway.

  “Jesse? Is that… What’s going on?”

  Brushing past her harshly, Jesse ignored her and strode quickly towards a staircase leading to an enclosed courtyard. He furiously tore up the steps and burst into the cool night air. He sank to his knees and began wailing with grief and sorrow. Jesse had wanted to find a way to make things work with Katelyn, but he had no choice.

  Thirty minutes later he picked himself up, rubbed his face with his hands, and navigated his way back to the upper level suites on the north side of the complex. Jesse approached a room and withdrew a new shiny brass key from his pocket. As he inserted it into the lock and turned it, he was overcome with relief.

  Jesse silently padded to the side of a large king sized bed, undressed for the night, and slipped underneath the covers.

  “Is it done?” a voice asked, inquisitively.

  “Yes, Adelaide,” Jesse stuttered back. “It’s done. She will be sent out first thing in the morning.”

  “Then love me, dear Jesse. I am yours.”

  XVI

  St. Louis, MO

  The famous St. Louis Arch loomed in the distance as the train came to a stop shy of the east bank of the Mississippi River. The scorching summer sun beat down on the humid landscape between the Illinois and Missouri border. The pungent odor of the mighty river clung to the air like a parasite to its host. The temperature only amplified its misery.

  “Why would anyone want to live here?” Jesse mumbled, as he surveyed the scene before him. The urban environment was already being reclaimed by natural forces.

  “You should see Kansas,” Adelaide retorted. “Or better yet, Western Australia.”

  Jesse said nothing and stepped onto a platform, similar to the ones in Louisville. This one, however, was surrounded by high cable fences that joined a main wall of protection that stretched into the distance. A portion of suburbia had been reclaimed, restored, and put to use.

  A middle aged balding man stepped forward and extended his hand to Adelaide. “Miss Webster, always a pleasure to see you.” A thick beard and mustache did little to hide the sarcasm etched into his lips as he spoke.

  “Mr. Graham, you know I must keep tabs on my investments.” Adelaide flashed a smile. “I want you to meet Jesse. He’ll be making a lot of these runs and responding to incidents for me now.”

  Jesse shook the man’s extended hand. “Mind filling me in?” he asked. “Adelaide is still bringing me up to speed on our operation.”

  “The walls have been completed since Adelaide’s previous visit,” Mr. Graham began. “That has led to exponential progress in continuing to refurbish buildings. We have a fair amount of living quarters erected at this point in time, as well as food storage. I’m not sure how long our fuel reserves will last to run the generators, though.”

  “Provided you source me with a decent supply of crops and healthy livestock by autumn you will have solar panels and small wind turbines delivered,” Adelaide interjected. “You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Of course,” Mr. Graham grumbled. “Anyway, we are still short in the medical department. We need extra staff to help with patient care and reproducing some of the basic antibiotics. It’s frustrating that none of our current staff can do something as basic as keep penicillin growing.”

  “Lucky for you,” Jesse said, “I have a girl that can help you out. But I need to know what I can get out of this deal?”

  “You’re already getting enough!” Mr. Graham exclaimed. “You can’t be serious! This is highway robbery!”

  Jesse looked over at Adelaide, who nodded reassuringly. With that, Jesse dropped the polite formalities and landed a forceful punch squarely on Graham’s nose. The cartilage easy shattered and a river of blood gushed forth from his now deformed face.

  “Let’s try this again, shall we?” Jesse hissed. “I’m offering you a highly valuable asset and I expect something in return. There is no room for charity in this world. Don’t forget who came into your crap-hole city and rescued you. We gave you protection, food, and a means to survive. The least you could do is show us some gratitude!” He tossed the man a rag to stem the bleeding.

  “Well,” Mr. Graham stuttered, dabbing at his nose, “I would need some of your forces to help, but I know of a building supply store a few miles away. We were forced to retreat due to a large feeder presence, but I think with your help we could clear the area and take supplies.”

  Jesse pondered this for a minute before nodding with satisfa
ction. “I think this will work out. We will gather some men and prepare to leave in the morning. In the meantime,” he continued, motioning to one of the guards, “I’ll give her to you now in a show of good faith. And if we don’t get these supplies tomorrow, I will kill you. Are we clear?”

  The man nodded vigorously in response.

  “Very well, then. Mr. Graham, I’d like to introduce you to Katelyn. She’s quite a talented young woman as I’m sure you will soon discover.” The guard had returned with Katelyn in tow, and Jesse grabbed her by the arm. He instructed the guard to untie her, and then pushed her forwards.

  “Jesse, I’m not one to complain, but… She looks like crap. How can she be valuable?”

  Katelyn’s normal beautiful appearance was masked by the past week’s emotional trauma. Since Jesse’s rejection she had forgone personal hygiene and grooming. Sullen lifeless eyes stared straight ahead, her un-kept and disheveled hair spilled around her shoulders, and soiled articles of clothing clung to her body.

  “I vouch for her,” Jesse replied. “She’s just had some emotional challenges.”

  “Like a scumbag getting her pregnant and then ditching her!” a voice from a group of laborers being unloaded, cried out.

  Jesse spun around and demanded, “Who spoke?” A guard pointed to the young man and prodded him forward.

  “You look surprised that I know your dirty little secret,” the young man jeered. “Word spreads quickly among those of us that you oppress for your sick…”

  Jesse withdrew his sidearm and leveled it at the man’s head. Without hesitating, his cold eyes of steel looked down the sights and his index finger squeezed the trigger. The man collapsed in midsentence as the bullet decimated his skull.

  “Does anyone else have a problem with how I run things?” Jesse screamed at the top of his lungs. “Anybody? You people have no idea how lucky you are! Freedom from the past Constitution and Bill of Rights has poisoned your mind! You could be one of those flesh hungry bastards wandering around, rotting your guts out! You ungrateful wretches should be joyful that people like Adelaide and myself stepped in to even offer you a chance at survival!”

  Katelyn sank to her knees as Jesse continued.