by Kip Nelson
The pyre still was burning strong, even though it had been burning all day, but Mack didn't mind. It was a reminder of the stakes for which they all were fighting. While standing there, he saw a woman by herself, and realized she had been standing there all day, transfixed by the fire. He had seen her before, but he did not know her name, and regretted that, with everything that had been happening since he arrived at the settlement, he still hadn't had a chance to introduce himself to everyone. He walked up and stood beside her. Her head turned to the side as she noticed his presence.
“Who did you lose?” he asked.
“My husband, David,” she said.
Her eyes were sunken and she never moved them from the pyre. The name rang a bell for Mack, but he was unable to put a face to it. The woman was in her fifties, with graying hair and shoulders that were beginning to stoop.
“I told him he was too old to fight, but we have been here since the beginning, and he said he couldn't let other people defend his home for him. He was always so stubborn, that man. It was one of the reasons why I loved him. Back when we met, my father didn't approve of him at all, and even I wasn't sure, but he kept chasing me until I eventually gave up and now I just...I can't believe he's gone,” she said, choking back a tear.
“I'm sorry for your loss. I'm sorry for all this,” Mack said, wishing he could put the world back together again.
“Thank you. I know you're doing the best you can.”
“I'm sure trying.”
“Can you promise me something?”
“What's that?”
“Get those fuckers for what they've done. Find them and take them out. Don't leave any of them breathing because they're all animals. You put them down.”
Mack was shocked at the steely, cruel tone of her voice, but this was a woman who had lost everything. First, she had lost the world she knew, then her husband. She wanted revenge, they all did, Mack knew, because he saw it in their eyes. He stepped away, leaving the woman to her own thoughts, wishing things were as simple as she thought.
He returned to City Hall and waited for the others to arrive. All of them were there, apart from Luis, who still was recovering in the infirmary. When Grace came in, Mack asked her how Luis was doing, and she said that after a period of rest he would be back to his best. Mack was glad to hear this as they had lost too many people and didn't need to lose another. But as he looked at each of them sauntering in, he saw the same exhausted look on each of their faces. They were trying to hold it together, having been chosen as leaders of the community, but they all needed a break as well. They had given everything to each other, and he appreciated it, but he would have to ask them for a little more.
First, he asked them all for an update on the state of the settlement. They all had similar things to say, but he was glad to hear they still had an ample supply of ammo, and their food and water stores had been untouched in the attack. Aside from that, people were pretty shaken, but it was good they had something to focus on.
“The thing is Mack,” Freddie said with an anxious look on his face, “I'm not sure we can take another attack. We already have more wounded than we can deal with, and most of us only have rudimentary medical training. With the number of people we’ve lost already...” he said, and didn't have to finish the sentence.
Mack leaned over the table. “I know we've all been through a lot, and right now we'd all like to get into bed and have a long sleep, but I'm going to have to ask you to carry on a little longer. I'm glad I have you to count on to help this place through this ordeal, and all of you did well during the attack. I hear what you're saying, Freddie, and I agree. I don't want to have this place continue to be a target for everyone else out there. We need to show we're strong and not afraid of a fight. I'm not going to stand by meekly and watch this place be trampled upon. Having said that, I still would like to meet the leader of the other faction, whoever he is, and try talking this out. I know a diplomatic solution probably isn't possible, but I'd just like to meet him face to face and see if there's not some way I can convince him to avoid bloodshed.”
“Good luck with that,” Bob said sarcastically, folding his arms across his chest, even though he did gain a little more respect for Mack after his proclamation that he would not allow the community to sit back and wait to be attacked.
Mack chose to let the comment pass without response, but he did address Bob. “I've been thinking about the rest of the city. I know about the Lost Children and this faction, but are there any other places like this? Places where people are willing to work together?”
“There are a few scatterings of people, I think, but we never reached the point of formalizing contact. We always were too busy defending ourselves,” he said.
“But I don't think there's anyone else we have to worry about, although who knows what's waiting out there for us,” he said grimly. Mack nodded and tapped his finger against his lips before he spoke again.
“I've come up with a plan that I think is best for all involved. I want to minimize casualties as much as possible and move the fight away from the settlement. Even though we have the advantage of knowing the territory here, it's still too dangerous, and too hard to see everything we've worked for destroyed. This isn't the ideal situation, but I've been thinking a lot, and this is the only way I see out of it.
“What I want to do is send a small group to the other camp and ask them for a summit on neutral territory where we can discuss terms. It'll be written on paper and we'll throw it in, so they won't have a chance to capture us. Then, I'll go to the appointed place and time and meet this leader, and see if we can't come to some sort of arrangement.”
“Surrender?!” Bob exclaimed, his eyes bulging out of his head. “This is suicide!” And as Mack scanned the room he saw more uncertain eyes.
“Please, just trust me on this.”
“These people haven't shown much willingness to talk in the past, what makes you think they'll do so now?” Saul asked.
“That pyre has been burning all day. We spent a good deal of time gathering up all the dead bodies, but do you know what I noticed? There were more of them than there were of us. We've been mourning those dead people all day, but now that they've all been burned there's no difference between our people and theirs. That attack would have hurt them just as it hurt us and I'm sure they'll be thinking twice about attacking again after we gave them that bloody nose. If that's the last time we have to fight with these people, then I'll take that deal. When I meet their leader, I'll have other people with me, hiding with rifles trained on the leader in case he makes any sudden movements. At the first sign of hostility he'll go down.
“Most people will stay back here to guard the settlement in case they choose that moment to attack. It's the only way I can see to get the fighting away from the settlement, and at least this way there's a chance for peace.” He could see Bob still wasn't convinced, but Mack had earned enough goodwill with the others that they all were on board with his plan.
“Maggie and Grace, I want you with me. We'll take a few other people, too, but the rest of you I want to stay here. We can't let this settlement fall, no matter what.”
With that decided, the others dispersed and went back about their business, worried that another attack would come. As they left City Hall, they each looked in the pyre, trying to see if they could discern any difference between the remains of their people and the ones who had attacked them, but they could not.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Mack only took a few people with him. Maggie and Grace were among his first choices as he trusted them the most out of any of them, and he needed the other people he trusted to stay back in the settlement. A couple of other people came with him as well, but he made sure to take people who were not burning with revenge. He didn't want any reckless behavior to place them in danger. They gathered a few supplies and mounted horses and bikes. He wanted to move through the city swiftly. Mack didn't want to be out of the settlement for long. They were
stronger together.
They still were lacking sleep, and it was now late in the day, so darkness would soon be upon them, but Mack did not want to wait until the next morning. He wanted this over as quickly as possible. So he summoned the strength he had remaining and continued. He led his small force out into the city once more, leaving behind his deputies to defend the settlement in case of an attack. Even as they left, they looked behind them and still could see the pyre burning brightly. Although now it was beginning to die down, by the time they returned Mack was sure it would be extinguished, and the only thing left of the people who died would be the memory of them. But Mack was determined to see the settlement flourish, and he was not going to be bullied into submission.
As they rode through the city, they went past things that seemed familiar. They tried to stay sharp, and be observant of their surroundings, but even Mack was losing his concentration. At one point, he swore he heard a noise, and even forced the others to stop to investigate, but nobody could hear anything. Grace teased him and said he was getting old, and starting to hear things that weren't there. Without any more hesitation, they moved on, although Mack looked around suspiciously at the surrounding area, wondering if there was something hiding. His gut was telling him there was, and it rarely failed him, but even he had to admit he was human and had his limitations. They didn't have any chance to look around either, so he had to let the mystery lie for the time being as they continued to the enemy's camp.
However, what Mack didn't realize was there were indeed people lurking in the shadows following their trail. The noise he had heard was the Lost Children, who had made camp in the city, hiding in the old abandoned buildings like rats. Peter watched from a window as Mack and the others passed by, a devilish grin coming across his face. He could have ended it right there. He could have marched out of the building and shot them without any hesitation, but where was the fun in that?
Peter wanted Mack to beg for his life, wanted to make a display of it, and put on a show for the rest of those sorry people who soon were going to fall under his rule. Some of the other children urged him to strike now, but it wasn't time. Not yet. The plan still was unfolding, and Peter knew the value of patience. Soon, though, soon he would take everything he wanted, he would wrest control of the world from the adults and they wouldn't be able to do anything to stop him.
After he saw Mack pass, Peter made his way in the opposite direction, toward the settlement. There he rendezvoused with Sharon, who had snuck out. They met in a shadowy old building, hidden from the rest of the world. Peter was on his own, and grinned as Sharon walked up to him.
“You made it out with anyone suspecting?” Peter asked.
“Yeah, they're all preoccupied. They suffered a massive attack last night, so now they're all busy trying to recover. Seems like they're in a war,” Sharon said.
“That's good, we'll let the two of them fight it out, and then move in to take the easy pickings. I just saw Mack and Maggie passing through the city. I guess they're going to conduct an attack.”
“Actually, from what I heard, they're going to try negotiating with them.”
Peter stared at her with a dumbfounded look on her face. “Are you serious? This is going to be easier than I thought. You don't negotiate with people who attack you, you fight back. Mack should know that by now. Maybe he isn't as clever as he seemed...Anyway, how is our plan progressing?”
“Very well. Tristan doesn't suspect a thing. It's just like I said, I have him wrapped around my little finger. He really believes I was scared and that I would betray you and the other Lost Children.”
“He's just as stupid as the rest of them. He deserves everything that's coming to him,” Peter said, a dark countenance coming over his face.
“And what's better is that his mother doesn't approve, so they're arguing as well, and, of course, he's choosing my side. Soon I'll have all the information we need. I'd love to see the look on his face when he realizes what's been happening.”
“It's going to be so much fun,” Peter said, rubbing his hands together with gleeful anticipation.
“I've missed you, though,” Sharon said shyly. Peter smiled at her and wrapped his arm around her waist. He kissed her deeply, passionately.
“I've missed that as well,” she murmured.
“It's horrible kissing Tristan. He's so weak and sensitive. It makes me sick.” Peter kissed her again.
“Soon enough, everything we've planned will come together and you'll be by my side. Tristan, his mom, Mack, all of those other people won't be any trouble, and everyone will bow down to us. The world will be ours,” he said, and kissed her again before she left and returned to the settlement. She didn't want to be gone too long in case anyone noticed.
Peter walked back to where his Lost Children were waiting, feeling invincible. From what Sharon had said, the settlement was in an even weaker state than normal. It would be even easier for them to waltz and take over. It was as though the universe was showing him this was the right path, that he was destined to do this, and he felt a surge of power rippling through his young body. When he returned to the Lost Children, they noticed his good mood. When they asked about it, he merely said that soon the time was upon them to move.
Meanwhile, Mack was unaware of all of this. He still was concerned only with completing his mission. This part of the city seemed to be deserted, although at one point they had a harrowing experience when a pack of six wild dogs leaped upon them, savagely attacking their horses and bikes. The dogs still wore collars. They evidently had been pets in the city, but had reverted to their wild nature as they tried to survive, just like everything else in the world. Their eyes were crazed and red, and their mouths foamed as they snapped at the heels of Mack's group. They growled and barked loudly as they came upon the group, a wild storm of energy and desire. At first, Mack ordered everyone to increase their speed to try getting away from them, but the dogs were frightening the horses, who became erratic and harder to control.
Mack wrestled with his and, although he didn't want to because he always had had an affinity for dogs, ordered everyone to deal with the animals. Some found it easier than others, but with just a few gunshots and whimpers, the dogs were left in a heap on the ground. Mack looked at them with a heavy heart. He didn't like mistreating animals, but given a choice between his life and theirs, there was no choice. It was sad, in a way, because, unlike the people he was going to challenge, the dogs did not have a choice. The dogs couldn't fight their nature, they couldn't choose how they acted. They merely were driven by instinct, by their will to survive, and, unfortunately, it led to their deaths. But, perhaps in a way, it was a mercy killing. They no longer had to suffer and starve, but these were animals who once had been pets. They had been loved and adored by people, and now they had been ignominiously killed in an empty street. Mack tried putting it out of his mind. He was tired, but he couldn't allow sentiment to cloud his judgment for they had a mission to do.
It was just before nightfall when they reached the enemy camp. They waited outside the barrier, taking up defensive stances in case they were spotted and attacked. Everything seemed calm, although the longer they listened the more they could hear the faint sounds of life beyond the walls. Grace, Maggie, and the others, who had not seen the bodies lofted up on spikes, gasped at the brutality of it all, but Mack was all business. He pulled out the note he had written and wrapped it around a rock with string. He looked at the others, making sure they were ready to move. Their plan was to fire their guns in the air to ensure the people converged on their position and saw the message that was waiting for them. But Mack and the others would have to be quick to escape without being caught. They knew that if they were they would be embroiled in a fight with such a small force, this close to the enemy camp, they could not hope to win.
Mack looked at each of them in turn and, once he saw they were ready, nodded. A blistering round of gunfire burst into the air, and immediately they heard commotion behind th
e walls. Mack hurled the message over the barrier, deep into the enemy's camp, and then turned on his horse and led his group away, moving as quickly as they could through the city, back to the safety of the settlement. Mack looked back and was glad to see they were not being pursued, but hoped his message would be read and acknowledged. It was the only way he could see to minimize the casualties. War was always a last resort, and he prayed that the leader of this other group was smart enough to see that, and hadn't regressed into complete instinctual chaos like the dogs he had put down earlier.
After Mack and Maggie left to ride out to the enemy camp, Tristan was at a bit of a loss as to what to do. Sharon said she wanted some time to gather her thoughts and rest, and while it pained him to be away from her, he let her go. Even now she was on his mind, and he couldn't hide his smile, which then made him feel guilty because so many people around him were sinking into gloom. There was one man who wasn't, though. Saul was helping clear away the debris. He was like a giant to Tristan. He had taken off his top and his sweat-covered body glistened in the sun. His long white hair and beard made him look like a mixture between Santa Claus and Arnold Schwarzenegger. At one point, Saul beckoned over to Tristan and asked him for help. Tristan was reluctant at first because he never had been the strongest person, but he couldn't refuse and soon found himself hauling debris around.
“So, you're Maggie's kid, huh?” Saul said. Tristan nodded.
“Can't say I know her that well. She always kept to herself when we were together, but she saved me and my friends from a bear attack. Did she tell you that?” Tristan shook his head. Saul grunted and looked at him.
