The Weak Shall Die: Complete Collection (Four Volume Set)

by Taylor Michaels

  Three hours later they stopped for a snack and to check John's map. He didn't have a map of the railroad, but had a roadmap picked up months ago during their raid of the city library. It showed the route of the rail line. Unfortunately, it did not show where all the switches were. Several times they had to stop, push their cycles back a hundred feet, then move a switch or lift their vehicles over to the proper set of rails. John remembered to bring the bolt cutter and had to cut the lock on one manual switch.

  An hour later, they spotted smoke. They stopped the Dark Darts beside some trees and put some branches on the Darts as camouflage. John led the group cautiously through the forest. Twenty minutes later, they were at the edge of a small settlement, half a dozen houses arranged in a circle around a common area the size of a football field. The smoke was coming from the chimney of a house on the opposite side of the circle. They watched for a few minutes as half a dozen people were playing games in the common area. Three were at each end and were tossing a ball that looked like a softball back and forth.

  "John, you see that?" whispered George. "Nobody throws a ball that far."

  "Yeah, that ball is really travelling."

  John pulled his binoculars from his backpack and watched. "Their faces are all contorted. Lumpy. Like some of the virus victims we've seen. Checkout those other two. They're playing something like tag. See how fast they're running?"

  As they watched, two others came from the house and called. Then, they all went inside and brought out big platters of food, placing them on a picnic table in front of the house. The amount of food looked vast, but the people began eating and within fifteen minutes, they had consumed it all.

  One of the group suddenly jumped up, screamed at one of the others and picked up the picnic table which held the food trays and threw it twenty feet.

  "Damn. Look at that. So, what does all this mean, John? Looks scary."

  "I think it means we keep riding. They are not people we could trade with. And they are probably carrying the virus and maybe contagious."

  "Wouldn't want to meet one in a dark alley."

  "Yeah, George. And if they thought we were weak, they might come after us. That makes me wonder."

  "What's that, ol' bud?"

  "I'm not complaining, but did you see how much food they ate?"

  "Sure."

  "What if we ate that much? Would we have gotten that strong and would we be that fast? We all lost weight. That could have inhibited our muscles. We might become much stronger if we had enough food."

  "Wow. You could be right. We've only returned to normal rations in the last few weeks."

  "Those guys weren't eating normal rations. Two or three times normal, I'd say. Maybe they have a garden somewhere."

  "Are you thinkin' about cutting this trip short and heading back?"

  "I don't want to, but we should keep that possibility in the back of our minds. Also the location of this place. We should mark it on the rails a quarter mile on the other side. Do we have anything for marking?"

  "A couple rolls of duct tape."

  Back on the rails again, after stopping to put a few pieces of tape on the rails, they rode for another hour and then had to jump another switch. An hour later, they came upon what looked like a switchyard with a switch house up on stilts above the rails. They climbed the grated stairway and found a body on the floor of the office. As no stench was noticeable, the death must have occurred months ago. They searched the building and found several railway maps which they examined and John pocketed for future reference.

  The switch house had a map of the switchyard which simplified their navigation of the tracks. They only made one mistake and that took only a few minutes to fix.

  "Too bad these things don't go backward, George."

  "Remind me when we get back. We could set them up so that one of the Dark Darts points east and the other west. The two pumpers could sit in the forward direction, then switch when somebody gets tired."

  "Might work."

  An hour later, they stopped for lunch. Marceau had prepared sandwiches for lunch with MREs for dinner.

  "How's the honeymoon, Iris?" said Masako, smiling.

  "Starting a little slow. I always thought that by now on my honeymoon I'd be half-way to Paris."

  "You surprise me, Iris," said John. "I didn't take you for a traveler."

  "Always enjoyed reading travel blogs. 'The World Traveler in France' was my favorite. Also, two others by the same author. Never really had an opportunity to go anywhere, or the money. I did have a passport once. You guys have probably had many."

  "Cho had half a dozen," said John, fighting back his emotions. "I had a few myself."

  "I'm sorry John. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

  "Not bad memories. As Masako keeps telling me, just the end of a lot of good memories," he said, using his handkerchief to wipe his eyes.

  Four hours and two switches later, they found another building beside the tracks where they could spend the night. It looked like a building for railroad employees to sleep in, with a number of bedrooms on the second floor.

  After their dinner of MREs, Masako asked, "George, how far did we travel today?"

  "Around a hundred and fifty miles. I have an odometer I got from one of the bicycles. That's over half-way to the beach, if that's where we're going. Where are we going, John?"

  "I don't know, George. I just wanted to see what the rest of the world was like now. We only knew about a small part it. We heard about the rest of the world until the television and radio died. Then, we had some news from the amateur radio people. I was curious."

  "You sure that was all, John?" said Masako.

  "I don't know if Cho's death knocked me off my feet or maybe I just had a case of wander lust. Maybe I wanted to check to see if the rest of the world was like our part or maybe just wondered where else we can go foraging. I also wanted to see how your Dark Darts performed. Otherwise I'm not sure. The beach sounds good."

  "So," said Iris, "do we go back? Have the Darts performed to your satisfaction?"

  John laughed and said, "Everything George does performs way beyond my satisfaction. He always surprises me and always in a good way. He is a genius. I never say it often enough, but it's true."

  George was smiling and staring off into the distance as Iris smiled at him. "Yeah. I kind of thought that myself. So, what's the answer? We go back or we go on?"

  "We go on."

  * * *

  The next day was more difficult as they passed through a number of switches, they decided to head south as it was closer to the coast that way and it kept them out of the most populated parts of the state. They stopped several times to checkout buildings and railroad offices. They had to backtrack several times and lift the Dark Darts across switches. After a long day, they approached the coast, near the southern border of North Carolina and spent the night in a large house on the beach.

  They were awakened the next morning by the roar of the waves beating against shore and by noise from offshore. John went to the window and stared out across the water. A salty breeze blew through the open window.

  "Is this what you were looking for, John?" said Masako, standing beside him. "It's nice. We could live here. Catch fish for food."

  "I don't really know what I was looking for. Maybe I thought the difficult part of my life was over. Now, we have plenty of food. The garden is doing well. We found extra food at that retirement home and Joe gave us his stores. We found fruits and nuts. That phase is over. The phase where we were worried about starving to death. George has built us a power plant that runs on wood. Life should be pretty simple from here on out. A few battles from time to time. Nothing we haven't done before. What comes next? Maybe I was searching for that. Also, losing Cho ended a phase of my life. The phase that began when I was ten years old and my stepfather would have me spy on our neighbors."

  "We both did that. It does seem a long time ago."

  "Really? It seems like yeste
rday that I was riding my bicycle and writing down the activities of all my neighbors."

  Before Masako could reply, a jet plane screamed over the house and out over the ocean. It made a hard right turn and dropped a bomb onto the ocean, a mile out, then made another turn and headed back. A giant explosion rocked the house. A mile out into the ocean, water blew high into the air, making a rainbow in the air above.

  Looking out across the blue, John could barely see forms in the distance. He took out his binoculars to find out what was happening. "Half a dozen ships. Several planes are dropping bombs and shooting. The ships are firing missiles. One plane has been hit. It's heading this way. We'd be amazingly unlucky to come to the coast after a virus apocalypse destroyed most of the population and then be hit by a jet plane."

  The plane was smoking heavily and heading straight at their house. Masako looked at John strangely, and then looked out the window. She yelled, "Oh, my God. It is coming straight at us. I thought you were joking."

  John was entranced by the scene. The crippled plane belched fire and smoke and was headed straight toward him. What to do? Where to go? He only had a second. No way to run away. Not enough time. He grabbed Masako, threw her on the floor and jumped on top of her.

  The noise was horrendous. Pieces of the house flew in every direction. Sheet rock. Wood. Glass. The air was filled with debris and dust and fire and darkness.

  John awoke with someone shaking him. Pulling him. John opened his eyes and looked around. It was George, with the sky above him. The plane had taken the roof off the house and had kept going. John's ears were screeching with a sharp high-pitched blare that masked everything else. George was saying something, but he couldn't make it out. John pointed to his ears and shook his head. George nodded.

  George and Iris helped John and Masako out of the rubble that used to be a house and onto the beach as another plane flew over. The plane made a sharp turn and passed over again. John and Masako just sat on the beach trying to calm down. John thought his hearing was getting better. Iris brought two bottles of water as George went off to survey the damage.

  John could see the battle continuing out at sea. Half a dozen planes were buzzing like bees around the ships. Two of the ships were ablaze with black smoke reaching into the heavens. Another explosion rocked the ground as another ship burst into flames. After three more explosions, all the ships were on fire. Even the ocean appeared to be on fire.

  George returned, helping a man, hobbling on one foot. He sat the man beside John and Masako. George said, "This is Captain Hamilton. He removed the roof from the house you were sleeping in. Then, he bailed out."

  John shook the man's hand and the captain said, "Sorry about that. Caught a missile. I was trying to land in a clearing a few houses over. I tried to miss your house. What are you folks doing here?"

  John's mind went blank for a moment. The screeching in his ears had somewhat subsided, but was still a distraction. He replied the only thing which came to his mind. "We were on vacation."

  Captain Hamilton had a puzzled look and then nodded and said, "Well, sorry to ruin your vacation, sir. But, if I hadn't, the Brazilians would have. They are attempting to setup a base down at Myrtle Beach, twenty miles south." He looked over at Masako and said, "You're Brazilian," as he reached for his gun.

  "My parents were Japanese," she quickly replied. "We didn't know the military was still functioning. We thought the virus killed everybody. Almost," she said, remembering the mutants they had seen.

  "We've been at sea since it all started. I've been living on a carrier, out there somewhere," he said, pointing his hand toward the water.

  "So, you're going back to the ship?" John said. "They will bring a chopper in and rescue you?"

  "No sir. They won't let me come back. They think I've been contaminated by the virus. How did you people escape it?"

  "Holed up in the mountains. A couple hundred miles that way," John said, pointing over his shoulder.

  "And you came here for a vacation?"

  John laughed and put his hand on the man's shoulder. "That was supposed to be a joke. I'm out of practice. I was a spy for the government in China. I told them about the virus. Then I bugged out. It's been difficult since then."

  "You're John Thompson? The John Thompson?" The Captain immediately stood up, came to attention and saluted.

  "At ease, Captain," John said, standing up. The Captain continued to stand at attention. John figured he should return the salute or the Captain might never move again. "Now, what's this about? How do you know me?"

  "Everybody knows you, sir. Everybody in the military and everybody in the government. If it weren't for you, we'd all be dead."

  "How's that," George interjected.

  "He sounded the alarm, sir. Sent back messages telling the government about the menace. We immediately started preparing. None of us had ever worked so hard. Eighteen hours a day, minimum. We loaded everything we could find onto our flattop. You wouldn't believe all the food and other things. Stacked fifty feet high on deck. Machinery. Electronics. Military ships are normally short of space, but with all that stuff, we barely had enough space to launch a plane. Then, we headed out to the loneliest part of the ocean. The South Pacific. Just got back a few weeks ago. Our satellite people had been watching, and when we heard the Brazilians had made a landing here, we headed straight over. I should have known it was you, sir. You're not on vacation. That's just what you spies always say. You're spying on the Brazilians. I'll tell my superiors I've found you," he said hobbling off and talking into his radio.

  "So, John, you thought the government didn't pay any attention to your reports. Looks like they weren't slackers after all," said George. "Hard to believe though."

  "Yeah, I know what you mean."

  "John, you know what this means?" said Masako. "You're a hero. A national hero. You saved the country. I always knew you were a hero. My father said you'd make a name for yourself. He was right. Now you have." She looked at him with a big smile, then hugged him.

  For a moment, John felt warm and happy. The best he had felt since Cho died. Then he felt sad and forced himself to push her away.

  George chipped in, "She's right. You are a hero to more than just our group. To the whole country."

  "Yes," said Iris. "We're so proud of you."

  "I appreciate all you're saying, but, nothing has changed. We still have to deal with the plague and we still have to go home to the lodge and weed the garden."

  The Captain returned and said, "The fleet is glad you are alive, sir."

  "The fleet?" said Masako.

  "The Admiral, ma'am."

  "You can tell the fleet that we're happy they are still around too."

  "The fleet said it might be a good idea for you to leave the area, since they will be conducting operations here."

  "Operations?" said Iris.

  "Bombing," said George. "They are going to try to wipe out the invaders. They are in a war and we're in the middle of it. We should go."

  "So why are you here, Sir? Were you spying on the Brazilians?"

  John thought it wise to tell some truth and some not-so-truths. "I needed a vacation. The past few months haven't been a lot of fun. My girlfriend just died of the virus. We've lost half a dozen of our best friends, to bullets, not the virus. My girlfriend was the only virus casualty. She got a lung infection and the virus took her. Quite honestly, life has become a pile of crap."

  "Sorry for your loss, Sir. Would it be possible for me to join your group? It would be an honor to serve with The Captain John Thompson."

  John raised both hands. "You can join, but I don't know how you are going to go there."

  "John," said George, "Not as difficult as you think."

  "I should have known. Captain, George is our resident genius. I should never say anything is impossible, because George can always find a way."

  "Sounds like a valuable guy. We could use him on the flattop."

  "Definitely, but he's too valuab
le to us to let him go. What's the story, George?"

  "It will be a little cramped, but if we move our supplies from the rear compartment of Dark Dart number two to number one and leave the top off, he could fit in."

  "His head would stick up," Iris said.

  "He has goggles and a mask. No bumble bees in the teeth or eyes. Might get wet if it rains. I could find him a piece of plastic"

  "Thanks, George."

  "No problem, Captain."

  * * *

  The return trip was simple until they arrived at the area where they encountered the mutants. The mutants had piled tree trunks and branches onto the tracks, blocking their way.

  John got out of his Dart and looked at the pile trying to figured out the easiest way to move it off the tracks.

  "What's the story about the mutants, Sir?"

  "You can call me John, Captain."

  "I don't think so, sir. This is a military action and we are both in the service."

  "Both?" said George, throwing a puzzled look at John.

  "John is an honorary Lieutenant in the Navy," said Masako, brightly. "Didn't he ever tell you that. He used to threaten me with some kind of military action back in summer camp. I don't think most of it was according to code. He said I was a Lieutenant, too. Lieutenant Hirakawa he loved to call me, when he was trying to get my goat."

  "Sorry Ma'am," the Captain said as he went into stationary mode again with his hand in a salute.

  John looked at Masako and raised an eyebrow. "You brought it up, Masako. You have to fix it."

  Masako saluted the Captain and said, "At ease, Captain."

  "Yes Ma'am. Beg the Commander's pardon for not recognizing her. And sorry about the remark yesterday about the Commander being Brazilian."

  "No problem."

  "That spy summer camp was a long time ago. What, ten years ago?" said George.

  "You've both been promoted many times since then, sir. We looked you up, when this first started. You and the Commander." Every promotion you each received as a spy was also a promotion in military rank. Now you're a Captain."