The Broken and the Dead (Book 1)

by Jay Morris

  “Why are you doing this?” I asked him incredulously.

  “Because we half to know.” He sounded determined and I felt ill.

  He took the glass stopper from the jar and I tried to make my feet move but they felt like clay, in an instant he bent down, picked up the piece of exoskeleton and dropped it in the jar. I found that I had stopped breathing because I was suddenly able to do it again.

  “Look John. The acid is eating away the inner layers but the outer isn’t reacting at all. Incredible.” He said.

  Yea, incredible. I thought.

  Breathe, I thought. I had imagined him dousing the monster with that acid and it had stolen the air from my lungs. I watched Tucker as he checked a stopwatch and then made some notes in one of those spiral notebooks common in every high school backpack ever made. I heard the monster make a sound and I turned to look at it. Its eyes were wide, its gaze fixed on the bubbling piece of exoskeleton. I took the time to look over it carefully and suddenly I knew.

  “It’s a girl.” I said.

  “Hmmmm?” Tucker asked without looking up.

  “The monster is, or was, a girl, maybe my age.” I said.

  He put his pen in the notebook and closed it. Much to my surprise he didn’t make fun or tell me to ‘run along’ instead he said

  “How do you know?”

  I said that I wasn’t sure, but it was in the way it moved, the way it reacted. That perhaps it was just in the slender exoskeleton. Tucker thought about it for a long time then said

  “I think you are right.” And a moment later, “Poor thing.”

  Then he picked up a large bottle of lighter fluid and he started to pull the wire rope, dragging the little monster next to the chain link fence. I turned away and headed back towards the lodge. I had just reached the back porch steps when I heard the monster squealing. Screaming. I didn’t turn around I just sighed deeply and went into the kitchen.

  Instantly I was assaulted by three giggling little girls who were doing their best to escape Karen Morena who was giggling just as hard as they were. I took my rifle from my shoulder and leaned it against the wall then gave chase, all I wanted was to be little and forget for just a little while.

  Lunch was good and I was growing quite fond of the two new ladies. They certainly were the most popular people in the lodge. With everyone except Mrs. Livingston that is, the old black woman rather resented their intrusion so she was throwing herself and by extension her husband into preparation, canning, and ‘putting up’. Whatever that was. All I knew was that Mr. Livingston sure seemed frazzled. After lunch Kelsey and I were asked to help Deputy Weir unload bags and bags of flour from the Humvee. I wondered who had gone back for it but I suppose it doesn’t matter. It was actually kind of fun, Kelsey talks a lot and I listen a lot. She is smart and funny and, well to tell the truth she is very pretty. Apparently our efforts drew the attention of Karen Morena who watched me with her arms crossed over her chest and her foot tapping the whole time. Girls are crazy.

  I was up for over watch at three and Mr. Lowe asked if I wanted company and I said sure. I walked post and he sat and smoked a pipe, I find cigarette smoke disgusting but I found the pipe smoke kind of nice, like apples. The sky was orange and every thong was quite, apparently Tucker was done torturing monsters for the day. Mr. Lowe stood and walked over next to me and taking out an old fashioned pocket watch the checked it and said

  “Six o’clock, 48 hours to go.”

  I turned and was surprised to see Tucker working his antenna thingy. I wondered how someone like him could move so quietly. I nearly broke out laughing when Mr. Lowe asked the same question. As we watched Tucker working his machine and jotting things down on his notebook. I whispered to Mr. Lowe

  “Don’t under estimate him sir.”

  “What do you mean?” he whispered back.

  “Just don’t.” I said.

  When Rico and Elaine took over I went downstairs to find Karen, Kyle said she was in their room reading.

  “What? Like a book?” I asked.

  “Doofus” was his answer.

  Something very weird was going on where Karen was concerned but for the life of me I couldn’t figure it out. I decided to go find Lucy and see what she was up to. I found her in the Hardy’s room cutting pictures of people out of some Southern Living magazines. Mrs. Hardy, Mrs. Driscol, and Kelsey were in there with them and when I stuck my head in Mrs. Driscol smiled and asked how I was doing. I told her I just wanted to say goodnight to Lucy who, hearing her name waved over her shoulder to me while she, Jordan and Gina simultaneously said goodnight to me. This was apparently very funny because when I walked away I heard them all giggling. I walked past Tuckers room and saw he was writing in his notes. It was too early to go to bed so I headed downstairs, I passed the Livingstons going up and we said goodnight, Mrs. Livingston asked me if I was okay and I said sure, she pursed her lips and looked at me over the top of her wire framed glasses for a moment then said

  “Well, if you need to talk, you know where our room is.”

  I said thanks and thought ‘something very weird is definitely going on.’

  When I got to the lobby I saw Mrs. West sitting alone in the great room so I walked over to her. She looked at me like I had two heads or something but she didn’t say anything. So I sat in one of the overstuffed chairs next to her, checked my rifle safe and put it in the chair next to me. We sat there a minute or two in silence then she said

  “You never let that thing get out of reach do you?”

  I thought about how best to answer her then said

  “Before this all happened I had never touched one before. Now? It lets me protect my family. Protect my friends.”

  She sipped a drink that I had not realized she had then she said

  “And you get to kill the monsters.”

  I remembered the pitiful thing Tucker was torturing up on the hill, and suddenly realized something and I told her my realization;

  “If I never saw one again that would be fine. I don’t need to kill them I just need to… hmmm... I can’t lose anyone. Not again, not if it kills me.”

  She was silent for a minute then she said

  “Your sisters are lucky Johnny, lucky to have you.”

  We sat in silence for a bit then she added

  “They all are.”

  I didn’t know what to say so I said nothing. We sat there together for an hour before she spoke again;

  “I want to kill them all.”

  After that we sat in the dark together, I felt that this strong, strange woman was telling me a story, a terrible story told in painful silence.

  Day 25

  I awoke alone in the overstuffed chair to sound of pots and pans clanging in the kitchen. I stretched and reached for my rifle which was right where I had left it but sitting on the chair next to it was a little box. I looked around but Mrs. West was nowhere to be seen. I picked it up and something rattled inside; I was curious as heck but for some reason I was hesitating. I was startled by the voices in the kitchen; apparently Mrs’ Boudreaux, Livingston, and King were debating if green beans and potatoes for breakfast should include a healthy dose of bacon fat and salt or not. I turned back to the box and opened it; inside I found a framed photo of a family on a beach, the waves crashing in the distance behind them. The three little kids were being wrapped up in the arms of their smiling parents. The father was wearing a military uniform, the kind that pilots or air force people wore. He was tall and had square jaw that you usually see on comic book heroes. The mom was hugely pregnant, her long, black hair was blowing in the wind and she was using one hand to try and control it. Her smile was huge, her eyes were sparkling and the joy in her was obvious. It was Mrs. West.

  Under the picture was a note, I unfolded it and read it quietly to myself:

  “Johnny, I wanted to thank you for sitting with me, and I want you to know that I think you are brave and strong, I just hope you can still find joy and love too. The world does n
ot need to be balanced on your shoulders alone, you have friends who love you and will help you if you just ask. Lastly I am hoping you will keep the picture for me, it is my most treasured possession.”

  It was signed Diane West.

  I folded the note and put it in my breast pocket, I put the photo back in the box and not having any better place for it I unbuttoned my shirt and slipped it inside. I would put it in my room after breakfast, but first I absolutely needed to find out the answer to the great bacon fat debate so I headed into the kitchen.

  I was surprised to find Deputy Weir there, since he normally took the early morning over watch and would still be up there. He raised his ever present mug of coffee to me in greeting then as if reading my expression said

  “Vernon said he would cover my watch and get with you and the others to cover watch until we get back.”

  He looked a little embarrassed as if he should be able to be in two places at the same time or something. I nodded, then grabbing a plate and checking the big serving bowl on the table discovered that bacon fat won.

  The mood had darkened since the previous day, the MRAP and the Humvee were out front and Lieutenant Kline was making sure everything was be loaded, checked and rechecked. When she finished that she did it again. She checked with Tucker to make sure the target was still moving in the predicted path, the she would meet with small groups and with a map make them recite where they were supposed to be, what they were supposed to do. Then she would go over different scenarios; what if this happened, what if that. She was giving me a headache but her professionalism was impressive. She made sure that everyone knew that if she or Rico blew their whistle then it was bug out time. No questions asked just run to the MRAP and if that was over run then to get to the fall back where they would stash the Humvee. Heck I wasn’t even going but by lunch I think I knew where everyone was supposed to be and what they were supposed to do.

  Mrs. Livingston made a plate for the Lt. and asked Karen to take it to her since she hadn’t come in for lunch. When Karen came back in I walked over to her and asked how she was doing, she looked at me with a “you gotta be kidding me” look. Karen turned and started to walk away so I repeated my question. Karen stopped and answered my question with her own

  “And how is Kelsey?”

  “Okay I guess do you want me to go ask her?”

  I asked not really understanding her question. Karen turned back to me and as she put her hands on her hips she said

  “Oh, you would love that wouldn’t you?”

  I responded with my most articulate and intellectual “What?”

  She got a snarky look and then spat

  “Oh come on, any excuse for you to glue your eyeballs on that over endowed college cheerleader Barbie Doll will do, won’t it?”

  I felt that my head was splitting,

  “Ummm, what is a ...” I began.

  “Don’t give me that!” she said.

  She was wiggling a fiercesome finger in my face and I felt myself backing up but somehow she only got closer.

  “Do you think I’m blind? You couldn’t keep your eyes off of her the whole time you were unloading the truck.”

  She said and I suddenly realized that it was really hot in there.

  “I don’t…” was all I got out before she cut me off.

  “Listen here Mr. Big Britches, that girl is old! O. L. D. do you hear me? She is like 2o or something, maybe more, and someday I’ll have boobs too and you are going to regret this!” she snapped.

  To tell the truth all I could think of was how pretty Karen’s hair was. I bumped up against the wall and said

  “But…”

  She turned away and started to go into the dining room waving a hand at me when I started to follow she spun on me once more and she explained to me at long last,

  “Do not follow me! If you ever hope to remain MY boyfriend you need to know and remember two things: 1) don’t stare at other women’s butts or any other body part and 2) don’t follow me if you have screwed up and if I don’t want you to! Got it?”

  I looked at her finally figuring out that I was her boyfriend but I wasn’t clear if she was my girlfriend or not, so I figured I should get clarification on a few things so I began;

  “Ummm, do you want me to follow you?”

  She half growled half exhaled an exasperated “hurrumph.” And she turned and left the room. I felt the burning eyes of the three Mrs’ on the back of my neck. I turned to Deputy Weir who just shrugged a “get used to it boy” shrug. I went out the back door deciding I needed the calm company of the monster in the cage.

  Tucker wasn’t there so I just sat in the dirt a few feet from the monster. It growled and paced then finally it stopped just across from me. After a while it crouched on all fours, its’ four sectioned eyes locked onto me. I don’t know how long we sat there, the monster and me but at some point I started to talk to it. In response the monster would give long strings of hisses, growls, and clicks. I knew it didn’t understand me any more than I understood it. That was fine.

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “hissssss, clickety-click.”

  “Are you in there?”

  “grrrrrr ssss”

  “Why are you hunting us?”

  “Rumble-rumble grrrr click”

  “I hope you are not hurting”

  “sssss !k!k!k”

  “Will this ever end?”

  “thhhhh sss click click”

  “I know, I know it sucks.”

  “ssssssssth”

  The sun began to set and I rose from the dust, my monster just watched me, I asked it if it was thirsty. I looked at it and knew the answer, so I picked up a gallon jug of water and walked over to the chain link and poured the contents into the empty galvanized tub that was nestled against it. When it was empty I stepped away and watched. The monster rose and slowly moved on all fours to the tub and lowered its muzzle and drank. I looked around but saw no food so I said aloud that I would try and bring it something later. It raised its head and it tilted its face in the same way that dogs do when they are trying to figure out what its human was trying to say. I slowly walked down the hill, it was almost dinner time, and it was almost six. Twenty four hours to go.

  Dinner was subdued, every one spoke quietly and I thought with exaggerated politeness. There was a sense of anticipation but there was as much dread. I honestly don’t think fear was the issue. Not like we imagine it to be. I noticed that the water in my glass was shaking and when Elaine noticed it too she put her hand on Rico’s knee which he had been nervously jiggling, he blushed and apologized. Mrs. Driscol smiled and put her hand over his and she told him don’t fret we all felt that way. Maybe I thought but it was more likely that every single person was handling the stress differently. Lucy was sitting between Elaine and Mrs., Driscol, I felt myself choke up, the fear in my little sister’s eyes was tangible and I wanted to go to her and tell her it would all be okay. But I had no idea if that was true or not so I kept my mouth shut.

  You know that feeling you get when you just know something? Something that you can’t know? Something you shouldn’t know? I felt a shiver run up my spine and looked towards the other end of the table where the Deputy and Mrs. West were sitting side by side. They both seemed to be watching me, Weir smiled and Mrs. West nodded. I couldn’t say or do anything so I just looked down at my plate. Canned peas, instant mashed potatoes, fresh bread and salmon cakes. It was good, really it was but I had to force myself to eat it. I helped clean up and was just finishing in the kitchen when Karen came to me and asked if I wanted to play monopoly. I let her lead me upstairs and found Elaine, Lucy, and Mrs. Driscol were waiting for me. This was my family and I loved them, the before was gone. Dead and washed away in the effort of staying alive. I felt happy to be there, we played and we laughed. Lucy had incredible luck, Karen smiled at me and even touched my hand a few times, Amy hugged us all, she was our mother now and I knew she loved us. Elaine had put her arm acro
ss my shoulder and I found that I liked it a lot. Oh, and I was the shoe.

  Day 26, D-Day

  I fell asleep in their room and Karen woke me gently around 5 A.M.

  “Come on Johnny, the strike team is getting ready to go.”

  I blinked several times then rubbed my eyes. I looked up to see Karen staring at me with a weird smile.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Oh nothing.” she said.

  Then she rubbed the top of my head and said,

  “Hurry up doofus.”

  Then she giggled and pulled me up off the floor. I barely had time to grab my rifle as she pulled me out the door. Our feet sounded like a herd of cattle rumbling down the stairs. Everyone was up and busy. The MRAP and the Humvee were running and their doors stood open. There was Lieutenant Klein helping one minute and barking orders the next, her short, dirty blond hair framing her face. Worry lines furrowed her brow, her hawkish face and intelligent eyes assured me that she would not leave anything to chance. I suddenly wished Tucker was going with them, he had the habit of doing what was needed when things didn’t go as expected. I realized I didn’t see Tucker but when I looked up I saw him on over watch. A rifle I had never seen before cradled in his arms and the binoculars held to his eyes, scanning the horizon.

  My sister Elaine came up to me and hugged me tight, she whispered that she loved me and watch out for Lucy, then she added if I told anyone what she said she would kick my ass. I whispered that I loved her too and to come back soon. She stepped away and gave me a playful punch on the shoulder. She was wearing combat fatigues, her holster with her Russian seven-shooter on her hip. An M-4 slung over her right shoulder and her red bandana tied around her head to complete her outfit, Rico smiled at me and he followed Elaine towards the MRAP. I watched her climb into the war machine and I saw she was strong and brave and I was terribly proud of her. So different from the cell phone addicted nearly frantic teen from day one. I turned and saw Kyle and Karen hugging and then he turned to me and shook my hand before following Rico and Elaine.

  I saw Lucy nearly asleep in Mrs. Hardy’s arms. Suddenly I felt sick, my stomach rumbled and I was afraid I would I would either vomit or mess myself. Karen threaded her arm in mine and asked if I was okay, she said I looked pale. I muttered that I was fine but she must have realized that was a lie because she pulled me close and laid her head on my shoulder then she whispered