by Phil Maxey
After a short while they entered a small town with light colored single story homes. The day was still bright, but the sun was on its downward path to the horizon. Zach took a right, then after driving on for a hundred yards stopped alongside a large single story warehouse, which stretched for two hundred yards along the road. To the front and side of it sat a gravel parking area.
“Problem? Over.” said Bass through Zach’s radio.
Zach clicked on his radio. “We have maybe an hour of daylight left. The large building here doesn’t seem to have any windows and I can only see solid doors, which we could defend easily, and a loading bay. Might be good idea to stay here for the night. We can also park easily out front. Over.”
After a short silence, Bass agreed and they pulled up the vehicles near the loading bay, forming a small wall.
Zach and the others got out. Everyone looked anxiously at the nearby hills. He then jumped up onto the loading bay and tried the door next to it. It opened first time with a creak and the smell of dust and damp wood escaped into the late afternoon air. He reached into his backpack and pulled out his flashlight, which he held in one hand and his rifle in the other.
He walked inside, with Bass and two soldiers close behind. Along the walls sat sacks of some unknown material, together with barrels, and farming equipment. He swept his flashlights beam over the walls and at the end of the building, which was some fifty yards away, and then relaxed when it was obviously devoid of anything alive.
“Start moving everyone inside. Check all the exits, if they are not secure, make them so, move some of these sacks or barrels up against them.”
It wasn’t long before everyone was in the long plain building, and the sun was setting outside. Most were huddled around candles and the rest sat along the walls, eating food handed out by Mary who had taken charge of their supplies.
Hanna and her daughter Megan sat alone, ten or so feet from the fire. Michael noticed they had not grabbed anything from Mary’s handouts. Getting up he walked over to them, and held out a candy bar.
Pointing to the glossy loud plastic cover, he carefully annunciated “Choco…late.”
Hanna pushed her glasses up her nose and smiled. Taking the offering she opened it and gave some to her daughter whose eyes lit up. “Eat it slowly, don’t gulp it down, you’ll choke,” she said in a German accent.
Michael looked surprised. “Oh, I didn’t think you talked English.”
“That’s okay.”
“What’s her name?”
“Megan. You’re?”
“I’m Michael.”
“Thanks, for this Michael.”
“Why didn’t you get yourself some? There’s probably more if you want me to…”
“We don’t want to bother anyone.”
“Meh, it’s no bother.” Michael walked to Mary and after a short exchange, returned with a bread roll and another candy bar. This time he sat down next to Hanna.
“Here,” he handed her the food. She quickly put the roll in her backpack and opened the bar.
“You’re from Germany?” said Michael.
“Munich. Have you been to Germany?”
He smiled. “No. I visited Vancouver with parents as a kid, but never anywhere else. Were you on vacation over here when things went bad?”
“I was studying astrophysics at Berkley when it happened.”
“You couldn’t get back?”
“My daughter is an American, I wanted to stay here.”
Michael could see the line of conversation was making her feel uncomfortable, so changed the subject. “It’s a shame the Portland camp went the way it did, but you’ll like the other camp, it’s like the whole world living in one place.”
Megan finished her bar and was now covered in chocolate. Hanna looked disappointed at her and said something in German.
Michael looked around him, and then got up.
“I’ll be right back.”
Walking across the floor of the building to his backpack, he pulled out some serviettes and a bottle of water. Pouring a small amount on one of the serviettes he returned and handed it to Hanna. She smiled again, and proceeded to wipe the sticky substance from her daughter’s mouth and fingers.
Hanna went to hand the serviette back. “Sorry, do you want this back?”
Michael backed off slightly. “You can keep it. I’m just over there,” he pointed. “If there’s anything else, just let me know.”
Hanna smiled then turned her attention once again to her daughter.
CHAPTER 17
Fiona woke with a start, her eyes opening into such complete darkness, that she wasn’t sure they were open. Her sleep hadn’t been comfortable, with just one blanket separating her and the concrete floor below, but it had taken the edge of her drowsiness. She sat up and tried to see any details around her, but none were apparent. She did hear something though. A scuffling and scratching that came from about thirty-feet away to her left. In her dazed state her first thought was that it was a rat, but then she realized that wasn’t possible. She then felt to her right and her gun was where she left it. Feeling along the cold metal her fingers located the grip, and she picked it up, placing her other hand below the barrel and pointed it in the direction of the sound. Can’t be an E.L.F she thought, as surely they would be all dead by now. Letting go of the barrel, she felt around for her backpack and pulled out her flashlight. Turning it on while pointing it down, she waved it in the direction where she knew Cal was sleeping a few feet to her left. In the lights beam only a blanket lay in a small heap could be seen. His gun and backpack were also there.
She slowly swept the beam across the space in front of her, and everyone was where they were when her eyes gave into sleep a few hours earlier. The only person who was missing was Cal. It was cold in the room, but much warmer than outside and she suddenly got goose bumps. Putting the gun down across her lap, she rubbed her arms with her hands, then pointed the light towards where the noise was coming from. It wasn’t possible to see to the end of the building from where she was sitting, so she got to her feet, and stepped forward, and pointed her light again. This time she could see further, but the gloom soon smothered the beam, turning details beyond fifteen feet into a monotone haze of shadows.
“Cal?” she half whispered, half shouted. No response came, just the continuous scraping noise. She lifted her gun to be parallel with her light and walked towards the noise. As she approached the source of the noise, the narrow illumination her flashlight provided, picked up a form moving in the shadows and she immediately knelt and pointed the gun towards it. Whatever it was, it didn’t react to her making a noise just twenty-feet away.
“Cal?” this time her words came out with force and she heard rustling from behind her as a few people turned over in their makeshift beds. The thing in front continued its work though, without pause.
She got to her feet and walked forward, curiosity overcoming her fear. After another ten-feet she could see what was making the noise. Cal was doing something with the wall in front of him, creating some form of image. His hands were covered in oil, which was dripping from a nearby barrel. Furiously his fingers scrapped over the plaster wall, creating lines and form, which to Fiona had no meaning.
“Cal, what are you doing?”
Her words seemed to pass through him as he continued his work, slapping the wall with the black ooze and smearing, left and right. For a moment she was mesmerized by his passion for this mad artistic expression, but with a shake of the head, she snapped out of it, and slung her gun over her shoulder, walking forward, and put her hand on his arm. He continued his endeavor for a few seconds then stopped, looking at the wall, emotionless.
Fiona went to say something, but had a feeling that it would be useless, and that the best thing she could do was just to return him to his bed. Keeping her hand on his arm, she placed the other hand on his shoulder and rotated him around to face her then walked him back to his place on the ground. Without questioning, he low
ered and covered himself with his jacket, his eyes closing instantly.
She sat on her own blanket with her back against the wall, and shone her flashlight’s beam on his face. He seemed peacefully asleep.
* * * * *
Slithers of light like orange neon planes of glass carved up the space in the warehouse. Zach blinked a few times and felt behind him for Abbey, who was still sleeping. Carefully extracting himself, he got to his feet and immediately regretted standing so quick as a pain shot through his lower back. He winced then stretched, dulling the pain somewhat. Looking around he could see Mary was already awake with a number of children huddled around her. From where he was he couldn’t tell if they were shivering or laughing, but they seemed happy whichever it was.
Fiona was also awake a few beds from him. She was sitting up sipping something from a small plastic cup. She seemed lost in her own thoughts, so he walked up to her.
Before he had a chance to talk, she put her cup down, like she had decided something. “Follow me.”
Trying not to make her movements too purposeful she got to her feet, smartened up her one blanket, then walked past Zach in the direction of the unused part of the building. He followed her, as they walked past metal shelving units, until coming around the edge of one, there was a large plaster covered wall, covered in an explosion of black streaks and circles.
“Hmm,” was the only response Zach had. He walked up to it closer. “Strange, it’s still wet. We must have an artist in our midst,” he said the last part with a smile on his face, but it quickly went when he looked at Fiona, whose face was one of stress and emotion.
“Cal did this, I found him during the night in some kind of daze, he was just manically throwing the oil onto the wall and smearing it around. He seemed to know what he was doing, but I can’t make any sense of it.”
Just as Zach was about to respond, there was a commotion from back where people were sleeping. A female voice shouting in a foreign language. Fiona and Zach went to turn around, when they realized a young girl of around six was standing behind them smiling. Zach knelt down to her, but she looked straight past him at the dark chaos on the wall.
“What’s your name?” said Zach.
She kept looking at the wall, giggling and pointing, saying the word “Zuhause.”
The sound of the woman’s voice grew louder and she ran up to the young girl, turning her around and admonishing her in German. Megan’s face quickly changed to one of sadness, and Hanna hugged her in response.
Hanna looked up at Zach. “I’m sorry she bothered you,” and then went to walk away.
“I’m Zach, this is Fiona, you are?”
Hanna stopped. “I am Hanna, this is Megan.”
Zach waved and smiled. “Nice to meet you Megan,” Megan waved back.
Hanna gave a troubled smile in return and went to walk away, when her expression changed to one of confusion. “You did that?” she pointed at the mess of black oil on the wall.
“No, why?”
She picked up Megan into her arms and walked closer to the painting. “Its just it looks…” she turned her head to the side, then took a step back. “It looks like the Stella Spire.”
Zach and Fiona looked at each other and then at Hanna.
“It’s a region of interstellar gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula. Anyway whoever painted this must be an astronomer,” turning she walked away.
Zach and Fiona looked back at the dark astronomical stain on the wall.
“Does he remember doing this?”
“He’s still sleeping.”
“If he doesn’t remember, don’t say anything to him.”
Fiona sighed. “Okay.”
From across the room Jacob lay on his blanket, using his backpack to prop up his head. In his hand was a small notebook that he had found in a drawer in the fort. Opening the second page, he noted down a few thoughts and then closed it.
Zach and Fiona walked back to where most people were now awake, including Abbey.
“What was going on with Fiona?”
Zach stood at the bottom of their small gathering of clothes, which Fiona was still mostly underneath. “I’ll tell you later.”
Bending down he reached into his backpack and pulled out the original map that Trow had given him a week before. Sitting down next to Abbey he unfolded it, and tried to ascertain where they were. On it were marked the last remaining vestiges of survivors that Camp Bravo were aware of.
“We’re here, roughly eighty miles southeast of Mt. Hood,” said Zach tracing their approach from the fort. Abbey leaned over his shoulder.
“The closest outpost to where we are, is this one.”
“Helier?”
“Which is roughly…six or seven hours drive from here.”
“Lot to do in one day.”
“It is, but if we leave soon we can do it before dark.”
Abbey sensed tension in his voice, but decided not to push the matter further.
CHAPTER 18
It didn’t take long for the group to be packed up and back on the vehicles, despite everyone’s lack of sleep. Zach had told everyone their destination. Most seemed pleased that the next stop would be a real outpost, and not just a large building of convenience.
They were soon driving through rolling hills of white and brown, covered in snow covered evergreens.
“I suspect we’re lucky it’s winter,” said Jacob sitting next to Cal in the back of the Humvee. “Me, I love the winter, but our creature friends don’t seem happy with this climate.”
Cal ignored Jacobs’s comments, instead looking straight ahead.
Jacob persisted. “How you feeling?”
Abbey who wasn’t paying much attention, raised her head slightly when she heard this from Jacob, this was the first time she had heard him ask of the welfare of any of them. She was also curious what Cal’s response would be.
Cal looked slightly to his right, without looking directly at Jacob. “I’m better now.”
“Good…good. It’s been a hard road for all of us,” Jacob said with a smile.
Jacob went to say something else when Fiona interrupted, talking in the direction of Zach. “Might be a good idea to see if we can grab some more food supplies if we get the chance, I know it’s Christmas, but Mary’s kids are off their heads with all the candy they are eating.”
Abbey giggled.
“If we see an opportunity to resupply we will take it, but we have a long way to go through a lot of forested land, and I want to be at the outpost before dark,” said Zach.
Just as Zach finished, a small puff of snow burst upwards from an area of trees about a mile off to the east.
Zach clicked on his radio. “Some kind of disturbance to our east, keep watch on it, also let’s increase our speed a little see if we can leave it behind. Over.”
The convoy moved quicker through the gently curved road and whatever caused the explosion of ice and leaves quickly receded into their rear view.
Occasionally they would see wooden structures that were once homes, but now were heaps of planks and splinters, together with tangled pipes, their sharp edges blunted by the winter downfall. As they progressed the Oregon hills became rockier and moved closer to the edge of the road. The snow in places became a few feet thick, and they had to slow their pace to ensure none of the vehicles slid.
After an hour of heading south, the road turned east.
Zach looked at the map and frowned, he then clicked on his radio. “Everyone stay alert, this road runs alongside a river for a good long way.” Those in the other vehicles acknowledged his request.
Soon the river was visible on their right, but luckily seemed fairly frozen over. The road though was a scene of destruction with small boulders and branches lying haphazardly, and partially covered over by snow. They all slowed to navigate these newfound obstacles.
Michael sat near the back of the bus. For the previous hour he had watched Hanna and her child play a game, but wasn’t sure what it
was. He also needed this amount of time to build up the courage to say anything to Megan’s mother.
“Err, hi.”
Hanna who was sitting across the aisle near the window, looked up with a perplexed expression.
“What game you playing?” said Michael.
“Eye-spy, but mostly the answer is snow, or rock, or trees,” she and Megan giggled.
“Ha, yeah, not much to look at around here.”
“It is very pretty though, reminds me of where I used to live when I was younger. At least we have snow for Christmas,” her voice trailed off and her tone was sad.
Michael wanted to say something hopeful, but the reminder of what time of year it was made her sadness infectious. He sat back in his seat, and looked out of the buses steamed up windows.
After driving for twenty minutes, they came around a bend. On the opposite side of the frozen river were a small herd of E.L.F’s. Looking like small elephants, but with brownish hides, slimmer legs and multiple trunk like appendages, they immediately raised their heads up from the drinking they were doing.
Zach clicked on the radio. “Take it slow, hopefully we won’t spook them too much. Over.” The convoy did as Zach suggested, moving slowly past the creatures that watched them studiously. One of them stepped forward tentatively and instantly it’s front hoofs shattered the ice in front of it, causing it to jump back. Some of the others raised their multiple trunks and let out a deep droning sound, causing the others to do the same. Soon they passed out of sight as the convoy moved around another bend, but after driving a short distance more creatures, this time ones with wings could be seen perched on the distant hills.
The children noticed them before anyone else, and pointed excitedly. Mary told them not to point and then tried to distract them by asking them what was their favourite Christmas presents of the past years. Irene asked Mary quietly what the children were fussing about.
