No End (Post Apocalypse Stock Market, Book 1)

by Timothy Cox

Clint was putting the pieces together. So far they seemed–

  A chair screeched forward. Silence. ‘How you feeling?’

  ‘Who are you?’ Clint asked. ‘Why can’t I open my eyes?’

  ‘Why don’t we play a game? You ask me a question and I–’

  ‘No.’ Clint hated the way he felt. He could hear his heartbeat. ‘What’s wrong with me?’

  ‘You’re just fine. You were in a pretty bad shape when I found you – and in my sleeping place if I might add. Now that we’re on that subject, let me just say that if you’re thinking of going back there – well I hope you aren’t. I’ve been sleeping there since–’

  ‘Just tell what’s fucking wrong with me.’

  ‘Cheesus. You’re like one of those people on the street that just wants to beat me up for no reason.’

  Clint sighed. He touched his forehead; a part of him felt grateful for being able to do just that. ‘I’m sorry. Listen. I’m a good guy–’

  ‘That’s what someone told me last week. I found tasty food in a bin, and then this guy approaches me and tells me he’s a good guy…and then the next thing I know he gets all angry for no–’

  ‘What’s wrong with my face?’

  ‘That will pass. I hope anyway. I’m not the doctor around here my uncle is. Apparently your body didn’t like the injection. You were allergic.’

  ‘Wait what? He operated on me?’

  ‘If I were you I’d say thank you. He saved your life.’

  Memories came flushing back: the stabbing, the pain, the money. Everything made sense. They left him to die somewhere; by the sound of it the man’s bedroom. An important question rushed into Clint’s mind; the sudden adrenaline made his eyes open. Hazy white is what he saw.

  ‘How long have I been out?’

  ‘Uh, let’s see. Uh. Four months.’

  The pain disappeared. It was replaced by a sickening headache. He could feel his fingers shake.

  ‘I’m only kidding.’ He said. ‘Let me see.’

  ‘Stop it. With the jokes.’

  ‘Shees ok. A few days, maybe four.’

  He lifted his hand. The sight of his blurry fingers made him want to cry. He couldn’t believe it; only a few days ago he was sure of his death. Now, by some miracle, he was alive. The physical pain faded. But it wasn’t that that worried him; he could handle the headache, the sore stomach, even his back which felt like it was on fire. It was the thought of Milly that pained him the most. He knew if the sickness didn’t get her – starvation would. He only left her with limited food.

  ‘Get me up.’ Clint said.

  ‘I don’t think that’s a–’

  ‘I said. Get me up.’

  ‘Fine, just agh ok.’ He scratched his head.

  Clint looked at him. He looked like a man that just sailed across the sea; that had no problem doing it all alone and would have no problem writing his adventure on a piece of plank.

  ‘I think we should take it slow. Your back is all patched up it might hurt a little.’

  ‘Ok.’

  ‘Put your hand around my neck.’

  A door shut. In came a thumping cane. ‘What the hell are you doing Peter?’

  ‘Who’s name calling now?’ Peter said. Clint moaned as he tried to get up.

  ‘He might be with those Rattle boys put him down right now.’

  ‘I don’t think he is.’

  ‘You don’t think?’ He rubbed his wrinkled forehead and stepped closer. ‘You’re going to get us killed now put him–’

  ‘I mean no harm.’ Clint said. ‘I swear–’ he grunted; his back felt like a slab of ice that could snap. ‘I just want to leave.’

  Toad mumbled a few words. Without warning he smacked Peter over the head with his cane; he stumbled backward against a tray. Clint screamed and fell back down.

  (7)

  He saw a light sway in front of him. He looked at his shackled hands. His vision adjusted itself from hazy to normal. The man Clint knew as Toad, sat on a chair in the corner. Every few seconds, a bud came alive with hot color: orange and red. Making the air smell of hay.

  ‘What’s your name?’ He asked.

  Clint’s first reaction was to resist answering. He felt like screaming at the man. He felt like ripping the cuffs off and strangling him. However, a part of him said that aggression would only fuel the tension between them. He lowered his chin and sighed.

  ‘My name is Clinton. I know you don’t know me, but you have to understand, I really mean you no harm.’

  ‘That’s for me to decide.’ His bud glowed orange. ‘I’m sure you can understand that we live in peril times. I don’t know you. You don’t me. Pete said he found you in a dumpster.’

  ‘Yes, that’s right.’

  ‘You had a knife in your back.’

  Clint didn’t have time for this. He looked at the fresh bandages on his stomach, grunted, and sat up straight. ‘Toad. My daughter is in trouble she’s the only thing I have left. She has the sickness. The reason I had a knife in my back is because I was attacked while trying to buy a cure.’

  ‘How long has she had it for?’

  ‘Three, four months.’

  ‘So she doesn’t have long.’

  Clint didn’t appreciate the brashness. He pulled his arm up; the cuff thundered against the railing. ‘Let me go. I need to go.’

  Toad put the cigarette in his mouth. He kept it there for a few seconds, and puffed. ‘Maybe you’re lying. Hell, maybe you just want to kill me.’

  ‘I swear to God, I will not–’

  ‘God?’ The chair creaked. He walked over to the window and peeked through the curtains. The sky was a constant gray; the shadow it casted over every building down the street made it look like it had been there for a millions years – even the newish ones. ‘God wouldn’t allow this.’

  ‘My daughter will die if you don’t let me go.’

  He let go of the curtains and stared at it. He glanced. ‘How old is she?’

  ‘Sixteen.’

  ‘Where is she?’

  ‘A few towns from here. Boarded up.’

  ‘Is she with anyone?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘You just left her?’

  A watery feeling washed in Clint’s chest, it made him feel powerless. He lowered his head and closed his eyes. ‘We had a rule…you only trust family. And it’s just the two of us, so. There’s no one else that can look after her. Only me. I left her with enough food. I couldn’t take her with me – you know why.’ He looked away. ‘I can’t be carrying her on my back.’

  ‘So let me guess, you were going to buy the cure from Rattle.’

  ‘Yes.’

  He scratched his chin which sounded like sand paper. ‘Makes sense then.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘You’re not the first one to come here for the cure. People travel from faraway places.’ He picked up his cane and walked over to the toolbox. He opened the latch and sighed. ‘Believe me…I know.’

  Clint narrowed his eyes, ‘what do you mean?’

  He turned around with a key in his hand. ‘I did the very same thing, I travelled a hundred miles on foot. Bought the cure.’ He looked at the window. The key fell from his hands. He held his hip while picking it up. ‘I was too late.’

  Clint tried to stop the next sentence from leaving his mouth – he couldn’t. ‘Do you have the cure?’

  He shook his head, studied him, and chuckled silently.

  ‘I’m sorry…I don’t mean to be–’

  ‘It’s fine. No I gave it away.’

  ‘Fuck.’ Clint whispered. He dived into thought. He needed to think of new ways to help her. He heard rattling next to him. ‘You letting me go?’

  ‘If what you’re telling me is true I have no choice. I won’t be able to sleep with myself if I keep you.’ Before unlocking it, he put a hand on his shoulder. ‘But if you try anything, I’ll kill you.’

  Clint didn’t doubt it. The man was old; but something told Clint he could st
ill throw a few punches. ‘Thank you very much.’ It felt good lifting his hand. The cuffs left a dent in his skin. He rubbed it. He looked at Toad walk away – glancing over his shoulder. ‘Don’t worry. I mean what I said. I mean you no harm.’

  He laughed. ‘As I said. If you pull anything funny. I will kill you. Now,’ he picked up his cane. ‘Can I make you anything to eat?’

  (8)

  He stood behind the counter cutting. The window in front of him looked out onto his once pristine backyard. Weeds big as children swayed; scraping the window and blocking most light from entering. Clint stepped inside his small kitchen and saw more of the back. There was a rancid puddle in the middle; black water with leaves floating on top.

  ‘I hope you like your bread without butter.’

  ‘Butter?’ He looked at the dust on the cupboards. He thought that the place was in a pretty good shape. ‘Can’t remember the last time I had butter on bread.’ He chuckled.

  ‘That’s good then.’ He put the plate down. ‘Eat up, we have a long journey ahead of us.’

  There was a moment of pause. ‘What do you mean us?’

  ‘I’m coming with.’ He began making his own sandwich.

  Clint sat down the only chair. It faced the waving weeds. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea,’ he picked up the bread. There was mold on the side. He broke the edges off. He took a bite and looked at Toad.

  ‘It’s not up for discussion.’ He licked the knife and placed it in a bowl of green water.

  ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I travel faster alone.’

  ‘As I said. It’s not up for discussion.’ He didn’t break the mold off his sandwich. He took a big bite.

  ‘I can’t be babysitting, you’ll slow us down with your cane. I’m not being mean.’ He opened the sandwich and found mold hiding under the cheese. ‘I’m grateful for everything–’

  ‘I’m coming with you.’ Toad said. ‘If you like it or not, doesn’t matter.’

  Clint put the sandwich down, brushed the crumbs from his lips and frowned. ‘I don’t understand. I really don’t. Why would you want to help me?’

  He slammed his fist on the desk. A cup fell and shattered. ‘Isn’t it obvious?’

  Clint pressed his lips.

  ‘What’re the chances that man ends up in my house, with the same quest that I failed?’

  Clint covered his face with both hands and sighed. Everything made sense now. He felt stupid for not thinking about this sooner. Of course the man would want to come with. This was some redemptive goal for his soul. He removed his hands and shook his head. ‘Thank you for saving my life,’ he got up, ‘I will leave now, I hope you the very best.’

  Clint had his hand on the door when he heard a gun cock behind him. He froze too scared to look behind. ‘Old man. I told you–’

  ‘Now you listen to me. Call me old one more time and I’ll put a bullet in your head regardless of a girl waiting for her daddy. Do you understand?’

  Clint turned and saw the eyes of a double barrel shotgun.

  ‘You listen to me very carefully. I walk fast. I think fast. And I’m a qualified doctor. When I say you’ll need my help I mean it. I know where we can go for a cure.’

  Clint dropped his shoulders, ‘you serious?’

  ‘Yes.’ He picked up his sandwich while pointing the gun and took a bite. ‘We have a deal?’

  ‘We have a deal.’

  (9)

  They climbed under a fence. The factory before them once powered three towns. Its four mighty pillars howled as the wind swept through its hollow tubes. The pillar nearest to them and the biggest leaned forward; as if ready to fall.

  ‘You didn’t say anything about him coming with.’ Clint said.

  ‘That’s not nice. I remember saving somebodies life, oh wait yeah you.’ Peter said. He helped his uncle under the fence. ‘Come on Toad get that legs of yours–’

  ‘Leave me I can get through on my–’

  ‘Ok ok.’ He stepped forward and looked at the building. ‘I’ve always wanted to come here. I’ve seen real pictures of this place; working and all.’ He pointed at the pillar, ‘lights ran all round that thing. At night it lit up like a Christmas tree.’

  ‘Let’s keep moving.’ Clint said. ‘You sure this is the right way Toad?’

  ‘Yes. This is the power plant. We need to get to the other side.’

  ‘And that will lead us out to the highway?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Half of the building lay in rubble; revealing the insides of its body. A huge rusted bowl sat at the middle floor; it’s heart. Most of the building’s pipes were on the floor, but some still dangled around the building; it’s arteries.

  Pete found joy in stepping on broken glass. ‘You know, a lot of my friends say it’s quite a cozy place inside. They say they can still feel the warmth from the generators.’ He chuckled. ‘But I just think it’s the drugs really…’

  ‘So Toad.’ Clint said. ‘Where were you when the war broke out?’

  ‘Believe it or not, I slept through it the first few days.’

  ‘How did you manage that?’

  ‘That’s what I usually did before a big operation. I would lock myself up. Read and sleep.’

  ‘What about you Pete?’

  His smile disappeared. ‘I was gambling. Next thing I knew people were storming in screaming, throwing everything around. The security guards tried stopping them but they just kept storming inside. Even…’ He pressed his heel down hard. ‘Then they started killing – no mercy.’

  Toad coughed. ‘I don’t want to be one of those, you know, told you so people but I always knew it to be inevitable.’

  ‘How so?’

  ‘Because it’d happened in the past; the divide between rich and poor got too great. People aren’t stupid, the pot was apt to boil over. People driving those fancy rich cars, buying homes like they were buying toothpaste – while others worked a nine to five job just to end up in more debt, and then people came knocking on their doors demanding money. The sad thing is all they did was survive. Survive in a world where the motto was: keep chasing that elusive dream.’ He scratched his head. ‘When people finally woke up and realized that they were chasing just that – something elusive, everything collapsed. People were angry. They held it all in. They just waited for the right spark to kick everything off.’

  ‘The stock market crash.’

  ‘Yes, that’s right.’ Toad said.

  Pete picked up the biggest rock he could find, aimed at the highest window, and threw. It crashed inside and tumbled down stairs. He sighed. ‘Yeah, I remember the stock market crash.’

  ‘Jesus Pete! Why do you have to go and throw–’ he coughed ‘–it like that?’

  ‘I’m just killin’ some time. Why do you need to be so–’ He looked at the factory as the rock began rolling again. ‘Must’ve thrown that rock right down the spiral case. Good throw if you ask me.’

  The wind picked up. Trees in the distance wailed. ‘So how long do you think it’ll take?’ Clint asked.

  Peter quickly answered: ‘Probably round–’ Toad smacked his back leg with his cane. ‘Ouch! What was th–’

  ‘You don’t even know where it is.’

  ‘Sure I do. I’ve been there a few times.’

  ‘What Leal Town?’

  ‘Yup.’

  ‘And what did you do all the way there?’

  ‘I took Jessie for a walk.’

  ‘You took Jessie for a walk all the way to Leal Town?’

  ‘Sure I did.’

  Toad chewed his lip and spat blood on the ground. ‘God dammit. Hate bleeding gums.’

  ‘Allthatshityoukeepblabberin.’ Pete mumbled. He pointed at a fence in the distance. ‘Look that’s where we need to go.’

  Clint looked at an approaching car. Its metal a washed out gray; color that’d faded over time. There was not a single thing inside except for bare bones: the four metal poles keeping it up. The soil around it was brittle.
A sign that the ground was once cement. While the two next to him blabbered – he looked at the passing car. He felt a ghostly tickle up his arm. He wondered whose car it was. Did the person have a family? Did he or she go home at night and kiss a loved one on the cheek? Or did he/she go home at night only to climb into bed early; too tired and too depressed to eat alone.

  ‘So Pete.’ Clint said. ‘What’s the story behind Jessie?’

  ‘Oh Lord take me now.’ Toad said. ‘You just opened the box of–’

  ‘I don’t really like to talk about it.’

  ‘It’s fine you don’t have to.’ Clint looked at Toad lift his finger; as if waiting for it to begin.

  ‘But.’ Pete said looking up at the sky. Toad dropped his finger and smiled. ‘I never saw it coming. She used to sleep with me at night, somehow she just knew I was cold, she would come snug up against me. Or maybe it was just because I was the only one giving her food – but that doesn’t really matter. We shared a lot of cold nights. We used to go for long walks Jessie and me. She always barked when I threw the stick.’ He sighed and looked at the floor. ‘And then one day, these guys approached. The type that just wants trouble.’ He looked at Clint with a tear in his eye. ‘Me and Jessie were never like that, the trouble making kind. We just did our own thing. I kept her safe…but when it boils down to the truth…she was the one that kept me safe. And sane.’ He chuckled. ‘I was eating some food I got from a bin and Jessie gave me one of those looks,’ he did a comical expression: pouting lips big eyes. ‘She was asking me for a bite. You know what I told her?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I said, I already gave you sixty percent of my food.’ He laughed and wiped tears. He looked at the sky one more time and dropped his chin. ‘Three guys came up and demanded the food.’ He showed the palm of his hand. ‘I didn’t even have much, it was that much. Then I did the biggest mistake of my life. I will never forgive myself.’

  Clint scratched the back of his ear.

  ‘I told them that the food was for Jessie, next thing I knew, they stabbed her and laughed. They told me that weren’t a problem anymore. With my mouth open I looked at her bleed – I couldn’t even remember them taking the food from my hand.’