by Spriggs, Kal
“I'll go there now,” Jack said. “Oh, and tell the Professor to see me after that.”
He walked over to the sand table. Several of his people were already there, studying the scale map of Malik's palace, the zoo, and the surrounding grounds. They'd drawn up a map of what they'd seen of the inside of his palace, too. Jack didn't see any issues with it.
“You wanted to see me, Captain?”
Jack looked up. Professor Luis Cedano looked like he'd had less sleep than Jack. His hair was unkempt and his eyes bloodshot. “How are the fuses coming?”
Professor Cedano rubbed at his face, “Well, okay. I think they'll work for this.”
“You think or you know?” Jack asked. He swallowed, “I'm asking because if you aren't a hundred percent certain, then we're going to need someone in place.”
The professor gave a sigh and looked at the ground. “Captain, I'm an economist. I have teaching certificates in chemistry and biology to teach a few extra classes... this isn't something I ever expected to be doing.” Jack waited patiently. “I think they'll work, but I can't guarantee it. I think someone will need to be there.”
It took the man a lot to say that, Jack saw. He looked up, “In fact, I'd like to volunteer...”
“No,” Jack said. “That'll be my job. Now what about the rest?”
Professor Cedano scowled at Jack's answer and at the change of subject. Even so, he answered the question and didn't argue... not yet at least. “We've finished mixing it all and we're getting it packed in place. We should have it ready by tonight.”
That was as soon as he had hoped. “Will the rest of the train be ready by then, do you know?” Jack asked. That was outside of what Cedano normally would work, but without Paul around to ride herd on the other mechanics and with Tim at his wife's side...
“Yes,” the professor nodded. He patted down his uniform blouse, as if looking for a pen or something to fiddle with. “It'll be ready. Everyone is running themselves into the ground to get it all that way, but we'll be ready by tonight.”
“Good,” Jack said. “I'll let you get back to work.”
He turned back to the maps. His gaze followed the set of tracks leading across the Merchant's Bridge and then to the northwest. It seemed everything was falling into place. Jack only hoped he'd have a chance to tell the Lord Protector that in person soon enough.
***
“Larry, I can't believe this... what kind of friend are you?” Sean McCune shook his head. He paused in filling sandbags and gave his friend a glare.
“Sean...” Larry at least had the decency to look sheepish.
“You couldn't save me one?” Sean demanded. “Not even one?” He went back to filling sandbags, digging into the dirt with a bit more force than was strictly necessary.
Larry sighed, “Well, Sean, it's like this. I had several of them, but Tom traded me some of his booze. And I was going to save you some of that, but we've been doing hard, thirsty work...”
“But we found those boxes of condoms together!” Sean protested. “Salvager rules, man! We're supposed to split the goods! And I went off to zombie central and nearly got killed only to come back to nothing.” He tied off the end of the sandbag and threw it into the pile. “Some friend you are.”
“Sean!” Larry protested. “Let me make it up to you, alright buddy?”
“How can you make this up to me,” Sean grumbled. “I come back, there's no more booze, there's no more condoms. The women-folk are all gathered over around the lady giving birth and I promise you, ain't gonna be a one of them that's going to want to get busy after what they see going on in there...”
Sean didn't really understand women, but he'd seen childbirth. It wasn't for the faint of heart. Half the women in the group would probably swear off men for the rest of their lives after seeing it. Really, it was a wonder that anyone had kids at all.
Larry didn't answer him, but Sean decided to let the man off, “Not your fault, Larry. I guess you probably didn't expect me to come back.” Besides, without the booze, there's no way I'd score with any of the women here, they're all dreamy over them officer and soldier types, not an honest salvager like me.
“Not like that at all, Sean!” Larry protested. “I just, well, you know... got to live in the moment, right?”
“Yeah, true enough,” Sean nodded. He tended to live in the moment long before all this. The only difference between now and then was that now stealing things that wasn't tied down as called salvaging and people respected you for it. Well, that and the whole walking dead thing.
“Anyway...” Larry trailed off. Sean looked up to see what had distracted his friend. He saw a woman standing nearby, she'd brought over a pail of water. “Mister McCune?” She asked.
She wasn't bad on the eyes, Sean thought to himself. A little older than he normally liked, but she wore her years well. Granted, she looked far too proper for the likes of him. She even wore a long dress, not at all the kind of woman who'd have anything good to say about him. “Yeah?” he asked.
“I'm Sandra. I was in the pit, that is, I was a prisoner of the Lord Protector,” she said.
“Oh, you're the one that we pulled out along with that old feller,” Sean nodded, “You're the lady with the kids.”
“Yes,” she nodded, passing him a cup of water from the pail. Sean took it and he gave her a nod of thanks before he knocked it back. “I just wanted to thank you, Mister McCune. Without you, my children and I would probably be dead.”
Sean gave her a respectful nod, she seemed far more proper a sort than he was used to. “Not a problem, ma'am.” He hadn't even really been a part of their rescue, not beyond getting them on the train engine and getting it started.
“Well, if you'd be up for it, I'd like to cook you a meal. I'm cooking at the tent, tonight, but I'll make you something special, if you'd like that,” Sandra said.
Sean's eyebrows went up, “Yes, ma'am, I'd like that.” He'd be going back into the city tonight, they all would, but that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy himself a bit beforehand.
“Thank you, Mister McCune, and thank you again for helping to save me and my children.” She walked away and Sean watched her go for a long moment.
“Shee-it,” Larry whispered loudly, “Sean, buddy, you got yourself a girlfriend!”
“What?” Sean protested. He went back to digging furiously. “Don't you say that Larry. She's a nice woman, with almost-grown kids. No, she just offered me dinner. Nothing untoward at all!”
“Sure, sure,” Larry nodded. He coughed, “So, uh, would you like me to ask Tom if he's got any of those condoms left?”
Sean hit him in the face with a shovel full of dirt and then went right back to filling sand bags. As Larry sputtered and brushed dirt off his face, Sean thought to himself that maybe Larry wasn't as good a friend as he'd thought.
***
“Are you certain about this?” Josh Wachope asked.
Jack stared down at the terrain display. They'd just finished the final brief to all the key personnel. This was going to be dangerous to everyone. “I can't order anyone else to do it,” Jack replied. “It has to work, so that means someone has to do it. That's got to be me.”
His friend's lips pinched together. It was clear that he disagreed, but Jack didn't care. Jack was tired. He was more than tired. His body ached and he felt like his head was packed with sand. He knew he should get some sleep, but every time he closed his eyes, he saw the monster from under the cathedral. Malik had called it the Hand of God. That name didn't fit right. Jack had taken to calling it the nightwalker. He wasn't sure why, but the name seemed to fit it better.
“Well--”
A baby's wail interrupted whatever he was about to say. They both turned and hurried over towards the train. No sooner had they arrived than Tim Kennedy was there, a beaming smile on his face. “This,” he said, holding up the child in his arms, “Is James Tyler.”
“Congratulations!” Jack joined in with the cheer. The baby cried agai
n and it was as if the pall across the camp tore. The day seemed suddenly brighter. The risks and challenges they faced seemed a little smaller.
Jack stepped close, patting his friend on the back. “How's Cat?” he asked.
“She's doing fine, Doctor said she's looking good now,” Tim grinned. “Man, this... I'm a father... again!”
“Yeah, you should show your other son his new brother,” Jack grinned.
“Yeah!” Tim smiled and headed away.
“Kids,” Josh Wachope grinned.
“Yeah...” Jack felt a familiar pang. He'd never had children. He'd never been married. Part of that was he had never found the right woman, he supposed. Maybe if things had been different... No, he told himself, don't start down that road. In a few hours’ time, it wouldn't matter.
“Jack Zamora?” A soft voice asked from above.
Jack looked up. Doctor Katie Madison stood at the door of the train car. The afternoon sunlight caught her hair just right and her pale skin and dark brown eyes stood out in a fashion that struck Jack to the quick. For a moment, the sunlight seemed to accentuate all the tragedy, all the heartache she'd seen... and Jack wanted nothing more than to embrace her and protect her from harm.
He suppressed that emotion, though, “Yes, Doctor?”
“Cat's doing well, but I wanted to tell you that Paul's awake. He's had a couple visitors while I was otherwise busy,” Katie Madison said. “He wants to talk to you.”
“Sure thing,” Jack gave her a smile. Paul regaining consciousness was more than Jack had expected. He climbed into the train car and followed Madison to the rear. Paul was sitting propped up on the bed, there. His face was still pale, but he looked better than he had the night before.
Standing next to him was Professor Cedano. Jack couldn't help but scowl as he realized what this was probably about. “Paul, you're looking good.”
“Thanks,” he said. “But lying doesn't become you.”
Despite himself, Jack snorted. Doctor Madison pulled in a chair and gestured at Jack to sit. He did so, but he still felt defensive. Sitting just made him feel vulnerable. “How are you doing?”
“Dying,” Paul said weakly.
Jack shot a glance at Doctor Madison and she gave the slightest nod.
“Thought I was dead,” Paul said. “There was this light, then there was a woman... golden woman... she sent me back.” He closed his eyes and mumbled something to himself. Jack looked at Cedano and Madison and their expressions were stark. It pained Jack to see Paul this way. The man had been so sharp, so intelligent, and now...
Paul opened his eyes. He caught Jack's gaze. “I hear you plan to drive the train.”
“Yeah,” Jack nodded.
Paul tapped his chest, “Should be me.” He managed the words and they sounded surprisingly strong.
Jack's throat constricted, “Paul...”
“My choice,” Paul said. “One last thing... before I die.” He clearly had trouble forming the words, almost like he was drunk. But he managed them and each one seemed to hang in the air.
“You're not going to...” Jack couldn't force himself to say the lie. Paul could barely talk. Jack wasn't entirely certain the man was coherent. Paul was going to die. There was nothing that Jack could do to stop that. Death comes to us all...
“He wants to drive the train tonight, Jack,” Cedano said. “He wants to take your place.”
“You told him,” Jack snapped. “Why did you tell him?”
“He deserved to know,” Luis Cedano said. The former college professor didn't flinch. He met Jack's angry gaze defiantly. He had known what Paul would decide when he told him. Jack almost hated the man for it.
“I can do it,” Paul said. “It should... it must be me.”
“No,” Jack said. “You're not fit for it.” Jack looked at Doctor Madison for support. “He can barely talk, he should stay in bed, right?”
She gave him a stern look. “I overheard enough of what Cedano told him to understand the importance of this. Paul's not in good shape... but to do what needs to be done? I think he can. I can try to ease his pain a bit, give him something to keep him functional and alert. To drive the train, he doesn't need to be able to do much.”
Jack rubbed his hands over his face. “This isn't what I wanted.”
“Doesn't matter,” Paul said. “Has to happen. She told me.”
“Who?” Jack snapped, half expecting him to say that Doctor Madison had put him up to this.
“The golden woman,” Paul answered. “The angel.”
Right... Jack thought to himself. He didn't say anything though. Paul had stuck to his faith despite all he'd seen, despite losing his wife and his son back in Cincinnati. For that, Jack envied him, more than a little. Jack didn't have that kind of faith, not in any all-knowing being that watched over them.
Some part of him hoped that Paul was right, though. Because Jack had seen far too many horrors, it would have been nice to believe that there was good in the world too.
“Fine,” Jack said. “Paul, you'll drive the train. But I'll ride with you and if it looks like you can't do it, I'll take over.”
“Of course,” Paul said. He gave a satisfied smile. “Now, I'm going to take a little nap. Let me know when it's time.” He closed his eyes and started snoring almost instantly.
Jack looked up at Luis Cedano angrily, “You had better get back to work.”
“Jawohl, Captain,” the professor gave mocking Nazi-esque and stalked away. Jack scowled after him and then turned and headed for the door himself.
“Jack...” Doctor Madison said.
“What?” Jack snapped. He saw her flinch at his tone and he sighed. “Look I'm sorry. I just... He went behind my back and it pisses me off, okay?”
“He saved your life,” Katie Madison replied as she came forward to stand in front of him. “Was that wrong of him?”
“Maybe I didn't want him to,” Jack grated. “Maybe I wanted to be the one to do this.”
“Is your life so intolerable?” Katie Madison demanded. “Is there nothing in this world worth living for?” Her dark eyes flashed with anger and Jack was suddenly aware of how close she stood. Close enough for him to smell, close enough that he felt her warm breath.
Jack's heart started to race. His anger turned into something else entirely. On instinct more than anything else, he caught her by the shoulders and drew her close. His lips met hers, hot and alive. The next thing he knew, she was pressing herself against him, pressing him back into one of the empty curtained areas.
They groped at each other and Jack felt almost intoxicated. This wasn't love, it was something far more primitive, something animal. Jack held her tight as he kissed her and the feel of her warm body against his made his heart race even faster. His hands quivered with the release of endorphins and he had never felt so absolutely alive... or so utterly terrified that he might die.
He pulled away from the kiss and stared at her face, just a few inches distant as they both panted for breath. “This is a mistake,” Jack muttered. He didn't know her. They'd only met a few days earlier. Both of them could be dead in only a few hours. That realization didn't quell his ardor, though, it just made his body respond all the stronger.
“Then you'd better keep making it,” Katie snapped and she kissed him some more.
Jack's hands seemed to have a mind of their own and he found them slipping up under her shirt, even as he felt her hands go to his belt. He pulled her shirt off over her head and then pushed her down on the empty bed, sparing just a glance to make certain the curtain was closed.
She'd undone his belt and pulled his pants down over his hips, even as he fumbled to return the favor. This is insane, some part of him whispered. He barely knew her. They'd only shared a few minutes together.
Yet he didn't care. She didn't seem to care either. In moments, they were both naked. Then their bodies were moving as one and Jack stopped thinking, he stopped worrying. Jack started living, possibly for the first time
in his life.
***
Down at the other end of the car, Paul opened one eye as he heard a soft moan. Took them long enough, he thought to himself. The angel had told him that they would be good together. Paul took it as another confirmation that he had made the right choice.
Paul hadn't expected to survive this long. Every day he had taken as a gift from god, though his faith had faltered a bit when his wife and son had perished in Cincinnati. They'd gone quickly, at least, without the terror and pain that so many people in this world had suffered.
Paul had lived for their sake more than his own. And as the survivors on the train came to rely on him more and more, he'd done all he could to teach them all he knew. His days were numbered, after all. Cancer. They'd cut as much out of him as they could, but it hadn't been enough... it couldn't be enough.
Paul had never been angry about it. He'd lived a long life and now he was satisfied to know that even in his death, he'd accomplish something of meaning.
After all, the angel had also told him that soon he would be reunited with his wife and son. Just a little bit longer, he told himself, just hold on a little bit longer.
***
Chapter Sixteen
Engine Number Three grumbled as it rolled forward under the weight of the cars behind it. It had taken almost thirty-six hours of frantic preparation to get those cars ready, but Jack felt more than a little pride as the train rumbled ahead, pulling onto the main track and then starting to pick up speed.
Jack hopped down onto the engine platform and then let himself into the cab. “How you doing, Paul?”
The old man looked rather cheerful, considering the circumstances. “Good,” Paul answered. “Excited.”
Jack couldn't argue. All the worry, all the fear, seemed to vanish as they went into motion. Though Jack had other reasons to feel that way, he could admit. He closed his eyes, and instead of the terrifying creature he'd seen before, instead he saw Katie Madison's pale skin and he felt her warm flesh pressed against his.
The train continued to trundle along, picking up a bit more speed. Jack kept an eye on that, but Paul kept it at a solid thirty miles per hour, just about where they wanted to be for this.
