by J. Thorn
“Absolutely.”
“Uh, guys?” Alex spoke from the back. “In light of everything we have seen, think it’s a little blasphemous of you two to be talking like this?”
Del shook his head. “Not at all. What did Raph say? Free will.”
“You mean Raphael,” Mack corrected.
“That’s right …” Del smiled. “Mmm.”
Both men laughed.
Alex did not.
“Hey, Mack,” Del said. “Did you ever wonder if when Jesus brought back Lazarus, he turned into a Doke? Think about it. Jesus feels really bad for his family, so he brings him back from the dead, thinking he’s gonna score some brownie points with the family and be the cool prophet.”
Mack continued the story, “And they roll open the tomb, and there is old Lazarus, white face, wide mouth, going, ‘ahhhh’.”
“Yes. Yes.” Del snapped his fingers. “Then Jesus was like, ‘Whoops. Honestly, seriously, this wasn’t supposed to happen.’”
“Hence, why He never did that for anyone else.”
“And you know Jesus had to run into a lot of mourning people who tore at his heartstrings,” Del commented.
“Uh yeah, his stepfather for one.”
“Exactly, you know he would have brought him back. Probably where God got the idea. What do you think, Alex?”
“What do I think?” Alex repeated. “I think, despite the good you are doing now, you’re both burning in hell.”
“Ha!” Mack scoffed. “It’s a hundred and ten degrees, we’re in barren land with walking dead, I’m pretty much sure we’re already in hell. Del?”
“Agree, and why is that man hitchhiking in the middle of nowhere?”
After a quick, “What?” Mack slammed the brakes.
“Joshua,” Alex whispered.
“You mean Will Smith?” Del asked.
“Shut up.” Once the vehicle stopped, Alex opened the door and raced out.
“He’s not a Doke,” Mack said.
Del watched through the windshield as Alex ran top speed to the stranger and embraced him. “So, like, end of the world, apocalypse, walking dead, thousands of miles from where we started and she knows someone.”
+++++
Joshua was his name, and he was exactly as Alex dreamt and described.
He toted a huge backpack and offered everyone a can of cola when they pulled over. They drove with him a mile to the small gas station where he left his dead car. The windows were boarded up at the station, and it was cooler inside. But not much.
Alex was thrilled and introduced him to everyone as if he were an old friend.
“I traveled with Raphael for a long time.”
“How long?” Mack asked.
“Up until about a week or so ago. We met in Charleston.”
“West Virginia?” Mack questioned. “We were there.”
“Yep, I learned that,” Joshua said. “I got there too late. Missed you guys, so Raphael said we head West. Then he just left.”
Del asked, “Did he tell you anything?”
“Everything. Hard to believe you know, but we never really ran into those things much. Seemed I was always one or two days behind you. Cities cleaned, burned, you know.” He shrugged. “Finally, when he found me he said enough was enough, we go West. So screwed up, that we were meant to meet up and never did until now.”
Del said, “There’s a reason for all of us to be here.”
“This is unreal,” Mack said. “How did you do the dream thing?”
He shifted his eyes to Alex. “I didn’t try. I arrived at the city, was exhausted and fell asleep. I remember the dream. I didn’t control it. I was supposed to wait for you guys.”
Del questioned, “Then why didn’t you?”
He puckered his lips, took another drink of the cola and crushed the can. “I wasn’t sure, but was guessing which way you guys would arrive. I was hoping to catch you earlier. Prepare you. Make a plan. Besides, I had been there days and it was freaking me out. Then my car died.”
Alex had to ask, “Prepare us for what?”
“What you’ll see. I wasn’t ready. It’s gotten worse. Prepare you guys to figure a way, maybe, to get to the city, because there is a hell of a blockade.”
“Well.” Mack nodded. “I think I’m prepared for a hell of a blockade.” He gave a wave of his hand and led Joshua outside. He took him to the Humvee and opened up the back.
Joshua whistled.
“I have enough explosives to pretty much flatten one square mile. If placed right.”
“One square mile,” Joshua said. “This is impressive.”
Mack smiled.
“It’s … it’s probably not enough.”
The smile fell from Mack’s face. “How big is this blockade?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The Glen Canyon Bridge was gone, as if it never existed, and that was a good thing. When they arrived there, Dokes poured over the edge. They just kept coming, like a waterfall.
The Colorado River was dry. No one was alive to release the spillways. But the riverbed wasn’t empty. It was filled to capacity with Dokes.
Down a few miles on the east side of the riverbed, they saw the city.
It was situated smack center of Marble Canyon. The walls were high, and hint of a glistening city could be seen peeking over the top. Not any heavenly-looking city, but one that reflected the sun.
A beacon.
It called the Dokes.
They were indeed everywhere on the west side.
They filled the riverbed for as far as the eye could see, extending like a blanket. And they were, a blanket of dead.
The gap of the canyon was nothing more than a huge gathering place. Dokes wrestled in mounds around the walls of the city meshed together like an unrecognizable growing and creeping dark substance. They were a black mold growing everywhere.
Joshua explained, “Just like the bridge, something cut them off. Highway 89 goes south for a while, crosses over the canyon, but … there was a landslide and the dead can’t get over. That’s why there are none here. We’re on the safe side.”
Del spread out the map. “We can head to Flagstaff, that’s about a hundred and fifty miles, grab the highway back north to the city but …” He exhaled. “We have to clear the Dokes.”
Mack looked at Alex. “I don’t think one arrow is gonna cut it. They’ve been gathering here.”
Alex inhaled a shivering breath and brought Billy closer.
Joshua said, “More and more come every day. It’s worse today and I suspect tomorrow, even more.”
“This makes sense,” Del interjected.
“What does?” Mack asked.
“I was wondering, you know, why? Why didn’t we meet Joshua sooner? You know, God is supposed to be all this and that, so how did it get so messed up that we didn’t meet Joshua until now? And it makes sense. Assurance.”
“What are you talking about?” Mack asked.
“God didn’t make a mistake. He played it safe. He rationed,” Del explained. “If Joshua would have been with us, chances are, Raphael would have come sooner, and we would have known our goal earlier. Chances are … One of us wouldn’t be here. Free will. So to ensure there were enough of us at this point, He kept one of the Forgotten back.” Del pointed to Joshua. “One arrow won’t do this. One arrow … and a few of us … will. Like Nicole said. We weren’t saved to live, we were saved because we would Sacrifice.”
Joshua blinked long and hard. “I kind thought that. It was gonna take a few of us human-bombs to do this. We’d have to be strategically placed.”
Del nodded. “With Mack being the last. One of us go as far south as we can. The other, north. Simultaneously, you and me jump, Josh. Mack shoots the arrow toward the city and then he …”
“No!” Alex shouted. “No. No.”
Del shouted in return, “Alex, it’s the only way. We do this. You go south, cross over, head north, get Billy to the city.”
“Then
what?” Alex asked. “Huh? Spend the next seven years alone. Spend the next seven years fighting Dokes. Or waiting until I can enter the city? Spend it alone? No.”
“What do you propose, Alex?” Mack asked, hard. “Huh?”
“I go. I jump. Del takes Billy to the city.”
At that moment, Billy cried out, “No!” and clutched Alex. “No. You can’t. You have to stay with me. Maybe if you’re by yourself, maybe they’ll let you in. Maybe you’re supposed to be there all along.”
Del said, “He’s right, Alex. You’re his protector. You take him. We clear the path, like Rick did for us to get here. You’ll have no problems getting him to the gate.”
“I can’t.” Alex waved out her hand. “I can’t watch you three take a suicide leap just so I can live.”
Mack stepped to her. “It’s the only way. We made it this far, and I’ll be damned—” He stopped and his eyes widened. Mack grunted, “Uh!” He smacked his head. “I’m so stupid.”
“What?” Del asked.
“Joshua, what did you say in the dream?” Mack asked.
Joshua shrugged.
“Alex said you told her that I would know what to bring. Well, I did. I brought what I needed.” Mack laughed emotionally. “I don’t have enough explosives to blow up a million Dokes. But I certainly have enough to blow up that.” He swung and pointed to the Glen Canyon Dam.
At that second, Del tossed his fist in the air with an excited, “Yes!” then proceeded to dance.
Mack grinned. “Flood the entire region.”
Joshua looked confused. “I don’t get it. Drown them?”
Mack clarified, “Dokes are killed by water. We could never figure out why. It’s not gonna wash away all the Dokes in the world. But this area … And it’ll cascade too. Roll right on down causing a domino effect with the Hoover Dam. Fourteen trillion gallons of water rushing like a tsunami.”
“Can it be done?” Joshua asked.
“Hell yeah,” Mack replied. “This dam has had its share of close calls. What I brought and a little faith … it’s done.”
Alex pointed. “What about the city. It’s in the canyon. Won’t it flood?”
“Those walls are pretty high,” Mack said. “They may get wet. But I think they’re protected in more ways than that wall.”
With a huge smile, Alex embraced Mack.
Mack felt Billy’s arms wrap around his legs, and Billy said, “No one has to die to get me there. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Mack said. “Yet.”
“When?” Del asked.
“I’ll set everything we have on that dam today,” Mack replied. “Then let them gather tonight. Tomorrow … we break that dam.” He looked down to Billy. “Then we deliver the special package.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
They gathered supplies from the town of Page. There were actually several Dokes still remaining in town.
Del and Mack went to the dam to set the explosives, using every single thing he had in the truck, while Joshua and Alex moved up the Dam Access Road to the storage house there.
It was behind the dam and would be safe when the floodwaters rushed through.
Mack had set the explosives as he did on the bridges, but on a larger scale. It had to work. The dam was not structurally as sound as projected. It had a history of leaks. Mack knew this. He was in Vegas during one of the scares.
Just after six in the morning when the sun began to light the sky, they saw that more Dokes had arrived.
Mack told everyone the winds of the rushing water would be strong and to stay back.
It was a dramatic unfolding.
A countdown.
Del held one control, Mack the other.
They were in position to detonate and watch, while staying clear.
It had to be done soon. Even though the canyons were high, the Dokes were piling up, using each other as a ladder, and hands began to reach for the dirt.
If they didn’t blow the dam, they’d sure have to make a run for it and think of something else.
Mack wasn’t even sure they’d escape if the Dokes made it to the east side.
He gave a look to Del. “Ready?”
“Ready?”
“Three, two, one … Now.”
They both pressed at the same time.
Eight explosions rang out. They blasted loudly and echoed throughout the canyons. The explosions were visible and lit up the dam.
Any second, Mack thought. Any second …
Nothing.
The dam didn’t budge.
Only a trickle of water emerged.
“No!” Mack blasted. “How did it not work?”
“Mack,” Del said. “We have to go. We have to back up. We’ll travel east, get more explosives—”
“No, this has to be done.” Mack looked over at Alex. Her head lowered in the failure of the plan.
“What else is there? What choice? You wanna jump in?” Del asked. “It’s that, or try again. Eventually this thing is just gonna give.”
“Yeah, it will. But will it give before the Dokes completely take over this area? No. Today is the day. It has to be done today.”
“We didn’t have enough,” Del argued. “If we just had a bigger blast, maybe. And another … one.”
Mack stepped back.
“Mack what are you doing?”
“Ending this.” He raced over to the Humvee.
Del followed.
“Mack?” Alex questioned.
Mack opened the back door and grabbed the crossbow.
“Are you nuts?” Del asked. “That’s for the Dokes.”
“Really, because I was never told it was specifically for the Dokes. I was told it was used to kill them.”
“You have to get in front of the dam to do it. You know …”
“I know.” Mack nodded. “I’ll be fine.” His eyes shifted to Billy. “Watch her.” And then he turned.
“Mack!” Alex screamed, and ran to him. “Stop.”
“Get back, Alex.”
“Mack!”
“Del!” Mack yelled out, pointing as he walked backwards. “Grab her.”
Alex started to run, but Del did as instructed and grabbed her. Holding her back. She fought him, but he wasn’t letting go.
He’s not doing this, please, he’s not doing this, she thought. And then she watched Mack run to the edge of the bridge. Her head dropped.
There was damage to the dam—Mack saw it. But it wasn’t enough to break the dam. The wind from the lake pelted him and Mack supposed it would only get worse.
He loaded the crossbow with the final arrow and lifted it. He aimed center.
There was a peaceful moment, the sound of the Dokes began to fade, and Mack paused.
He was there, right in front of the dam. After he released the arrow, he’d try to make a run for it. But he knew.
Finger on the trigger, Mack focused.
“Please,” he said out loud. “We’re right here. One … more … break. Give us one more break. Please.”
He pressed the trigger.
The arrow sailed.
Alex never saw the arrow release, she was too far away. There wasn’t an explosion sound, more like a soft boom—that filled the air seconds before the dam was encompassed by the blue pulse. Her eyes stayed on Mack, her arm on Billy.
A moment later, the rushing sound of water was so loud she swore her eardrums would break. It hurt, but she kept her eyes on Mack.
It took everything she had to keep her footing. Del took Billy from her arms and Alex slid forward. The force of the water caused a wind that carried her. A suction.
Joshua grabbed her. He held firm, pulling her back.
Despite it all, her eyes stayed on Mack.
He didn’t run.
He merely lowered the crossbow—mission accomplished—and turned to look her way. Something about that moment told her, he knew. He was ready.
The wall of water gushed out from the broken dam. It w
as huge and powerful, it didn’t hit Mack—it rolled over and consumed him.
Alex didn’t scream, she just watched the water roll with a vengeance.
Mack was nowhere to be seen.
Swept away, like every Doke in the region.
He disappeared like Rick, Nicole, and Fr. Owens.
Mack made his Sacrifice.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
It took nearly a day’s journey to get around the flooded area. There was enough of Flagstaff not submerged, that they were able to get more fuel.
Del drove.
Alex said nothing. She was quiet and stared out the window the entire time.
He didn’t need to ask why. Del knew. Alex was looking for Mack. Like her, he hoped to see him, covered in mud, walking.
But they didn’t.
They saw nothing but mud. No Dokes. No Mack.
When they arrived at the city, he saw the look on her face. The gates of the city opened as soon as they pulled up, as if they were expecting them. An older man stood there.
Joshua got out of the vehicle, and Del was about to, until he saw Alex face Billy.
“I feel like I’m home,” Billy said. “This is where I’m supposed to be.”
“Good.” Alex laid her hand on his face. “Let’s do this.” She kissed him gently and opened her door.
Del got out and walked around, waiting on her. He’d walk Billy to the gate with her.
They had to look the worse for wear, Del felt it.
The old man smiled and held out his hand to Billy—Billy took it. The man then looked at Del, Alex, and Joshua. “Thank you.”
“Are they here?” Del asked.
“Who?” the man replied.
“Our friends. Did they come here, after they Sacrificed?”
“No.” The man shook his head. “I’m sorry. No one has come.”
Del inhaled heavily and tossed back his head. “I was hoping.”
“I have been told,” the man said. “That you three are welcome into the city.”
Billy spun to Alex. “You don’t have to leave. You can stay with me.”
