Barren Fields (14 page)

“Well, if Jeremiah had listened to me, we wouldn’t be missing any people. You did hear me explain to him why no one could go, right?”

“I did,” he says while nodding. “I just panicked and thought the worst. Jessica reassured me and calmed me down.”

“You’ve been through a lot, Greg. Far more than any of us have had to deal with, so I understand where your concern comes from. I’m glad you didn’t ask me last night, though. I wouldn’t have let you go after dark either.”

“Eddie, this is a touching conversation and all,” Isaac cuts in. “But I have four missing men out there I need to get back.”

“Your men are dead, Isaac,” I say plainly and without emotion. “This won’t be a rescue mission. It will be a recovery, so if you want to go somewhere and pray for the dead, I want to spend some more time speaking with the living.”

Turning back to Greg, I say, “There are too many people here now. I don’t like it either, but this is the start of a new society and I have to do my part. Please take one of the HAM radios and whatever battery setup you need to run it. I don’t expect you to tell us where you’re going but would like you to check in now and then to let us know you are okay. Maybe we can even drop off extra supplies when you find a safe place to stay.”

I grip his hand firmly and offer a tight lipped bittersweet smile with a nod before walking away with Isaac. 

Chapter 11

Blockade

Salina Cruz, Mexico.

Keith and the others are sitting nervously in the Range Rover waiting for Thomas to return. The caravan was forced to stop at a military check point heading into Juchitán de Zaragoza and is getting instructions. Thomas is with the others. He can explain to everyone what needs to be done, where they should go, and most importantly, how they should act.

“Let’s hear the bad news first,” Frank says when Thomas walks up.

“The disease has just been detected at Tehuantepec city, only fourteen miles away. That, of course, means the infected will eventually be heading here and to the west. We will have to take side roads to reach Salina Cruz, and that will add an hour to our travel time.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes. Everything else is good news for a change,” he says smiling. “This city is clear of infection, and all of the roads are guarded like this one, but the soldiers know it is only a matter of time before the sickness gets through. We will all have to be checked for injury, and Dr. Morales is already speaking with one of the senior medical people about Joaquin and his immunity.

“They told us Salina Cruz is locked down even tighter than this place, because its ports are a means of escape if it comes to that. I think it might be difficult to find a boat, especially a sailboat, when we get there, but Senior Maldonado told me not to worry. I guess he made some arrangements.”

“Hopefully his influence to have people stay is stronger than their drive to escape out of fear,” George says.

*

The medical check looks fairly routine. Everyone must walk through a curtained off area and strip down for a complete visual inspection. The vehicles were taken to a different area, and the dump trucks are being held up outside until some special equipment can be brought over.

Standing on the other side of the inspection tents, a soldier approaches Keith and the others, and speaks rapidly to them all, to which Thomas answers:

“Now that we are finished getting dressed, he needs us to follow him back out to the dump trucks,” Thomas tells them, leading the way.

The supplies are all being unloaded. In addition to the guns the soldiers are carrying, several of them have black and yellow scanners of some type in their hands. They are being waved over and around each box as it is taken out of the trucks.

“Those are Geiger counters,” George says. “They’re checking our supplies for radioactivity.”

The soldier that brought them over says something and motions for Thomas to ask.

“They are surprised that they haven’t detected any radiation yet and are questioning your story,” Thomas tells them.

“Most of the stuff on that truck was at my house in Coatzacoalcos, so it wouldn’t have been exposed. The items I would be concerned about were on my boat, but those were secured below deck in the cabin and shouldn’t have had much exposure, if any.”

After a few more quick exchanges, the soldier calls over one of the men with a Geiger counter to scan the five men. Thomas makes it through with no issue, of course, as he wasn’t with them at the oil rig. He still feels a wave of relief knowing he is radiation free since he was with them when they were still
technically
radioactive.

Frank goes through next and is also beep free through the scan.

Jack isn’t as fortunate, and the counter beeps loudly at his head prompting a quick retreat by the soldier.

The soldiers with the scanners put on protective suits and return to the men to scan them once again.

With a slower circular motion, the detector beeps on Jack—around his neck and wrist.

“I feel so fucking stupid,” George says to the men while he takes his own necklace off.

“What’s going on?” Jack asks.

“Take off your watch and necklace,” George tells him. “Radioactive particles stick to metal, or interact with it somehow, keeping it radioactive much longer than other things. The Russian's had to abandon all of the equipment they used during the Chernobyl disaster clean-up because the metal was too radioactive. Keith, you’ll probably have to take off your ring.”

“What does that mean?” Jack asks in fear.

“We might have survived the radiation at the rig, but probably killed ourselves because our jewelry kept us exposed to it this whole time.” George drops to his knees in the dirt and throws his necklace on the ground in front of him.

As the Geiger counter approaches Keith’s left hand, it beeps like mad as well. He reluctantly takes off his wedding band and places it in a special box the soldiers bring over.

One more scan over Keith’s hand lets him know he is finally radiation free. The scan on Jack and George isn’t as comforting. While the radiation levels have dropped, they are still emitting some in the areas they had their jewelry. The group is advised to start taking potassium iodate again for the next eight days, although the benefit will only be for Thomas, Frank, and Keith.

“We’ve been poisoning ourselves this whole time,” George says again angrily while they are led back to Senior Maldonado’s group.

“At least we aren’t on your boat anymore,” Jack offers in sad comforting way. “Can you imagine how much radiation its metal railings and fittings are putting off? That’s probably the reason we’ve been sicker than you two. We’ve had radioactive necklaces around our heads the whole time.”

*

Keith, George, Thomas, and Senior Maldonado are sitting in the shade of a building waiting for the trucks to be reloaded with their supplies. They have been sharing stories about their backgrounds and retold the journeys of how they each met.

The back story of Maldonado wasn’t specific and mostly covered topics simply referred to as
the business
. For him, the work or criminal activity he was involved in was a means to an end, and not a life encompassing pursuit. Once he made enough money to take care of his extended family, he turned over most business dealings to his sons.

They all can tell that there is a side to Maldonado that they haven’t witnessed, and it is reflected in the eyes of everyone they meet that knows the man from the past.
It is comforting to be on the good side of a man that has so much power,
George thinks, knowing that many of the powerful people he has met in life would not be as gracious as this man has been with them.

The displayed character of Maldonado, which George is pondering about, represents itself in physical form as a helicopter flies over their heads. Landing near the roadblock staging area, several soldiers get out and are directed to come to where the men are sitting in the shade.

Thomas translates what is discussed for the pair:

“They are looking for Joaquin and his grandfather. Senior Maldonado is insisting that the boy gets taken to whatever secure location the government might have. They are assuring him the boy will be protected at all cost.”

Senior Maldonado stands up and faces the soldiers. When he does, a group of his men run over and the soldiers step back. He points his finger at them and speaks in an angry tone that Keith and George knew was lurking in the man somewhere, and are waiting to hear what he is telling these men.

“He is telling them that they have the future of humanity in their hands. When they take Joaquin with them, they must make sure they fight to the last to protect him or they will be damning their souls to Hell. He made the local captain order this helicopter to come for the boy, and they should treat him like he is the baby Jesus. If they fail to protect Joaquin, the Devil himself will have to stand behind Senior Maldonado to take out his vengeance upon these soldiers.”

Joaquin and his grandfather walk up and thank the Senior for his help and kindness, and are led by the soldiers to the helicopter. After it flies off to the south, Maldonado turns to the others and speaks to Thomas:

“I have taken many things, and many lives, when times were good. I know I won’t be able to be this kind to people when things get worse, but it pleases me to do something that may one day help people more than the harm I have caused in the past.”

*

Entry into the Salina Cruz area is following the same protocols as entry into Juchitán de Zaragoza. The only change is the absence of radiation monitors and the position of the checkpoint. They are still half a mile away from any standing buildings, and the area looks like it was recently destroyed. There are foundations of former houses alongside the road and small rubble and garbage everywhere.

As they move farther into the city past the checkpoint, a dust cloud ahead allows the men to start deciphering the mystery of the missing houses. There is a line of soldiers standing in the fields before them as far as the eye can see. They are all standing guard and facing away from the city, protecting the workers behind them.Dust clouds and dirt are billowing into the air as houses are being demolished. The debris is being scooped up into dump trucks like their own and driven farther into the city.

Squelching chatter over the radio fills them in on what is happening.

“They are building a defensive wall a mile up the road. This same construction is going on around the entire city. They are trying to get it finished before any infected make it here from Tehuantepec.”

“That’s only six miles away. They’ll never get it done,” George says.

Thomas rattles off some things into the radio and more is spoken back.

“They say the infected are drawn to sound, and they have dropped something to the north to attract them. There are soldiers in the fields outside of that city using suppressed weapons to kill infected that try to head in this direction. They are letting nothing escape from Tehuantepec.”

The vehicles drive by the wall that is being built. It is more an immense pile of rubble than a wall and can be climbed in its current state, but more will be done to it before they finish.

“Thomas, ask Senior Maldonado to stop so I can speak with him,” George says.

A moment passes and the convoy halts its progress.

“Senior, they are your dump trucks and our supplies, but I think we should unload them and let the people use the trucks for the wall.”

Thomas sends the message over the radio. More talking ensues over the line as they wait and eventually, Thomas turns to face the others.

“The army is sending over several troop transport trucks that we can transfer our supplies to. Those vehicles are useless for this construction, but the dump trucks are in desperate need. Your suggestion has just earned Senior Maldonado a favor from the local General.”

The entire city population is working in some way to fortify Salina Cruz. The houses on the outskirts were willingly abandoned in the hope that the rubble could be used to secure their safety. Salina Cruz has many resources worth protecting. Besides a naval base and air wing, there is an oil refinery which has a strategic resource significance to any long term survival scenario.

The land beyond the city is good arable land, and while it won’t be easily accessible from behind the wall, they are hoping the walled in portions can be extended over time as they push back the infected that might arrive. Until that time they can rely on the abundant fishing that the Pacific Ocean already provides the city.

The gesture of turning over the trucks is viewed as nothing less than saving the lives of the city. Senior Maldonado gave his personal thanks to George and the others for the idea while they were stopped for the transfer of supplies.

*

The caravan stops once more on the way to the coast to let a large herd of cows cross in front of them. All of the cattle from the surrounding areas have been brought into the city. A flock of sheep was witnessed cruising along a side street a few minutes earlier.

They finally reach the dock after being ushered through the main gate by the soldiers standing guard.

“We’re here,” Thomas says waking Jack up.

“I hope Senior Maldonado was able to find a sailboat for us,” George says in a skeptical tone.

Everyone looks at him.

“What? I trust the guy. He’s been more than decent this whole trip and didn’t have to take us along for the ride. He could have easily stolen our stuff if he wanted. I just don’t know what he can arrange in terms of resources during a time of war.”

The men step out and are greeted by many soldiers standing guard. Maldonado’s mother is ushered along with some of the others into a nearby building.

After a short wait, a man walks up that is obviously in charge.

“Maybe he’s the General,” George says quietly to the others.

Thomas begins translating.

“Senior Maldonado, I am General Torres. I know of your plans to get on the boat that you arranged with the supplies you have brought.” He is speaking loudly and in an almost embellished way to ensure everyone in attendance can hear him. “We are trying to prepare the city to survive a siege and have a great need for such supplies, as I’m sure you know.”

The men all look uncomfortably at each other knowing where this conversation is headed.

“We have had many individuals such as you and your group attempt to go through Salina Cruz to reach the ocean to make their escape. They showed no concern for our great country or the people of this city. You should know I have confiscated all of their supplies and the large ships in which they were planning on making their escapes. I have currently enacted a blockade on the coast, and no vessels are allowed in or out.