Wormwood Dawn (Episode IX) (6 page)

But this comet had killed much more than two thirds of the population. And those that remained… well, they weren’t really the same as they were before.

“Reboot,” Drew said to himself.

There was a rustling nearby, and the three of them froze, crouching among the weeds. The rustling continued, followed by a pitiful moan that was all too familiar. Jake stood, looking through the brush. He then stepped forward and parted the curtain of vines that hung from the ceiling.

There, tangled up in a knot of vines and roots, was a corpse. It struggled to break free, slobbering and gargling as it strained against the thick fibers. Pieces of its skin were torn away, and several places had been rubbed down to the bone.

“Fuck,” Drew said. “I wonder how long this poor fucker has been like that.”

“Who gives a shit?” Jake said, drawing his machete and splitting the thing’s skull. “Problem solved.”

Drew gave the corpse a quick look as they passed. He was wearing an employee shirt, with a name tag that read, “Carey”.

“Employee of the month,” he said.

“Man,” Eric said, stopping. “This is useless.”

He pulled the walkie-talkie out and clicked it on. “Max, you there?” he said.

After a moment, Max answered.
“Yeah?”

“I don’t remember where the inverters were.”

“You can’t follow the signs? They should be in the electrical section with the solar panels.”

“Well, there’s a problem with that. The whole town is overgrown like a jungle. It looks like thirty years of growth.”

There was a moment of silence, then,
“Interesting. Give me a second.”

“He must be telling Grace,” Eric said.

“What the hell is she gonna do?” Jake asked. “I bet she’ll want a sample or something. Bitches love samples.”

Drew chuckled. “Stellar.”

“Grace wants to know if you can take some samples.”

Eric grinned. Jake shook his head.

“Samples of what?”

“Anything that doesn’t look native.”

“Are you kidding me? Everything looks alien.”

“Eric, from my understanding, you are a skilled gardener. That means you know plants.”

“It means I know garden plants. I don’t anything about trees or bushes or viney things.”

“I’m quite positive the three of you together can determine whether a species is native or not.”

“Smart ass,” Jake mumbled under his breath.

“We’ll do what we can,” Eric said. “No guarantees.”

“I would expect no more or no less.”

Eric clicked off the walkie and stuffed it back in his belt.

“Well,” he said. “That could have been more productive. What do you guys think?”

“That was like talking to a robot,” Jake said.

The three of them stood, looking around at the existing piles of vine-covered items. Some things were still visible; racks of tools, metal displays, and even one sign hanging by a single chain. Though smudged and covered in dirt and grime, one word—DRAINAGE—was still visible.

“That doesn’t help much,” Eric said.

“It might,” Drew replied. “I remember the electrical was nearby.”

He looked around a bit, thinking he remembered their destination was somewhat to the left and a few rows back.

“Let’s check out this direction,” he said, turning back to encourage the other two to follow.

Eric and Jake were frozen in place. A half dozen armed men were behind them in a semi-circle. Drew’s heart jumped. The men parted, and another stepped forward from behind them. He was a tall, slim black man with long dreadlocks and a wide, shit-eating grin. He raised his revolver, cocking the hammer back as he held it up to Eric’s head.

“Don’t fuckin’ move,” he hissed.

“I’m sorry about all of this,” Dan said as he helped Bill load up his trailer.

“That’s alright, Dan,” Bill said. “We figured something like this would happen sooner or later. It’s all about survival now. People do what they have to do.”

“I never figured Mike was one of
those
people. He seemed like an alright guy when I met him.”

“Well, people change over time. When that change is because of… this, things can go sour and turn a decent man into a criminal.”

“Daddy,” Linda said, lugging another pack from the house. “That’s the last of everything.”

Bill leaned up against the truck, lighting his pipe. “I hate to have to leave,” he said. “Are you sure this’ll be alright with the rest of your group.”

Dan nodded. “Yeah. The more the merrier. Besides, we’re pretty secure. We’ve got plenty of weapons and ammo, and some good people.”

“Is there any place to grow crops there?” Linda asked.

“Yeah,” Dan said. “Eric knows about growing, and he’s set up a plot for vegetables and such. It’s just a matter of getting more seeds and manpower. Or woman power, whatever the case may be.”

Linda tossed the pack in the bed of the truck, checking the trailer hitch to make sure everything was connected. Bill went around to the driver’s side and slid in the seat.

“Shotgun,” Linda said, smiling.

Dan got in the back of the extended cab, laying Bill’s rifle across his lap. As Bill started the truck, he could see the sadness on the man’s face. Linda glanced back at the farm, her face also saddened and forlorn. Dan felt bad for both of them. He knew exactly what it was like to lose a home. He had felt the same way when Gephardt had destroyed his. He remembered watching it burn to the ground before the psycho had “rescued” him from the attack.

He felt a tightness in his throat just thinking about it.

“Head to the highway and turn right,” Dan said. “Look for the big cell tower on the right and that’s the road. It shouldn’t take more than a half hour.”

Max sipped his instant coffee as he fiddled with the monitors. One of them, attached to the tower camera, had begun its rapid descent into a fading piece of shit. The screen was becoming dull, indicating that one of the internal lamps was failing. Frustrated, he slapped the top of it, hoping the tiny gesture would convince the thing to keep on going for a little while longer.

“Come on,” he said. “Stupid piece of Chinese shit.”

Toby laughed, and Max shot him a grumbling look. “We need another one,” Max said. “Bring me the walkie-talkie so I can tell the guys.”

Toby got up and fetched the radio, bringing it back with a grin. “Tell them to bring me some more bullets.”

Max hit the key. “Eric, you there?”

There was static. No answer.

“Eric. Come in.”

More static. No answer.

“Damn it,” Max cursed, setting the radio on the coffee table.

There was a crackle, as if someone had hit the key on the other end, but only silence. Max looked at it, picked it up, and waited.

“Hi there,”
a deep voice said.

Max looked at Toby, whose mouth fell open. Max hit the key. “Hello? To whom am I speaking?”

“What’s your name?”

Max gulped. “Max,” he said. “To whom am I speaking?”

“Hi Max. My name is Seth.”

“Hello Seth,” Max said, his voice wavering. “May I speak to Eric, please?”

There was silence, then,
“Eric is… indisposed at the moment. May I speak to your leader?”

Max looked at Toby. “Get Cliff,” he said. Then, into the radio, “Our leader isn’t here at the moment. May I ask why you have the radio?”

“I’ll tell your leader when he comes back. Dan, right?”

“Um, Dan isn’t here at the moment as I said. But you can talk to Cliff.”

“Very well. Cliff it is.”

Toby returned with Cliff, who was still in pain but coherent. Max handed him the radio. “Something’s wrong,” he said.

Cliff took the radio, hitting the key. “This is Cliff. Who is this?”

“As I told your friend, my name is Seth.”

“What can I do for you, Seth?”

“I have your friends here, Cliff. If you want to see them again, you’re going to do exactly what I say. Do you understand?”

“What is this about?”

“Let’s just say that we have a little bone to pick with Dan. He did something really, really bad. My brother will not be pleased.”

Cliff furrowed his brow, looking at Max. Max shrugged.

“Who is your brother?” Cliff asked.

“My brother’s name is Enoch.”

Cliff nodded. “Seth and Enoch. I take it your mama was a good Christian?”

There was a laugh on the other end.
“She was, Cliff. She really was. But that’s not important. The important thing is he is going to be really upset when he finds out what Dan did.”

So Dan was still alive. That was good. Max was glad.

“What did Dan do?” Cliff asked.

“Well, Cliff, Dan killed a friend of ours named Russell. Russell was a good man.”

“If Dan killed your man, there was probably a good reason for it.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, killing Russell was a bad idea. He was one of our… diplomats, so to speak. Though nobody really gives a shit about him personally, it’s the thought that counts, right?”

“I suppose so. What do you want, Seth?”

“As I said, you’re going to do exactly what I say, or I will put a hole in each of these mother fuckers’ heads one by one. I’ll start with the big dude, then the less big dude, then the slimy little maggot with the glasses.”

“I’m listening.”

“Good. We’re going to make a swap. We will take these three gentlemen to a compound located just outside Columbus. It’s an old tech building along 450W just a block east of State Route 65. You will bring us all of your weapons and ammo, medicine, and any canned goods you have. Do that, and we’ll let them go. Refuse, and I kill all three of them personally. Do you understand?”

Cliff’s face darkened as he looked at Max. The others had come in to listen, and they all looked at each other in terror.

“Jesus Christ, man,” Travis said. “What are we gonna do?”

“I don’t think we have any choice,” Cliff said. “But they don’t know how many weapons we have. Unless they’ve been watching.”

“I would suggest going along with the plan,” Max said. “We can always gather more supplies.”

“Bullshit,” Gena said. “I say we strap up and hunt those pendejos down. If they’re in this area, we’ll never be free of them. They’ll always demand more from us.”

Max was slightly afraid of Gena’s expression. He had never seen her this angry. Her brownish skin was red, and her eyes were on fire.

“She has a point.”

“I’m waiting.”
Seth said.

Cliff sighed, hitting the key again. “It’s a deal,” he said. “What time?”

“You have until sundown to get your shit ready. We’ll keep your boys entertained until then. But once the clock strikes nine, these bitches are mine.”

“Oh good he’s a fuckin’ poet,” Travis said. “That’s great, man. Fuckin’ great.”

“Alright,” Cliff said, rubbing his stump. “Let’s get strapped and get our boys back. We’ll show up a little early and scope the place out.”

“I know exactly where it is,” Toni said.

Cliff sighed, shaking his head. Max knew what was coming.

“Not all of us can go,” Cliff said. “Obviously Toby, Max, and Travis can’t go. Grace, it’s up to you if you wanna go.”

“Why is it obvious I can’t go?” Travis said.

“I need you to stay with Max and Toby,” Cliff said. “You know how to shoot, and we need you anyway. You’re the only doctor we have.”

Grace cleared her throat.

“Medical doctor,” Cliff clarified.

“It’s okay,” Grace said. “I’ll stay, too. I don’t think I would be of much use, anyway.” She looked at Gena. “You just be careful, okay?”

“I didn’t join the Army to be careful, Grace.”

Max noticed a little bit of sadness in Grace’s eyes. Was there something there? “You guys will be lucky to have her,” he said. “She has the experience. And Grace, she’ll be back.”

Though Grace nodded, Max knew she was worried. He was too. Not only for Gena, but for everyone else. He had only survived this long because of Cliff, and with the edition of everyone else, he was well-protected. He suddenly felt useless.

“If there’s anything I can do, please let me know. I want to help.”

“We’ll keep in contact with you,” Cliff said. “If we think there’s danger, we’ll let you know, and you can get everyone to the RV. Whatever guns we don’t take, load them up and make sure the RV is still hidden well. We may have to make a break for it if things go south. Understand?”

“Yes sir,” Max said. “Come on, Toby. Let’s get some supplies loaded up.”

Toby gave him a salute, and the two left the others behind. Max knew they would bring Eric, Jake, and Drew back. He had faith in them. The only thing he worried about was whether Cliff would be able to get through it with half an arm. The man was a machine, though, not even taking any painkillers for it. Once the morphine wore off, he had refused any meds other than antibiotics.

Cliff was a beast. He only hoped Cliff was enough of a beast to keep them all safe.

“Well now,” Seth said as looked at the three captives. “It looks like they’re coming to get you.”

Drew glared at the man, feeling his hatred build. Though Seth hadn’t yet done anything, his threats were real, and his face showed that he was a man of his word. Jake seemed to sense it, too, as he had that stance that told everyone around him he was pissed. He showed no fear, but Drew could tell that inside, Jake was not only fuming, but just as scared as he was. Eric, on the other hand, was simply silent, hanging his head down.

“Before we load you up in our van,” Seth continued. “I want to make some things clear.”

He walked back and forth in front of them, looking down at them as they knelt, hands tied behind them.

“My brother is not as kind-hearted and lenient as I am. If you get a chance to meet Enoch, just know that it will likely be the only time. So let’s hope your friends do as they’re told.” He knelt down in front of Drew, pulling his face up to his own. “Otherwise, you’ll be meeting him real quick.”

The feel of Seth’s hand on his chin made Drew’s blood boil. He glared back unblinking as Seth stared him down. A smile slowly spread across Seth’s face, showing his gold tooth. He smelled of cocoa butter and Vaseline, and his breath was foul and shitty.

“What’s your name, cracka?”

Drew kept his mouth shut and his eyes on the man. Seth reared back and punched him hard. The impact knocked Drew backward and jarred his neck, but he recovered, even more pissed off when he realized his glasses had been knocked from his face.

“I said
what’s your name?
” Seth repeated.

“Drew,” Eric said. Drew shot him a look.

Seth laughed, standing up and going to Eric. “Do you speak for Drew?” he asked. “Are you his brother?”

“Yes,” Eric replied, looking up at Seth. “We’re all brothers in our group.”

Seth pursed his lips, seeming to nod his approval. “I can respect that,” he said. “Yeah. I respect that a lot. I like you. I take it you’re Eric?”

“Yes,” he replied.

Seth turned to Jake, who didn’t even bother to wait for the question.

“Jake,” he said flatly. “As if it matters.”

Seth chuckled. “Oh it matters,” he said. “I like to know the names of my enemies. Don’t you?”

“It doesn’t make any difference to me,” Jake said. “They all die either way.”

Jake grinned, and Seth’s own grin faded.

“Right,” he said. “We’ll see. We’ll see.”

Seth turned to his companions. “Load ‘em up,” he said. “Let’s get them to the base and wait for the others.”

He turned back to the men as his cronies fetched them and dragged them to their feet. “I hope you enjoy the ride,” he said. “Depending on how things work out, it may be your last.”

Dan knew something was wrong as soon as Bill turned the last corner leading to the camp. Max and Toby were carrying duffle bags toward the dirt path that led down into the gully. He had no idea where they were going, but Toby set down his pack as soon as Dan stepped out.

“Dan!” he shouted, running toward him with a smile. “You’re back!”

Dan patted Toby on the head, nodding at Max as soon as he walked up. “What’s going on?”

Max sighed, shaking his head and glancing at Bill and Linda as they got out of the truck. “Drew, Eric, and Jake are in trouble. Everyone who is able is going to get them.”

“What do you mean?”

“Cliff will explain,” Max said. “We have to load up the RV.”