Earth's Survivors SE 2

Foreword

It is deep winter as I write this and ready this book for publication. When I began the first book in this series I lost my Uncle to Cancer, a man who meant a great deal to me. As I completed the Fourth book a few years later and sent it off for editing, I lost my Aunt to Cancer as well. Then I lost a friend, and another, and I began to wonder if life would just continue to take for a while. It didn't, it stopped, but it made me know it was there waiting. And not just for me.

I think it's good that life gives us those little wake ups on occasion. Those little reminders that we better get our asses in gear because the time really is passing, and all of those things we said we wanted to do are not done yet. So I got my priorities straighter still.

For the last month it has been all about writing for me, because writing is what I have wanted to do for as long as I could remember. I had all of this material just and it wasn't going anywhere. So I finished Billy Jingo, a novel that I really like. I finished another OutRunner book and I have begun work on the second Dreamer's Worlds book, another book I really like. More is planned. It put me back in my comfort zone, writing, instead of outside of that place where I have been for many months while taking care of things in the world that required my attention.

Sometimes you have to do that, and I did, but you also have to recognize when that time is gone, finished, and pick yourself up and get back to the stuff that keeps you sane. This is it for me.

SE 2 is the third and fourth Earth's Survivors books combined. It is also a character bibliography, trivia and a few other bonus items. It is also cheaper to purchase this book than it is to buy the two books separately.

A fan asked for this and that is why I did it early last year. The trouble was editing. I had a different editor at that time and so the SE version wound up being different from the other two. Not dramatically, but enough so that it bugged me. So it sat for a while. I picked it up shortly after the fourth Earth's Survivors book was released and decided that since I am doing it I may as well do an SE 2 book that consists of books Three and Four at the same time. It only made sense.

So, here you go. It is late winter now, and you should have this by late spring. Enjoy. And, whatever it is that keeps you sane, gives you a reason to get up every day and not kick the dog, or cat, or leave your wife, husband, home. Feed it. I do it by writing, maybe you do it by reading, and maybe this can take you away for a little while...

Geo Dell: May 26th 2015

Earth's Survivor's: The Nation

ONE

April 9th

New Jersey: Adam and Cammy

The factory was silent as they approached it, but at first it didn't register for Adam. His mind was on Cammy and her silence. She had awakened silent and she had said little.

He had stepped into a browned smear of blood, and printed his boot track across the concrete entryway before it dawned on him that something wasn't right. His boot made an odd sucking sound as it came up from the concrete, a sound like tape pulling away from skin, something like that, he thought, and the sound caused him to look down.

The tarps that covered the entryway moved in a short gust of wind and the smell of death and corruption came to him. The coppery smell of blood. Thick, nauseating. He had back tracked a hundred feet in what seemed like seconds, coming to stop next to one of the trucks, leaning against the fender, his breath ragged and rushed.

Cammy... Cammy. Adam raised his eyes to the front seat of the pickup truck, and then across the open bed. Empty. His eyes shot back to the bed. Wet, pink puddles. A familiar smell he didn't have time to place. It didn't matter though, the cab was empty, safety for Cammy while he figured out what had happened. He levered the door open and Cammy jumped willingly inside with no resistance.

Honey... Listen... Cammy... If you can't see me, don't open the door... Don't open it... Stay in there. She nodded, her eyes frightened.

He wore a pair of 9 mm guns with over-sized clips. He had taken them from a dead man a few weeks back and replaced the heavier .45's he carried with them. That man had been shot through the head. He had wondered about that, but not for long. There were a lot of ways to get dead in this world, he didn't need to think about that, it was a fact. Whatever this man had done had been bad enough that another living being had decided to end his life. Or maybe he had been just another guy trying to survive and some bad men had found him. He doubted that though. They would have taken the guns had that been the case. What really bothered him was the way he began to work the explanation over in his head. No thought for the body that lay in the street. The violence no longer seemed to bother him. How long before he too was just another statistic? Or and anti statistic? One of the ones who simply shot first and never bothered to ask questions? He didn't know the answer. And although that should have bothered him as well it didn't.

The ammunition had been getting harder to find for the .45, but the 9 mm stuff was everywhere it seemed. He supposed some day that would run out too, but for now it was plentiful and he did not relish running out of ammunition. He took both guns out, flicked off the safeties and walked slowly to the factory entrance.

The stench was nearly overpowering as he toed the canvas aside and stepped partly inside. The fire was out, and with the windows boarded up there was little light to see by. Even so he could see the remains of two bodies that lay close by the entrance way. He stood for what seemed like minutes looking down at the bodies, but there was no way to know who they had been.

A woman rolled over near the cold fireplace. Her face heavy and resolute. Mucus from her eyes coated her cheeks, her neck was black and swollen. Her mouth opened to scream and Adam lowered one gun and shot her between the eyes, brain splattered to the floor behind her and she lost her animation, sagging slowly back down to the floor.

The sound of the gunshot woke up someone else in the farther reaches of the factory. Whispers and muttering, feet scurrying, boots clomping against concrete. Adam stepped back and let the curtain of canvas fall back in place. A second later he was back at the truck where he had left Cammy. She reached over and unlocked the door, Adam ripped the door open, glancing at the ignition as he did. No keys.

He shut the door and ran for the other truck. The keys dangled from the ignition through the glass. He turned and raced around the edge of the first truck and yanked the door open. A second later he had pulled Cammy out when she had seemed to be hesitating, looking toward the factory.

But... Adam, Maddy...., Adam, she said as he propelled her toward the other truck.

He pushed her into the other truck. Cammy... Nothing is alive in there. They're dead already... Cammy don't leave... Give me a few seconds... Stay put," Adam told her.

There was no movement of the canvas cover, Adam saw. He had been watching it from the corner of one eye, expecting it to move and those inside to come rushing out into the sunlight. Maybe there were only a few. Maybe they were too sick, afraid, but he was taking nothing for granted.

The woman he had shot had the sickness. He had seen it only a few times lately, but he knew it for what it was, some other form of death. No doctors meant no medicines, so even if it could be treated there was no way to treat it. He had found a few victims dead in the streets. Left there. No one wanted to touch them for fear of catching whatever they had. And he had seen a few in the last stages of the sickness wandering drunkenly, stumbling along the sidewalks and alleyways randomly. Seeming drunk, unaware of where they were. There were whispers that it had started in the park and worked its way out from there. Maybe, but as far as Adam was concerned it didn't matter where it started only that had, and that it could and would kill them if they caught it.

He walked back to the first truck. A few seconds under the dashboard and he had ripped away the ignition wires. He twisted two of the wires together, for the circuit that needed constant power, and then touched the other wire to same hot wire for a moment. The starter spun, caught and then the motor began to turn over. A second later it coughed to life. He dropped it into drive and then backed it around until it lined up with the factory doors about eighty feet away.

He had kept his eyes on the factory entrance. Nothing. He watched for a few seconds longer. The canvas moved again and a rifle barrel slipped from inside, a flash of eyes in the dark, and then the canvas drape fell closed once more. Adam walked down along the pickup bed to the gas cap door. He opened the door, spun the cap from the tank, and the fumes rushed up to meet him. He had no idea how much was in the tank, but they filled them at every chance, so it should be close to full. He let the cap fall from his hand as he drew his pocket knife, snapped it open, and then leaned back inside the cab. A second late he was slicing through the seat cover, cutting long foam backed pieces from it. He took four of the longest pieces, wound them together and then walked back to the tank.

He studied it for a moment, pushed some wound up rag down into the tank, but he knew that wasn't going to cut it. He returned to the cab and came back a few seconds later with a tire iron. He hooked the cloth with it and shoved it down into the tank. Once nearly all of it was in, he slowly pulled it out. It came out soaked with gas after the first few feet. He turned it around and stuffed the dry end back down into the tank. A second later he bent and drove his knife into the gas tank where it rested below the body panel for the pickup box. Gas began to splatter to the ground as he withdrew the knife.

He stood, looked over the factory entrance once more and then picked up the gas soaked end of the cloth he had wound together where it had pooled onto the blacktop. The puddle of gas was growing quickly, rolling toward the factory. He probably could depend on that alone to get the job done, but he hated to leave things to chance. He reached into his pocket, liberated his lighter: Spun the wheel and lit it, then dropped the shift lever into drive. In one quick movement he lit the tail of the cloth and then dropped it into the gas that was spreading across the blacktop. The truck lurched as he quickly stepped back, and then crept slowly across the cracked pavement at idle, dragging a trail of fire as it went.

The cloth had set the pooled gas on fire and it raced just behind the truck as it rolled across the lot. The fire ate its way upward on the cloth, reaching for the tank opening at the same time. The truck slammed into the entrance way, seemed to hang up for a second, and then broke through partway into the interior. Adam caught just a glimpse of shadows scattering from the heat and flame before the gas tank blew up. By then he was in the other truck, passing by the front of the factory as he sped away. He could see the flames running into the factory. A few blocks away he had turned back and seen black smoke creeping from the roof. A few miles later the flames had been shooting through the old roof, another fire in a city full of fires.

April 10th

It was three hours before dawn. Everyone, except Katie, Aaron and Jake were up and gathered in the factory. The three of them were still at their posts, but Conner had talked to them earlier. They knew what this conversation would be about. Conner had also spoken to James, and James and Jake had spent part of the night finishing the work on the remaining four trucks, three pickups, one other Suburban. Now everyone was waiting quietly for Conner to speak.

We’ve decided what to do. When I say we, I mean all of us. I’ve been around and talked to everyone. I listened to every idea that came at me. I know you look to me to lead, and I do, but this is not a decision I could make on my own. It affects all of us too much.

If you noticed that Katie, Aaron and Jake weren’t here, be assured I got their feedback and opinions, and it weighed into the decision. Here’s what we’ve decided to do...

They listened while Conner spoke, and when he was finished there were no questions. Conner had thought there might be. There were also no dissenters... at least no vocal dissenters, if anyone thought it was a bad idea they kept it to themselves.

Alright then, Conner concluded. Let’s go get them.

Everyone had a job to do, and they got to it. They talked to one another in subdued tones as they did.

Overheard on C.B. Channel Eighteen

They’re moving, the first voice said.

Check… uh…Check, The second voice said.

Looks like… Two Jimmies or Chevy Suburbans… Two people in each one… Looks like they’re heading back out… Back out Washington Street… … Lost them, they… …Shit… Okay… Okay, got them… That’s four; two pickups coming as well. Okay… That’s me… Six will pick them up in a little…

Uh, yeah, good… Anything yet, Six? Look like they’re up to anything?

Still waitin’, Six replied.

Um hmm… …

... Six... Yeah, um, okay this is Six... Two and two... Nope. Looks like they’re going out to the dealerships… Maybe... I don’t see nothin’ funny… Looks legit.

Yeah. I read you, but two and two and another two and two… So eight… Eight out of thirty, thirty five? What kind of sense does that make? Does it make any kinda sense?

Naw. It don’t… Maybe, though, they just want more a them batteries…?

Okay… Eight? … Eight?

Yeah… I hear them, but I don’t see them yet.

Okay Eight… Just let me know. Uh… Keep advised.

…a few minutes later…

Uh base this’s Eight… Just passed me… Blew by the boat place and went right up the hill… We ain’t got nobody out there.

I know that… Don’t matter. Just watch for them to come back…

Uh base this’s one.

Yeah, one?

Holy shit this’s good… Go to channel ten… They’re talking on channel Ten, Base.

Overheard on C.B. Channel Ten

Well… Just keep your eyes open while you’re going, James said. Those guys could be anywhere, anywhere at all.

Got you… Listen… You care what kind of trucks we get? Conner Asked.

He said he don’t care. Just pickups. Trucks is trucks. Those Suburbans are too hard to handle bringing stuff back…. What ever runs, I guess, James said.

Got you, Conner Agreed.

Overheard on C.B. Channel Eighteen

Okay… Okay, good One, good… You guys watch for them to come back… Sounds like they’re just swapping out trucks. I could see where those bigger Suburbans could be a pain in the ass, I suppose… Let me know when they’re on the way back again… I’ll monitor them here too… Base out.

One, got you.

Six standing by.

Base clicked once to acknowledge both.

Overheard on the VHF Band Radio

Okay, Conner said, We’re here … We’ll be coming back at you in about a half hour with two pickups… Is everything okay back there?

Seen nothing at all, James said. Like there’s nothing going on.

That’s a good thing, Conner said. I’m standing by… Switching to the hand held.

Okay, James said. I’m here when you need me.

~

Conner pulled the trucks off the pavement and headed towards the tree line about three hundred yards behind the dealership they had chosen. There were many game trails, snow mobile trails and off road tracks that cut through the woods at random. Some of them were well used off road trails that had been established for years.

He found a trail that would be easy to locate again from the dealerships rear lot, and nosed the Suburban down the trail, and out of easy sight from the tree line. He drove about a quarter mile down the trail and pulled the suburban off to one side. The second Suburban coasted to a stop behind him and shut down. Nell, Amy and Molly climbed out of the Suburbans along with Conner.

Let’s go, Conner said as he started back down the trail at a trot. We’ve got to find two more Suburbans and then two more pickups. And we can’t take too long, they’ll get suspicious.

The others fell in behind him as he made his way back down the trail to the dealership.

Finding two pickup trucks was easy; finding two more white suburbans was not so easy. They settled for a white one and a light gray one. Conner and Amy pulled the two trucks to the rear of the lot, side by side; took the keys they had located inside the dealership and tossed them into the nearby field. If anyone came checking, it would look like the two suburban’s they had driven out from the factory and abandoned. Conner paused, took one of the hand held VHF radios from his belt and keyed the mic. Button. Ninety-nine, he called.

Dustin’s voice came back. We’re fine, he said.

Hang tight, Conner told him.

Okay, Dustin answered.

Conner re-clasped the radio to his belt and he and Amy hurried over to the pickup trucks where they idled waiting for them. A few minutes later they were making their way back down the hill into Old Towne.

~

The posts observed the trucks on their way back into Old Towne. The groups in the pickups were unable to hear them on the way back, but Conner heard from James who was keeping track of the conversations concerning them from the front seat of one of the pickup trucks parked outside of the factory.

There were no problems, and they pulled back past the two truck blockade and onto the front asphalt area that fronted the factory and shut down the newly acquired pickup trucks. Conner walked over to James.

And then there were seven, Conner said and smiled.

And then there were seven, James Agreed.

Twenty five minutes later, the remaining suburban rolled off the end of Old River Road. Conner jumped out and moved the trucks that blocked the road aside. He drove through, parked at the end of the road and pulled the two trucks nose to nose once more, blocking the road. Conner pulled away from the mouth of the road and headed into the square, around the traffic circle with its cracked and missing pavement, and headed out of the square onto Washington Street.

Overheard on C.B. Channel Eighteen

Uh, Base…?

Go.

Uh, Base. They’re at it again… And they’re talking again too… You copy?

Yeah… I got it… We’re listening… Stand by One… You also Six.

One clear, One said. I mean standing by…

Six standing by, Six said.

Overheard on C.B. radio Channel Ten

… Okay… One more new pickup coming up, Conner said.

Okay. Everything back here is good… Nothing going on, James said.

All the lookouts too? Conner asked.

Quiet, James repeated. We’ve seen nothing all day.

Okay… I’m heading out Washington… I’ll be standing by.

Four, James said.

Overheard on C.B. Channel Eighteen

You North side boys there? Base asked.

You know we are, a voice replied.

It’s business as usual for them, looks like, Base told them.

You been watching them?

Yeah… They’re just swapping trucks… Something easier to get around in, Base answered.

Yeah?

Yeah. Suburbans or Jimmies… Ditching them for pickup trucks. Earlier four went out, four came back. This time two went… Two will come back.

So… Tomorrow?

Tomorrow, Base affirmed.

~

Conner keyed the mic. button on his VHF unit. Okay. We’re here. He said. Give me a little time to find something that’s not all smashed to hell and back, he said.

James keyed his own mic. Got you… everything’s good back here.

Over heard on C.B. Channel Ten

Okay… Got a good one… We’re going to head back, but we’re going to cut cross country… Come back Massey Street or maybe Coffeen. See how everything is there. Might be something out that way we can use, Conner said.

… Okay… Base standing by.

… A few minutes later…

One check in, James called.

One here… Nothing… All clear, Katie said.

Two? James asked.

Two clear… Dead here, Aaron said.

Three check in.

All clear here too. Has been all day, Jake said.

Base standing by, James said.

… About a half hour later …

Coming in the back door, Base, Conner said.

Be careful of that section; it’s not stable, James warned.

Already past it… At the front door, Conner called.

Base standing by.

Silence on C.B. Channel ten...

Overheard on C.B. Channel Eighteen

They’re back, One called.

Good… What’s all that coming in the back way shit? … Had me worried, Base said.

Well, they’re back, One repeated.

You see them? Base asked.

Of course not… We ain’t got nobody where they went… But… You heard them same as we did… Right?

Right… Right… Just called their posts again… Little while back. … Listen… Keep your eyes and ears open, okay? … You heard… We’re taking them in the morning… I was just concerned they’d be out getting more weapons, people, something, but they’re just gonna sit there and wait for us I guess.

Well… Maybe they think they can get away with what they did to us, One said.

Yeah… Well, they got a surprise coming if they think that, Base said. Come tomorrow… Anyway… You hear something you let me know… Base standing by, One.

One clear... Shit… Standing by, Base... Goddammit You know what I mean.

Base laughed. I hear you.

~

Conner sat in the suburban as it idled behind the dealership listening to the exchange on channel eighteen. When they signed off, Conner hit the power button on the hand held C.B. and turned it off. He looked over at James sitting in the passenger seat holding his own C.B.

I guess that’s that, James said. He switched his own unit off.

Okay folks. Conner turned to the back of the Suburban. "All clear. Looks like they bought it. Let’s go. We got stuff to do.

Nell, Amy, Katie and Molly popped their heads out from under a tarp in the back, climbed over the seat back and stepped down onto the parking lot.

There are three GMC's with the keys in them over on the other side of that garage. Conner pointed. Keys are under the mats... didn’t want to make it too obvious, Conner finished.

Katie and Nell stayed behind. The other three were back with the three GMC’s a few minutes later. Lining up behind Conner's own.

Conner looked around the field once, dropped his own truck into drive, rolled off the broken pavement onto the grass and dirt, and headed towards the trail hidden at the tree line. The three pickups followed behind him.

Earlier that day: The factory before sunrise

Conner looked around. Everyone was quietly waiting for him to speak.

Here’s what we’ve decided to do. They’re going to come for us… Some of you have heard that because you were listening in when they discussed it. They’ve decided they want the factory… and more… And some of us have discussed that. Conner didn’t think it bore repeating with the two children there and listening to every word that he said. And there was no place to put them where they wouldn’t hear.

This is their fight. Those two groups of men will fight it out. They each want to control this area, and us too. He paused.

The silence held in the factory until Conner began to speak once more.

So… Do we fight? It’s not our fight. It’s their fight. And we already decided we were going to leave the factory in just a week or two anyway, so there’s nothing to fight for. I can’t see any of us getting hurt… Or worse… And all for something we don’t even want… Didn’t ask for.

The heads started to nod.

We can’t surrender though, and we can’t give up, that’s equally stupid. They’ll hunt us down and kill us… Most of us... He deliberately didn’t look at anyone, but focused on the hanging tarps at the entrance to the factory for a few moments.

So we decided to be as sneaky with them as they’ve tried to be with us. Everything we need is pretty easy to get on the road. Believe it or not, almost all of you in here right now are going in these two suburban’s... Hidden in the back… under tarps of course. We’ll pack some stuff in with you. It’ll be tight, but we’ll be able to do it. We're going to drive out Washington Street and make it look like were going to trade these two Suburbans in. What we’ll really do is run you all out one of those trails where you’ll wait for us to finish setting them up. Aaron and Jake know about the trails and where you’ll be waiting for us. We’ll leave you there and get two other trucks. Then we’re going to do it one more time. While you wait on us, we’ll go back and get the ones we left behind at the factory…

He looked around at the factory. We’ll leave this place empty… We’ll, empty of people. Oh we’ll pull the trucks back across the road. Make it look like we’re still here, but we’ll be heading for you. Conner paused.

Lilly, Sandy, you two drive the Suburbans. Dustin, You’ll let them know when it’s clear. When James calls for Ninety-Nine, that’s you. Just answer and go. Conner waited. Each of the three nodded.

Well. That’s the plan. Maybe it seems too simple… Maybe it seems like running. Hell, maybe it even is, but it’s what we got. By the time they wise up, we’ll be long gone… Safe, Conner finished.

Where do we drive to? Lilly asked.

That trail you’ll be on just runs through the back woods, Conner said. It comes out by the state highway. Hunters use it, maybe kids. We have no idea what shape the trail is in or the highway. We’ll have to wing it. We don’t know if there’s anyone out that way either. Keep the F.M. and the C.B. on as well as the VHF. We’ll be about two hours behind you. Wait for us in the woods at the end of the trail.

Present Time

Conner came into a small clearing about an hour later. The two suburbans sat waiting. Everyone gathered around. There were pats on the back, hugs, and more than a few kisses.

The C.B.’s and the F.M.’s had remained silent. They had left their own VHF units silent as well; although Conner was convinced that if they had been listening on the VHF channels they would have attacked them already. It wouldn’t have been hard to figure out that they were up to something, if only due to the fact that they were talking on the VHF systems. Everyone split up between the trucks. They had bottled water, food supplies, but they would have to pick up other things as they went along. They had not been able to pack anywhere near as much into the trucks as they had wanted to. They would head for the Pennsylvania border and hope to pick up some of what they needed there before they moved on to somewhere further along where they would spend their first night. They pulled back out onto the road and drove, putting miles between themselves and whoever might be following them.

They passed fields full of cows, deer, horses. All unconcerned about the state of the world. So many animals, so few people, Conner thought as he stared out into the world passing the windows.

Looks like we’ve adapted ourselves right out of existence, he said half to himself. The thought had seemed kind of small, but spoken out loud it had become frightening... huge. He turned to look at Aaron, but Aaron only nodded, concentrating on driving. He turned back to the window.

Aaron looked over from his driving, but Conner was staring out the window as it slipped past the glass. He turned back to the broken road before him.

We’ll be down for the night soon... On the road to where ever tomorrow, he said aloud as he watched the moon begin to rise in the sky above him.

TWO

April 15th

Watertown, New York

Mike

Mike sat on his front steps and quietly stared over Linden street. It had changed for the worse. More than a dozen small quakes had hit over the last few days since they had been back. The houses were leaning more, including his own. Last night they had received some skip coming out of Manhattan. For twenty minutes they had been in whatever pocket that had been there and they had talked back and forth like they were right next door. There were no more illusions. The people he had talked to had come cross country, all the way from LA. There was nothing left. It was all gone. There was no help on the way. The Army was not on the way to put things right.

Hey, Candace from beside him. He had been slipping deeper into thought again.

You were drifting away, She said, as if she had read his thoughts.

She did that a lot lately, caught him, or he drifted a lot lately, maybe both. I was... I was thinking about all of it. I think we should go to New York, wherever they are, outside the city. They sounded legit, He raised his eyes to hers.

As legit as anything in this world, she shrugged. She looked around the street that really wasn't a street any longer. Can't stay here... I know you know that.

I know... I think safety, if there is anything like safety any longer, is going to be in numbers. And we don't have enough numbers. We're too few. He looked at her and waited for her acknowledging nod.

We can be there in a few days. If they are where they say they are, Candace added.

Do you think they aren't? Did you feel something? He looked unsure.

No... I felt they were straight with us, and I felt their offer to join with them was straight too.

Anybody join this conversation? Ronnie asked as he walked out of the house and sat down next to Mike. Mike Laughed.

Join in. We were talking about New York. Those people last night, Candace said.

Ah. It's a nobrainer though, isn't it? Ronnie asked.

We think so, Mike agreed. His face was pensive.

Got concerns? Ronnie asked.

Same old stuff. Really it's all about whether they're real or not, Mike said.

Ronnie nodded. I think they are I don't see the percentage in luring us down there if they're just fakes. We'll come armed and ready for bullshit, they have to know that. Ronnie seemed to consider. I just don't see it. I think they're the real deal. I've been thinking about it too, he sighed.

Candace raised her eyebrows.

The finality of it all. I mean the fact that from here to the other side of the continent the world's done up, Ronnie said after a lengthy pause.

Mike nodded. Hard to wrap your head around, I get it. It's the same for me. That's what we were just talking about. So, Mike brushed his hands against his, jeans and then stood from the step. He flexed his leg. Stiff but pain free. It needed exercise to work it out. I guess we should go get a truck and get moving.

Candace and Ronnie stood with him. Where you think for a decent truck? Ronnie asked.

Probably check out on the strip. There are a few custom shops out there, about a dozen car dealerships and a few truck dealerships. I'd like to find something setup for off road. Save us some time screwing around... Probably save road time too.

And they aren't staying there much longer. It will help us when we move on with them, Candace added.

Makes sense, Ronnie agreed.

Or strike out on our own, Mike said.

South? Ronnie asked.

Mike nodded. They said the land went into the sea.

They said there was land in the distance though, Candace said at the same time as Mike. It got into my head... Well, that's not exactly true. It's like I dreamed about it before they said it. Like I knew it would be, he shrugged. I know, spooky.

Not really. I mean the world is gone. All the things you count on. Maybe now there is survival... Some sense that kicks in and guides you, Candace said.

Now that's spooky, Ronnie said. They all laughed uneasily.

Still, Candace said. She let her argument drift away unstated.

Mike reached over and retrieved his rifle from where it rested against the porch post. He slung it over his shoulder and shrugged once to make it comfortable. We, he stared into the open doorway into the house and then stopped. We don't need anything here. We were running low all the way around, about time to resupply. He took two quick steps to the door, tugged at the handle and began to close it. He stopped with the door still partway open and laughed uneasily. Guess it doesn't matter anymore, he said. Candace smiled, a small, sad smile and she shrugged and turned away.

Not really, Ronnie agreed.

Mike released the door handle, turned and stepped down off the porch. He turned and looked at the house once they were a few hundred feet away. He walked backwards, taking it in. It looked ready to collapse. It was leaning, the foundation cracked and crumbled in places. He turned and caught up to Candace and Ronnie. He didn't look back again.

Project Bluechip:

Watertown NY: Subterranean Military base.

Commanding: Major Richard Weston

Richard Pierce leaned back as Major Weston leaned in close to his monitor.

So they're leaving, he said.

I think so, Pierce agreed. We lost them a few times. We don't have everything covered up there, so I can't say they aren't up to something, but my best guess is that they don't have a clue about us. They're on their way out... I could take it a little further.

Major Richard Weston looked at him. How so?

Pierce reached forward and rifled through a small stack of messages beside his computer. Came from your Intel guys... Communications He paused to find his place in the message. Yeah... Seems they talked via CB to someone outside of Manhattan yesterday... Your guys thought they would probably head that way. Seems likely that's what is going on now. They have a truck, they're making the rounds... Foodstuffs... Camping gear, weapons and ammunition, he shrugged and looked up at Weston.

Weston nodded. Keep an eye on it. Pierce nodded as Weston walked away.

Watertown Center

Mike and Candace

I say we're good, Mike said, He looked over the back of the truck. Nothing left, but to... He stopped as Candace suddenly went rigid beside him. Her pistol came up fast and a split second later he found he had shrugged his rifle from his shoulder and into his hands. Ronnie already had his rifle off safety and aimed. Mike turned and followed his aim to where a woman walked slowly down the street toward them.

No closer, Candace called out.

I'm not armed... I'm not dangerous, The woman said. I need some help. Some help to get out of this place... Please. She stopped reluctantly and looked back and forth from the rifles to Candace's pistol. She wore a long denim shirt that hung over her jeans to mid thigh. She lifted it to show she had no weapons belted under it and then dropped it again.

She had a British accent. At times in her speech it sounded more pronounced, at others hardly there, as though she were trying to suppress it, Mike thought.

Just need a lift out. She spread her hands out flat, palms up. Nothing else. I have been stuck here from the first, it's complicated, but I got away from some people that had me. She seemed to consider the three of them. Maybe you have got no room to spare? She looked from one to the other.

Mike spoke. We have room, it isn't a question of that. It's a question of whether we'll accept you to fill that place. He lowered his rifle and motioned her forward. Ronnie? Make sure she isn't armed. Ronnie nodded, lowered his rifle, re-slung it, and started forward. A second later he was patting her down. His hand found the inside of her thigh and started up.

There's a piece there, she said quietly. Ronnie's hand stopped suddenly, just below where the shirt overhung from her waist. He felt her tremble. It's small... I've been scared. Just something for safety.

But you said you had nothing, Ronnie said as his eyes held her own.

What's up? Candace called.

Got a piece in her... I guess, her panties, Ronnie raised his hand and carefully felt the small gun. Candace was at his side when he looked up. Really small, he said and shrugged. Candace passed him her pistol. Keep it on her.

Candace reached forward and freed the buttons that held the fly of her pants. She reached in and came out with a small .22 pocket pistol. She looked it over.

Five shot... .22 Mags, the woman said.

Candace looked up. I can see that. So why didn't you say something? Or maybe, why did you say something? This is small enough to stay concealed."

Your mate was on his way up. She shrugged. Look. I'm alone. I had to have something. This town may look dead, but it's far from dead. I'm just looking for a way out. The road. Leave this place. It's been... It's been bad. her eyes seemed to cloud at the end. Mind? It's a bit cold. she looked down at her open fly.

Go ahead, Candace said. She buttoned the fly back and then took a deep breath. So?

So, What's your name, Candace asked.

Pearl... You?

Candace... Mike, Ronnie, she nodded to each with her head. I guess she's okay, she told Ronnie. Ronnie lowered the gun and then handed it back to Candace a second later.

We're headed for the city, Mike told her.

Syracuse? Pearl asked.

No... When people say city around here they usually mean New York... Manhattan, Mike said quietly. Why should we make room for you, Pearl. Especially since you didn't want to tell us about this gun? He had taken the pistol from Candace and was turning it over in his hand. It was very small and didn't seem capable of doing much harm.

It will kill you well enough, Pearl said as if reading his thoughts. It's a bad world. You need another shooter. Who knows what you're going to run into between here and there. She paused and then nodded at the pistol. You can see I'm resourceful. She met Mike's eyes when they swung suddenly up to her own. I'm not dangerous unless someone is tying to hurt me, she finished quietly.

Mike raised his eyes to Candace and Ronnie. They both nodded. He looked back at her. Guess you're in, Pearl, he told her. He tossed the gun and she caught it in one hand.

I like it, but here, Candace said retrieving a rifle from the back of the truck. She tossed it to her lightly.

Zero to sixty? Pearl asked as she looked over the rifle.

Candace pulled a clip from a pouch at her side. She frowned. Guess so, she said as she tossed the clip to Pearl. I guess so. Pearl socketed the clip home as she nodded.

Okay, Mike said. Looks like we need another truck.

Candace nodded and they all piled into the truck. Mike turned it around and started back out to the strip.

~

Richard pierce watched the two trucks pick their way around the wrecked pavement. Lately he had found himself wondering what the outside smelled like? Was it sterile the way the air here smelled? Slightly burned? Something like that. It had a constant smell of hot steel. He really didn't notice it unless he concentrated on it.

He had watched the three become four. So Pearl had made her way out. He could only hope she would remember what he had done for her. How he had cut her loose. Anyone else in this place would come unglued to find out he had not only let someone go, but that the natural containment of the project, encased over a mile deep in stone was now breached. He had let her out through the air ducting. It had taken two days of looking over the schematics to be sure that there was a way out and where it was, but he had found it and sent her on her way. She had found her way out, and that could only mean that project Bluechip was not a secure facility any longer. Air was being exchanged with the outside. Air sucked in from that same ducting, directly through the opening she had cut into the duct work, and then drawn in to their clean air supply. So, he thought now, why does it still smell like hot metal? He had no answer, except, maybe it took time. Maybe the small amount of air was not so noticeable. No matter, he knew it had been breached, he knew the truth.

Of course they would know. He had very little time, maybe only minutes before she was discovered missing. He felt cowardly about the way he had worked it out. He had sent her first, she had made it and so he knew it was safe for him to go. He had no intention of going along with the ones she had found though, He had his own plans, His own ideas, He had waited a long time to get out of here and he had, had a long time to think about what he wanted to do once he was out: Where he wanted to go. He punched up a camera view in one of the tunnels. The hole was obvious immediately. Ragged sheet steel curled away from the side of the pipe. So she had done it. She hadn't found some other way, she had done exactly what she was supposed to do. The duct was breached. All he had to do was go.

He leaned forward and punched a series of numbers and letters into his keypad. Hiding it with the forward movement of his body. A second later the system switched over to a camera loop that it had released no more than a few minutes before, and once more the tunnel looked untouched: The duct piping solid and whole once more. He stood from his console and stretched.

Christ,' he complained loudly, as he fisted his hands and worked at his eyes. This shit is about to put me to sleep, Graham."

Graham looked up and smiled. Not you. Usually you're a bear for this shit.

Yeah, yeah, but not today. Not enough sleep. I'm going to the cafeteria... Get some of that shit that passes for coffee, Pierce told him.

Yeah, but what if Weston comes around? Graham asked. He seemed alarmed, Pierce thought, and well he should be. There was no leaving the monitor station during a shift.

Cover for me... Tell him I had to use the can, Pierce told him quietly. When he looked doubtful Pierce added, Come on, man, I'd do it for you, Graham. You know I would.

Yeah. I know. He looked around the room quickly. Okay... Just not too long, okay?

Not too long, Pierce agreed. He clapped Graham on the back as he walked past him. Not too long at all, buddy.

THREE

April18th

Conner and Katie

On The Road

The camp was up before dawn, tents packed away and breakfast and coffee taken quietly together around the low embers of the camp fires. The breakfast didn't consist of much more than the coffee and a few energy bars, but it suited their purpose well enough. The Dog, who still had no name, was going person to person and begging little tidbits even after his own breakfast of canned meat.

As the sun was touching the horizon, the small caravan of six vehicles were once again winding their way southward, leaving the roads where they were impassable and taking to the fields.

The two Suburbans that had been fitted with lifts and bigger tires had no problem with the on and off road transitions. It was tougher for the other four vehicles.

They monitored the radios as they drove along. Bits and pieces of conversation and skip came through the static. Sometimes clear, sometimes garbled and barely intelligible, but there were no conversations they could follow. Conner had never been a C.B. Radio fan, but James had been and he explained skip to everyone.

Skip could be two thousand miles away, or only a hundred. It was a signal that hit the atmosphere just right, or cloud cover, or a mountain range, and carried farther than it normally would have. You might talk to someone a thousand miles away as clearly as though they were no more than a mile down the road. And you might have that conversation for ten minutes or two hours and then suddenly they were gone because those atmospheric conditions that had allowed the conversation had changed.

Early on, Conner had thought about Ham radio. You could reach around the world with Ham radio. But James had explained that Ham radio accomplished that with relays. All the people that did the relays were most likely gone, at least for now. Maybe they would be back eventually, but they had heard nothing but a soft electric hiss cutting across the miles the two times they had tried the bands, and no one had answered their calls.

The F.M. Band had also remained dead. It seemed all the traffic was on the C.B. Channels. The V.H.F. Bands, normally used for Marine conversations, were empty too. But that offered a secure option for them to talk without being overheard. As they drove through the morning now, they talked back and forth on the V.H.F. Band, monitoring the C.B. and the F.M. Bands.

~

They filled their tanks two hours after dawn at a collapsed gas station next to the interstate. A length of rubber hose connected to a hand operated Kerosene pump made the job quick. The only hard part had been locating the underground tank. The cover had been found though, the cap spun off, and the odor of gasoline drifted up into the air telling them that the underground tank had not been ruptured.

The little area that serviced the interstate contained a large garage, two small Mom-and-Pop stores, the gas station and a chain auto parts store right next to the garage, probably built with the garage in mind.

On the other side of the asphalt parking lot sat a motel unit that had seen better days. Most of the units were flattened. The swimming pool was cracked and empty; wire mesh and what looked to be a bottomless void graced the middle of the rust stained pool. A second row of motel units running parallel to the pool looked to be untouched. Across the road were two name brand outlet stores, obviously placed to take advantage of the interstate. They had pulled the trucks onto the cracked pavement of the gas station, and after they had finished gassing up the trucks, Conner had gathered everyone together.

James and Jake came back from checking out the garage and the auto parts store just after the trucks were gassed up. James nodded his head at Conner.

You noticed James and Jake looking over the garage, Conner said. We're thinking of stopping here. We'd probably end up here for a few days while James and Jake work on the other four trucks. And we need a few other things: tail gate swing outs that can hold a spare tire, gas can too, roof racks to carry gear, lifts, better, bigger tires... In short, the things we had intended to do back in Old Towne. He looked around, trying to catch the eyes of each person individually.

You can see how much easier it is for the two Suburbans to get around wrecks, buckled roads, down in to and out of ditches. It just makes sense to give the other four trucks that ability, otherwise they'll just be slowing us down. You saw a little of that this morning.

Makes sense, Janna Adams agreed.

Molly nodded. My only concern is, are those... she paused and her face reddened, People, she managed after a long pause, coming after us? Her eyes were dark and questioning. Conner could read the fear in her posture.

I doubt it, Katie said. She spoke quietly but forcefully.

We'll listen in on the radios, Nellie added.

They won't come. In the city they knew how to get around... Out here, Amy waved her arms around, finally lifting them to the sky. They wouldn't know what to do. Couldn't sneak up on us. She shook her head. I just don't think they're the kind that want to deal with even odds.

Katie nodded in agreement. You know, Molly. Spineless, right?

Molly nodded and Conner watched the fear leave her and something closer to determination replace it. She nodded her agreement once more, looking directly at Katie as she did.

Conner cleared his throat and continued. The reason we traveled on was to put some miles between us and them. It's a long way for them to come. I don't see it, Conner said. He let the silent nods continue for a moment and then continued.

There are other things we can do, things we need. Canned goods, maybe one of those cows, or a deer. They seem to be wandering everywhere. There really is enough to keep all of us busy for the next few days while James and Jake get the truck situation straightened out. He paused but no one spoke. So... If there are no real objections?

Let's do it, Molly said.

Yeah, I'm for it, Amy added.

~

As Conner turned away, Amy, Katie, Molly and Nell began to set up a plan for monitoring the radios. Everyone agreed that they would probably hear about anything coming their way long before it reached them. Molly went over to the garage a few minutes later and pitched in, helping James and Jake drag whatever was in the way out-of-the-way so that they could reach the racks and garage bays. There were two tow trucks that they used to do most of the work, but chains and muscle power accomplished the rest.

In the end, they cleared out three stalls that they could work in. Molly stayed, and not long after Nell found her way over and began to work side by side with her.

The garage was a prefab steel building that, either because of a whim of the Gods' or its design, had remained standing. By the time some others were returning with a cow and two large does in the back of one of the pickup trucks, the garage was ready to go. Molly and Jake wheeled out a towering chain-fall for the hunting party to use to dress out the animals and then went back to work.

~

By late afternoon the third Suburban was well under way. The lift was done, brush-guards installed and they were working on the carrying racks. Conner and Aaron stopped by to look over the effort and were amazed. The Suburban looked like something that had rolled out of some sort of Safari outfitters garage, or a futuristic end of the world epic, Conner joked. But that sent them all into silence for a few moments, and Conner didn't mention it again.

Molly and Nell were working on bolting a huge winch to the front bumper of one truck while Jake and James worked on stripping out one of the pickups to get it ready for a lift kit.

Dustin and Allison had made their way to the garage and then found themselves drafted and made part of the work crew. Allison was in the third stall laying out the parts they would need for the lift on the pickup truck while Dustin worked at mounting the oversize tires to new, larger rims, using a pair of heavy iron bars and his body weight to accomplish the work. He and Allison joked back and forth as they worked.

They were using small twelve volt air compressors to inflate the tires after they had them mounted. They both seemed to be enjoying themselves, Conner thought, and they seemed happy to be in each other's company.

Outside, near the far end of the garage, the chain-fall had been set up, and a group led by Janna Adams, which included Sandy and Susan, were hoisting a large cow up into the air.

Conner, Janna said as he and Aaron passed by on their way out of the Garage.

Conner paused.

We would like to smoke most of this meat... If we're going to be here a few days, I thought...

Conner nodded. Yeah. Might as well, Jan. We have the time, He assured her, And, it'll help to have the meat with us, who knows what's ahead. He shrugged.

Janna Adams smiled, turned away, and Conner stood watching as the huge cow began to lift into the air from the back of the pickup truck before he and Aaron turned and walked away.

A few minutes later, the two of them fell in with Katie and Amy who were sifting through what the chain stores had to offer in the way of clothing, canned goods and whatever else they came across that they could find a use for. They passed by Lilly who had taken over the toy department, blocked off one aisle, and was keeping Brian and Janelle busy. She smiled and waved as they passed. Janelle waved back. Her dark eyes finally looking rested and happy.

Brian had built himself the biggest Lincoln Log village that Conner had ever seen and was now busy populating it with dozens of green, plastic Army Men. Conner smiled and Brian took the time out of his game to smile back at he and Aaron. He held a large plastic Tyrannosaurus Rex in one hand which seemed to Conner about to wreak havoc on the village and its population of Army Men.

A half dozen trips with Katie and Amy, and late afternoon turned into early evening. Fires were burning to smoke the meat. Two large roasts were spitted over a huge fire pit made of field stone. A stew was bubbling in a pot that had been suspended over the flames. Nearly everyone had found a reason to stop by the area Janna Adams had set aside for cooking, most arriving just as she had been about to send some others out looking for everyone to round them up for dinner. The Dog was running around in circles, happily racing from person to person, tail wagging crazily. The smell of roasting meat hung heavy in the still, cool air.

~Early Evening~

Everyone sat close together at several wooden picnic tables that Janna had drafted a few volunteers to bring over from the collapsed section of the motel. They had sat in a small clearing not far from the building, untouched, while everything around them had been leveled.

The temperature was in the low forties, but with the early evening sun still shining, it felt much warmer.

Conner sat next to Katie, Aaron on his other side. Across the table, Molly sat with Nell. They were both laughing, involved in conversation with each other. It was the happiest that Conner had seen Nell or Molly.

Canned potatoes, fresh beef and venison, a stew that held a little of everything in it and a steaming platter of peas dominated the table center. Everyone had heaped up their plates. Too long eating thrown together meals or energy bars had left them hungry for real food.

Their basic protein needs had been met, but there was nothing like real food to make you... Happy, Conner decided. He looked around the table at all the smiling faces. It was actually a mood elevator, he decided.

What's on your mind, Baby? Katie asked. Her eyes smiled, but her mouth wore a question he had come to know was more serious than her smile insinuated.

He bent forward and kissed her, making the smile on her face spread wider still. I was thinking how happy everyone looked. He turned his head and let his eyes sweep the tables once more, then turned back to Katie whose eyes and face now wore another look he was becoming familiar with. He bent forward and kissed her once more. I'm pretty sure I love you, He told her.

She laughed, Pretty sure! She slapped his arm with one hand. You better be more than pretty sure, Mister.

Conner laughed and kissed her again. Positive, he said. I'd be lost without you. His eyes turned serious. That's the truth, His voice dropped to a near whisper as he leaned even closer. I love you so much that I don't have words for it. I only know it's real. I only know I need you. He kissed her