The Crash Box Set, page 29
part #1 of EMP Crash Series
Patrols were sent out to repair relationships with families in the area, including Willie’s. After hearing that Mack was in the community, he and Margaret came for a visit and Mack was delighted to see them both. Margaret flung her arms around Luis, and the two of them went off together. That made Grace a little jealous, as ever since the farm she had felt as though she and Luis had been getting closer. So she tried ignoring that the two of them were going off to a private place together.
Willie was happy to see the community was growing and was happy to negotiate a trade deal. He and Mack spent some time catching up. The farm still was going strong, and Willie said they all were welcome to drop by anytime they liked. Although Mack mentioned they probably would be moving on soon.
“If I was in your position I wouldn't ever leave this place. You know there aren't going to be many places like this out there,” he said.
“I know,” Mack replied, “but maybe that's why I have to be out there.”
The visit was all too brief, and Margaret was in tears as she walked back to the wagon with her father. Luis was stoic as well. Even in this new world, some things, such as love and relationships, were still the same.
As everything seemed to be in good hands Mack knew he wasn't needed any longer. He wanted to get back out on the road, back on the path to his wife. He gathered most of the people for another address.
“I'm sure these little speeches aren't going to be something you miss, but I'm going to miss you all, and I'm going to miss this place a lot. We've been through a lot together, and that's not something anyone can take away. I know that no matter where I am I'll always be thinking of you and hoping that you're going from strength to strength.
“Ever since my plane crashed and I've had to adjust to this new world, I've been trying to wrestle with the way to act and what it means to be human when we're faced with so much danger every day. It's too easy to give into fear and doubt, but you people and this place are the proof of why we must keep going. You're an example of the best side of humanity. I hope you can stay safe, and I know you're going to build something amazing together. I wish I could stay to be a part of it, but there's someone out there I have to find. Hopefully, someday our paths will cross again.”
His words were met with a round of applause. He went over to Grace, Luis, and Saul. “I guess we're here again, and again you have a choice to make,” he said.
“I won't blame any of you if you want to stay. In fact, I'll be a little jealous.”
“I'm going wherever you go,” Grace said quickly.
“I've never stayed in one place for too long, and my brother might still be out there somewhere. Plus, I feel like I've got a few things I need to make up to you people...” Saul said.
“I've come with you this far, and the whole reason I was out here in the first place is because I wanted to see the country. Looks like you're stuck with us, Mack,” Luis said.
“Damn, I was hoping this place finally would get rid of you,” Mack joked, beaming.
After being loaded up with a generous amount of supplies and weapons, as well as a horse upon which they could load their packs, they bid an emotional farewell to their new friends and began the long walk back to the city. As they left the camp Mack pulled out the dog-eared, tattered photograph of his wife and ran his thumb along her face. Then, his eyes faced forward as they walked off.
Chapter 1
It had been about a day since Mack's group had left the settlement. They had left it in good shape and the people in the camp were recovering well after Mr. Smith's tyranny. The freedom they were enjoying was a great relief to Mack, in particular, who had seen in this group the hope that he wanted to see throughout the world. There was a chance that humanity could survive the apocalypse and it warmed his heart to know that deep down there were still good people, and that tyrants like Mr. Smith always would be overthrown. However, he also knew that out there in the world there would be other people like Mr. Smith, and that it would require the good people to stand up and fight against those who would seek to take advantage of everyone else.
There had been a large memorial service to pay respects to those who had lost their lives in the battle, and when Mack and the others left the camp, there was still a solemn air, not only among the people in the camp but also within his own group. Saul and Grace had been involved in the final altercation with Mr. Smith, in which the deposed leader had escaped with his life, albeit with a wounded leg. Mack hadn't been present, but judging by the body language displayed by both Saul and Grace, something significant had happened. Mack had to admit he was surprised that Mr. Smith made it out alive, as he had presumed Saul would have killed him.
Luis, too, was looking subdued, and Mack had a feeling this had to do with his last conversation with Margaret, which had left the farmer's daughter running away in tears. Although they hadn't spoken about it yet, Mack felt sympathy for the young man. Relationships were tricky things, even when the world was in its prime, but moving along as they were would make it difficult for anyone to form a lasting, deep connection. It reminded Mack of his own wife, who he hoped was somewhere out there, still surviving.
The more days that went by, the less likely it seemed he ever would lay eyes upon her again, but there was a deep drive in his heart to do anything he could to make it back to her. Aside from staying alive, it was the one thing that gave him purpose. He knew all too well how important it was for somebody to feel as though they had a purpose in the world. In his career, he had met many people who had turned to violence and madness because they had seen no future for themselves. In this world, where every system they had built for themselves had crumbled, it would be easy for people to feel lost and without hope. Some, such as Mr. Smith, would see it as an opportunity to indulge their darker impulses. Others, such as Grace, would lament the loss of the world with which they were familiar.
As the group moved farther away from the camp they spoke little and enjoyed the peace and quiet that came from the forest. Time was beginning to have little meaning for them, and it was difficult to track the number of days that had passed, but they were aware of how much they had lost from Mr. Smith taking them back to his camp. They had made it to the road leading to the city, and then had been taken back all the way into the forest. Now they were forced to walk the path again. While they had been well-supplied by the camp, Mack and the others had refused the offer of bikes. He knew the camp members needed them more than they did and, by now, the four of them were used to walking. All of them were on guard as they were aware of what dangers the forest held within its bosom. Yet, after spending so much time in one place and feeling as though they had accomplished something by driving Mr. Smith away from his throne, optimism ran through their hearts. That was a strange feeling after the world had changed.
After walking for most of the day they found a small copse where they chose to set up camp. The trees had thinned in this area and created a cozy, mossy place for them to rest. One by one, they sighed with relief as they set down their heavy packs.
“You know, I'm glad they gave us so much stuff, but man is it tough on my back,” Grace said, bending her body this way and that to try and ease the aching of her muscles.
“Yeah, but don't forget what you were like when we first started walking in these woods. You barely could last two hours before you had to rest and now you can walk most of the day with that thing on your back,” Mack pointed out.
“I'm a new woman,” Grace said with a smile.
They relaxed for a little while and enjoyed the feeling of the summer sun beaming down on them. In these moments, it was easy to forget the world had ended and everything had been plunged into chaos. The world was still and there were barely any sounds other than a balmy breeze slipping through the trees, but always their ears were pricked up for the sounds of anyone new, in case they be friend or foe. Soon enough it was time to set up their shelters. They had some rudimentary poles and tarps that the people at the camp had been kind enough to give to them, which was a much better way than sleeping under the stars, as they had done before. Mack used his military training to swiftly build the shelter. Luis and Saul were used to living off the land as well, and they were adept at it. The only one who struggled was Grace, and her efforts to hide it did not succeed. Mack ended up going over to help her.
“This reminds me of the first time I went on survival training way back when I just had enlisted,” Mack said as he held a pole in place and fastened the tarp around the top of it.
“It was just a group of six of us, with nothing but a few days' worth of rations, small tents, and our wits. We had to last for two weeks, and at the beginning of it I was so scared. Up until then I thought I was such a big deal and could handle anything, but that was the first time I was properly away from home and I felt so alone. The world seemed so big and there was one guy who couldn't stop going on about everything that could kill us.” He shook his head and laughed.
“On that first night, we were useless. Only one of the tents managed to stay standing. The rest of us had to get up in the middle of the night and fix ours, and in that place the temperature dropped dramatically. So we all were there with our trembling hands, trying to hold the flashlights in place so we could see what we were doing. God, on that night I never thought we'd make it through the two weeks, and I was seriously reconsidering my life choices.”
“What happened?” Luis asked.
Mack shrugged. “We eventually got used to it. The hardest thing was getting used to each other. Being stuck alone with people for so long can take its toll, and you can get cabin fever, even if you're not in a cabin. Of course, that was a different situation then, as we weren't trying to survive. We always knew we were being monitored, so if anything really bad did happen we would have been pulled out of there. Still, the same principles hold true, practice makes perfect and it's important not to get annoyed at yourself. After all, we do have all the time in the world,” he said, smiling at Grace, who didn't look convinced.
“That depends on what else still is waiting for us,” she replied.
“At least we know there still are good people in the world, and hopefully we'll encounter them more frequently than people like Mr. Smith,” Mack said.
He noticed Saul winced at the mention of that name, but Mack didn't follow up the comment. After they had erected the shelters they congratulated each other on building their home for the night. The sun was beginning to dip lower, so they decided to build a fire. Now that they knew there were no bad people in the area (Mr. Smith seemed to have a monopoly on that) they felt safer at lighting something that could have given away their position. For the time being they were well-stocked with matches, and in the forest, there was an abundance of wood. So it didn't take them long to build a substantial fire. Soon enough the embers had spread to become a glowing blaze, full of vibrant, orange life that crackled and warmed the surrounding air. They pulled out some food they had been given from the camp and ate, watching the fire as though it was a television.
“So, do you think we really will make it to the city this time?” Luis asked.
“I think I'm done with trying to plan for the future. We're going to have to take each day as it comes. When Mack and I stepped out of that plane wreck, I never would have predicted half the stuff that has happened to us, and I'm not about to try guessing what's in store,” Grace said.
“Let's just hope we don't get captured again just before we're about to leave the forest. I don't know about you guys, but I'm about ready for a change of scenery. This forest is starting to lose its appeal,” Luis said with a smile, intending it to be a lighthearted comment. However, Saul instantly snapped at him.
“I know I screwed up, but you don't have to keep reminding me at every opportunity,” he said. Luis glanced awkwardly at the others.
“I didn't mean...” he said.
“What's wrong, Saul?” Mack asked.
“I know what you're all thinking,” Saul said, “that I should have killed him, and that I shouldn't have let him get away after what he did.”
“None of us are thinking that,” Mack said in a calm tone, although he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Grace was squirming. “It must have been difficult for you. He was your brother, after all.”
“Yes, but after everything he'd done...it's not like we can tell the police about him,” Saul said, looking down at his feet, away from the heat of the fire, wringing his hands.
“No, but we can't be judge, jury, and executioner either. Nobody should feel the weight of that burden. We only can try being the best people we can be, and act according to our own conscience,” Mack said.
“But it was only because of me that we were there. I got us captured in the first place, and I should have ended it. I should have ended him.”
“You can't blame yourself, Saul,” Grace said.
“You made a choice in the moment, and it's for us to judge whether it was right or wrong, but I think we all can agree that we should stop letting him annoy us. The best thing to do is forget about him and move on.” Mack and Luis nodded in agreement and, for the time being Saul, seemed settled, although Mack had a feeling the cloud would hang over him for a while longer.
Saul was a difficult one to work out, and Mack hadn't had the opportunity to have a decent conversation with him yet. Mack had decided Saul was one of those people who had been trodden on by the world, and kept his cards close to his chest. Although in this post-apocalyptic state people needed to trust each other to survive, old habits were difficult to break and, though the group had been through a lot together already, it still would take time for Saul to feel completely comfortable.
As the group was settling down they went into their separate tents and spent some time apart, at least as much as they could when they were tied to each other by the mutual need to survive. Grace closed her eyes and tried forgetting about the feelings she was struggling with. She honestly had wanted to kill Mr. Smith before Saul stopped her, even though she always had considered herself a good person, and good people didn't kill. Of course, she had broken the law before, but that had been for a greater good, for a bigger purpose that she had believed in, along with the other members of her hacking co-operative. And yet, this new world required her to change, to transform herself into someone who needed to survive. The adjustment of having to learn to talk to people and rely on them, rather than setting herself in front a computer screen, was difficult. She still was coming to terms with her new role in the world. She just was glad Mack had been with her when this all started, or else she didn't know how she would have ended up.
However, suddenly being alone with her thoughts wasn't as desirable as it had been in her old life. Now there was no Internet to distract her. She felt isolated, and the emptiness of the silence was not calming, as she sensed it was for Mack. In that instance, she did not want to be alone, and emerged from her tent to find Luis staring into space.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked, standing beside him, looking into the vast nothingness that lay before them.
“Just things,” he sighed, and smiled weakly at her, acknowledging her presence.
When they first had met, Grace hadn't thought much of Luis, but over time she had grown to appreciate his place in their group and considered him a friend...perhaps even more. Romance was something with which she had no experience, but she felt there had been a few moments where she and Luis had shared something. Yet, at the same time, he had been involved with Margaret as well, and she wondered how he was dealing with those types of feelings.
“Were you tempted to go back with her?” she asked after a few moments of silence had passed between them.
“With who?” he said.
“Margaret, back to the farm.”
“I suppose, for a little bit, but I owe Mack and you guys have become my friends. I don't think I could stay in one place knowing that you three are out here, getting into who knows what kind of trouble,” he said, trying to remain lighthearted, but even Grace could tell it was weighing on his mind.
“That explains why she left in tears,” Grace said, and noticed that Luis flinched.
“I didn't think she'd react like that...didn't think I'd actually mean that much to anyone. Still, I'll probably never see her again, so at least there's that,” he said, but again his attempt at humor was entirely transparent. Grace offered a sympathetic smile, but having not been in his shoes before she had little in the way of wisdom to offer. Although, upon reflection, she felt that perhaps her company was enough.
“I've been thinking about it a lot,” Luis continued,” and I'm wondering if it's just too difficult to have a relationship in this new world? With all the dangers around us, and living like we are, it's hard enough to worry about yourself, let alone fall in love. And it's not as though you really can go out on dates anymore either.”
Grace was taken aback. Part of her had thought she was the reason he decided not to pursue anything with Margaret, but now it seemed that he didn't feel confident about relationships at all. Grace furrowed her brow, and decided she must have been confused about the moments they shared, and that it was just a product of the stress they had been under this whole time. With nothing more to say the two of them remained there for a while longer, watching the bleak sky before them, until Grace left without a word and returned to her tent.
They took turns at watching over the camp in case any dangerous predators came upon them during the night, but up until the wee hours of the morning everything had been calm. Mack just was relieving Saul when he smelled the air and heard a rumble in the distance. Suddenly, everything felt a little warmer and heavier. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a flash and turned to see what it was. Then another rumble, as deep as an earthquake, greeted his ears.
His heart sank and his stomach churned as he felt the rain fall upon his face. It fell like gentle teardrops at first, and then became heavier and harder, soon turning into a torrent that soaked the ground around him and made his clothes dripping wet. The rain was warm and he was glad for this since his teeth didn't chatter, but he quickly roused the others. The heavens cracked open again, and lightning split across the sky in a bright flash that lasted the fleetest of moments. Mack counted between the lightning and the thunder, worried that it wasn't too far away. In among the trees they were vulnerable to been struck by lightning, and even if they were near a hospital they wouldn't have been guaranteed survival.
