Quasar apocalypse an emp.., p.20
Quasar Apocalypse: An EMP Post Apocalypse Novel, page 20
“What a terrible world to grow up in,” she sighed.
“Noah will be fine,” I said. “He’s stronger than he looks. If you want, I’ll talk to him about the fight once we’re back.”
Haley nodded and gave me a look of gratitude, then stood up and walked toward the tents.
I watched her go, and a heavy sigh escaped my lips as I ran my fingers through my hair. I finished my coffee, chatted with the other adults for a bit, and kept a careful eye on the boys, especially Noah, who didn’t stir from his spot by the river until it was nearly dark.
“I brought some more firewood,” Noah said and held up the armload he’d collected.
“That’s great, Noah,” I said. “We’ll have enough for tonight and maybe even tomorrow morning.”
He nodded at my words and dropped the firewood next to the fire pit with a soft clatter before taking a seat next to me.
“You holding up okay?” I asked him.
“Yeah, I guess,” he muttered. “ It’s just... I didn’t think it would be… you know.”
“You did great back there, Noah,” I said as I placed a hand on his shoulder. “And that throw you made with the rock was perfect timing.”
“You really think so?” he asked.
“I know so,” I affirmed with a reassuring smile. “You listened, you stayed calm, and you did exactly what you needed to do. I know it wasn’t easy to watch what was happening.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “It’s not like in the movies.”
“In the movies, you always know in the back of your mind that it’s fake,” I said. “But when it’s real life, you know those punches are really going to hurt, and a gunshot wound… well, it could really kill someone.”
“That’s what was so scary,” he said. “And… I didn’t want those men to kill you or anyone else, but I was really afraid that they might see me and then they’d shoot me.”
“And yet, you overcame that fear,” I said. “You were brave, Noah, even if you don’t feel that way.”
Then Ethan tugged at his big brother’s Noah sleeve.
“Noah,” he said. “Can I have warpaint, too? I want to be brave like you.”
Chapter 15
The fire crackled in the center of our makeshift camp, and the stars sprinkled the sky above us. It seemed like the perfect time for a ritual, and after Ethan’s request, we’d decided to award all the boys a badge of honor. The boys had recited the Boy Scout Pledge, and then I had given each of them their own splash of muddy warpaint on their cheeks. The boys had been so solemn through the whole thing that it was hard not to laugh, but I’d made it through without once cracking a smile.
Once the ceremony was complete, Tori, Haley, and I searched through our meager supplies for anything we could use to create a new splint. We scrounged up pieces of wood, scraps of fabric, and even some twine from our camping gear, and then we gathered around the YouTube personality while Haley examined the ankle and then started to wrap it again.
“Look, a shooting star!” Ethan yelled as he pointed at the sky. “There, do you see it? Everyone, quick, make a wish! But don’t tell anyone what it is.”
The boy squeezed his eyes tightly closed as the rest of us looked up. A brilliant streak of light shot across the sky, and the other boys oohed and aahed at the celestial display.
“Wow! Did you see that one?” Aiden exclaimed as his finger traced the fading path of a particularly bright streak.
“And another!” Lucas squealed. “I’ve never seen so many shooting stars! This is amazing!”
“It’s a meteor shower,” I explained as I joined the boys.
“That’s really cool,” Cameron said as he bounced up and down. “I wish we could record it. I’m not sure anyone will believe me when I tell them we saw a ton of shooting stars.”
“That’s a big one,” Aiden shouted.
“That one’s blue,” Noah noted.
Haley joined us and wrapped an arm around Ethan, who was trying to keep a count of how many shooting stars he saw.
“It’s like the sky is throwing a big party or something,” Noah said.
“That’s a good way of describing it,” I laughed. “I’m not sure I could’ve come up with that.”
The meteor shower seemed to intensify the more we watched, with streaks of light crisscrossing the sky. Some were short and bright, while others seemed to reach right across the sky. The boys, still with their mud-smeared badges of honor, were completely captivated.
“Why don’t we get a closer look?” I asked as I suddenly remembered the telescope and tripod.
“Can we?” Cameron gasped.
I rushed to our camping gear and fumbled through the bags until I found the telescope and tripod.
“Here it is!” I announced.
“Hurry,” Lucas urged.
“Uh,” I said as I studied it in the firelight. “It looks like it has a few battle scars from Wes wielding it like a samurai.”
“Oh, shit,” Wesley gasped. “Sorry, I’ll pay for the damage, I’m so --”
“Don’t be silly,” I laughed. “I’m sure it’ll still work just fine for this. It’s just a small dent and a scratch on the lens. A little character adds to its charm, right?”
We quickly set up the telescope and adjusted the tripod to ensure a stable view of the night sky. I did a quick check and then stepped back.
“Alright, who’s first?” I asked, and the boys eagerly lined up for their turn at the telescope.
Cameron was the first, and he eagerly squished his face to the lens.
“Whoa!” he gasped. “This is awesome. They look like I could touch them.”
His arm stretched out as though he really was trying to stroke the beams of light.
“My turn, my turn,” Aiden giggled.
As each boy took their turn, exclamations of awe filled the air.
“Whoa, that one was huge, wasn’t it?” Ethan gasped.
“Those two just crisscrossed,” Aiden said.
“It’s like the sky is falling down,” Noah said.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Tori said as she cozied up to my side. “I once saw a meteor shower from an airplane. But I think this is even better.”
“It is,” I agreed.
“It kind of makes me feel… small,” she sighed as she leaned her head on my shoulder casually. “Like there’s so much out there, and in comparison, we must just be like teeny, tiny specks of dust.”
“You’re right,” I nodded. “I think moments like these... they just make everything else seem so trivial.”
“Do you ever wonder if there is something else out there?” Wesley said from my other side. “Like life?”
“Mmm,” Tori hummed thoughtfully, her gaze far off. “I think... there has to be. I mean, just look at how vast everything is out there.”
“I think it’s possible,” I finally replied. “Whether we’ll ever find it in our lifetime is another question.”
“What do you think, boys?” Wesley asked. “Do you think there are aliens out there?”
“I bet there are,” Lucas replied confidently with his eyes still locked on the spectacle in the sky.
“Maybe they’re watching us right now!” Ethan added excitedly.
“Maybe the meteors are actually aliens!” Cameron gasped.
The group erupted into laughter at Cameron’s wide-eyed suggestion, though more than a few of the gazes that turned back to the show looked a little more uneasy. The boys, of course, were excited at the prospect of meeting an alien lifeform, though the adults were more wary, especially after our last few encounters.
Eventually, the meteors waned and weariness caught up with us all. The fatigue was a weight that pressed down on all of us, and one by one, the group disappeared into their tents. Lucas, who had lost his tent in the chaos of the storm, shared a tent with his father. They arranged the sleeping bags and settled in, and the proximity seemed to offer them both a sense of security. The flap zipped closed and muffled their conversation, but I could tell that Wesley was trying to answer a few of the boy’s questions about the fight.
Tori checked on each tent to make sure the kids were settled and as comfortable as possible before she settled down herself.
Soon it was just Jordan and I by the fire. I could see that his eye kept snapping between the fire and the shotgun that leaned against his tent.
“I’m sorry that I missed,” he muttered after a few moments. “I don’t have any real experience with guns. No one ever really showed me, if I’m honest.”
“It’s not your fault,” I said. “That was a hard shot, even for someone used to a shotgun.”
His gaze flickered toward me, as though he was searching my face for any signs of deceit. But when he found none, he sighed and looked back at the fire.
“I still should’ve hit him,” he said. “I could’ve saved you a lot of trouble.”
“You did more than most would have done in that situation,” I retorted. “You stepped up and tried your best.”
“Do you think?” Jordan muttered as he looked down at his feet. “Doesn’t feel like it was enough.”
“All you can do,” I continued, “is learn from it and move forward. No one can ask for more than that.”
His shoulders were slumped under an invisible weight, and it was evident that my words hadn’t entirely reached him yet.
“Jordan,” I said softly.
He glanced over at me as the glow from the fire flickered across his face and cast deep shadows under his eyes. He looked like a hollowed-out version of the man who had started the trip with us, and I knew that was only partly due to the injury.
“We survived today because we worked as a team,” I said. “Everyone played their part, including you.”
He held my gaze for several moments before he looked back at the fire with a thoughtful expression.
“I just wish I was more like you,” he said. “I mean, what good am I in a world without power? My whole life was about making dumb videos and posting stupid pictures on Instagram. And now? What if we never get that back? But that doesn’t matter to you, because you can do everything and anything. You’re the kind of man I want to be."
“We all have our strengths,” I said and shook my head. “You have yours, too. And from what I’ve seen, I know you’re a man who cares deeply about the people around him, who’s willing to put himself on the line for them. That’s a lot more valuable than any survival skill.”
From the corner of my eye, I noticed him glance at me, expectantly.
“You really think so?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” I replied. “It’s the fabric that binds us together. Without that, we’re just a bunch of loners in a Mad Max world.”
“Ha,” he chuckled, but at least some of the weight seemed to lift from his shoulders. “Good film.”
“Tell you what,” I said. “I’ll give you a lesson right now on shotguns, and maybe my revolver if we have enough time. Then when we get home, we can visit the target range and let you get some good experience on handling a gun.”
“Really?” he asked. “You’d teach me?”
“Of course,” I replied. “How else would you learn? And I’m sure I could think of something you could show me in return.”
“Well, you may have to wait awhile,” he laughed. “You know, until they get the power back on.”
“That’s fine,” I assured him.
A look of anticipation brightened Jordan’s face as he watched me pick up the shotgun. The weight of it felt familiar in my hands, and for a moment, I was back at my own first lesson with a gun.
“Thanks, Scott,” he smiled.
“Sure,” I said. “Now, obviously the firelight isn’t ideal, but you can see well enough for now. Let’s start off with the basics.”
I held up the shotgun under the soft glow of the fire, and my fingers traced the engraved patterns on the barrel. I could feel Jordan’s eyes following my every move as I began to explain.
“The most important thing about this weapon,” I said, “is not its power, but how you handle it.”
As I walked him through the mechanics of the safe operation of a shotgun, I could see him frowning as he followed along. I was sure he would have been taking notes if he had a notebook, and there was an eagerness in his eyes which I hadn’t seen in a couple of days.
I gave him a quick oral quiz on the basics, and when I was satisfied he’d followed along, I handed the weapon over to him. I was happy that he didn’t snatch it from my hands, but that he took it carefully and with the barrel always pointed away from us and the camp.
“That’s good,” I said, “The first rule is…”
“Treat every gun as if it’s loaded,” he replied as he cradled it in his arms like a newborn.
I had him check the safety and then confirm that the gun was loaded. I would ask what the slide was, and then I’d nod as he pointed to the right part. By the time we were done, he was clearly feeling more confident with the weapon.
“Good work,” I said. “We’ll have you shooting tin cans off the fence in no time.”
A chuckle escaped Jordan’s lips, and he looked at me with a newfound respect.
“I look forward to it,” he said as he handed the shotgun back to me.
The moon was high and the fire was low by the time we decided to retire for the night. We hadn’t covered the basics of the revolver, but Jordan seemed happy with what he now knew about the shotgun.
“Night, Scott,” Jordan murmured as he limped off to his tent.
“Goodnight, Jordan,” I replied.
I made sure he made it safely inside his own tent before I disappeared into my own and zipped up the flap behind me. I could feel the exhaustion that seeped into every cell of my body as I collapsed onto my sleeping bag, and I was so tired that I didn’t even bother to remove my boots. I winced slightly as the day’s bruises made themselves known, and for a brief moment, I could feel the meth dealer’s scrawny hands digging into my back again.
But then I heard the distant call of a night bird and the gentle flow of the river. A breeze carried the scent of pine trees, and a small chorus of frogs started to call to each other.
I took a deep breath and let the day’s events replay slowly in my head. I knew I’d offered the men every opportunity to turn back, but I still found myself wondering if there had been another way to end it. But as scenario after scenario unwound through my head, I knew that what had happened was the only one where we survived.
That was enough to send a shiver down my spine, and I pulled my sleeping bag tighter around me. I had taken three lives on what was supposed to be a fun camping trip with my Boy Scout Troop, but there were no regrets. I’d done what was necessary, and I’d do it again the next day if I had to.
My mind settled after that, and I listened to the local wildlife for a moment as I watched the shadows on my tent. I fell asleep not long after that, and I dreamed of streaks across the sky and the fields behind my grandparents’ house.
As I emerged from my tent the next morning, I blinked against the harsh sunlight that bled through the bare trees, and I was shocked to see the sun was already well above the horizon. The other tents were still zipped up, though I could hear a few people starting to stir.
Apparently, we’d been even more exhausted than I realized. Of course, a lot of that was emotional, but our mad dash on a muddy trail had definitely worn us out.
A long, heavy sigh escaped my lips as I stretched my arms over my head. It felt good in my back, but a sharp pain shot through my arm, like a reminder of the cuts and bruises that still lingered from yesterday’s fight. I pulled at the neck of my fleece and winced at the sight of a long, angry red scratch that ran down my skin like a jagged lightning bolt.
It had scabbed over neatly, but the area around it was still tender and inflamed, with a deep purple bruise that promised several more days of discomfort. I brushed it off as nothing to worry about for now, especially since we were running low on supplies. We’d be back in town soon, and I could have it properly cared for then.
“Morning, Scott,” Tori called out as she peeped out from her tent.
“Morning,” I replied. “Good sleep?”
“Oh, my God, I slept like a brick,” she chuckled as she climbed out of her tent. “I haven’t slept that well in ages.”
“I think we all did,” I said as I nodded at the sun. “It’s way later than I expected.”
“Oh, you’re right,” she said as she checked the sky. “Wow.”
“I guess we needed it,” I said. “And after the last few days, I think we’ve earned it.”
“That’s true,” she said. “We’ll still make it to town today, though, right?”
“I don’t see why not,” I replied. “We really aren’t too far.”
Other faces started to appear, so I climbed out of my tent and started to work on the fire for our breakfast.
“How’s everyone feeling?” I asked once the rest of the troop had stepped out of their tents.
“Hungry,” Noah grumbled.
“Me, too,” Aiden sighed as he sat next to his friend.
“Do we even have anything left?” Lucas asked.
“We don’t have much,” I admitted as I checked my bag. “It’s going to be a small breakfast.”
“Ugh,” Noah groaned. “So what do we have?”
“Beans,” I replied and held up the can.
“Any hot dogs left?” Cameron asked hopefully.
“Sorry, bud,” I replied as Tori passed me the pot.
“Rats,” Ethan sighed.
I dumped the beans into the pot and then set them over the fire. There wasn’t much conversation as we waited, but as I looked at the nine faces around me, I could tell that everyone was happy at the idea of reaching home. It had been a long and grueling trip, and it had definitely taken its toll, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel finally.
“So, what’s everyone most looking forward to when we get back?” I asked as I stirred the beans.
“My own bed,” Jordan groaned as he stretched his arms out. “I always feel like I’ve gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson after sleeping on the ground.”
