The crash box set, p.108
The Crash Box Set, page 108
part #1 of EMP Crash Series
Meanwhile, back in New Haven, Mack was feeling reinvigorated by the storm and wanted to make up for lost time. He gathered everyone around and tried developing a social structure. First, he tried gauging people by their skills. He wanted to find out who had the aptitude for being teachers, medical volunteers, chefs, etc.
“It's my feeling that everyone should contribute to New Haven in some way. We all are in this together, and while I don't want to throw anyone out if they're helpless or weak, I think everyone has something to offer, even though it may be just a small thing, or not even readily apparent. As far as I'm concerned, everyone is equal and nobody is any more privileged than anyone else. Nobody should be able to coast and enjoy the benefits of living in New Haven without giving something back. I think it will help us strengthen our bonds as we move further into the future. We will suffer together, and we will prosper together. I hope you all can see the value in that.”
As he looked around at the sea of faces surrounding him, Mack saw understanding in all of them, all except one. Gary was scowling again, and Mack was getting irritated with the way he was acting. Mack was used to people being hostile and not agreeing with him, but Gary didn't seem to have a plan of his own or any kind of philosophy. All he wanted was to cause trouble, and that was something Mack had no kind of patience for.
“And what if we don't see the value in it?” Gary said, his voice rising above all the other noises around them.
Some of the people around him rolled their eyes and sighed. Mack was glad Gary seemed to be the lone voice among the others, although he was aware that sometimes a lone voice was that was necessary to cause instability.
“It seems the logical thing to me,” Mack said, “but if you have an alternative idea, I'm sure we'd all be eager to hear it.”
Gary strode forward a few steps. “I hate this talk that everyone is equal. The plain fact of the matter is we're not equal and we never will be. Some of us have better breeding and are more equipped to be in positions of power. I was the son of a wealthy family, and I moved in the upper echelons of society. I should not be made to get my hands dirty just because some things have changed. I was important, more important than most of the people here, and I know a thing or two about how to get things done. We should be looking to people who have a good pedigree first, and work from there. People who had menial jobs before should have the same type of duties now. They're used to it, after all, so it won't be such a step down for them. I mean, really, how can anyone expect someone like me to get my hands dirty?”
Mack raised an eyebrow and studied Gary for a moment. He was surprised that he hadn't seen it sooner, but then again, he had been distracted with other things. He'd always assumed Gary was a power-hungry man who was annoyed Mack had waltzed in and usurped control. But now he saw that Gary just was scared that without his wealth he was nothing, and any protection that afforded him in the old world was now gone. Money had no value, and all his family's history had been wiped away in one brief flash of an EMP. Now he was struggling to find his place in the world like so many others. That didn't give him an excuse for being an asshole, though.
“We all had different lives before this happened, but do you really expect people to bend over to help you when you give them nothing back? That's not how the world works. It may have been how your world worked back when this city was an actual city, but things have changed and the only way we're going to survive is if we change with it.”
“I've had enough of your speeches,” Gary said.
“I hate how you've just taken this role of leader and expect everyone to follow you. That's not what I signed up for, and the thing I hate is there's no alternative. Sure, you tell me I can leave any time I like, but what's waiting for me out there? Nothing but an empty city, and I'd be a fool to leave now when winter is coming. There surely has to be other people who feel like me?” he said, but he was met by silence.
“There's no one else like you because everyone here had to work hard in their lives,” a man shouted from the crowd.
“We had to make a living for ourselves and actually try to better ourselves. We couldn't rely on our money or our trust funds. I don't know how you can stand there and try paint that as a good thing. Look around you, what happened before means shit now. You aren't rich anymore. There isn't such a thing as rich. Money is worthless. There's no government other than the one we make for ourselves. You might not like Mack, but I think I can speak for everyone here when I say we'd choose him over you any day of the week. Hell, I'd probably choose everyone else here over you. Mack's saved us more times than I can count. What have you ever done for us? You're quick to complain, but that isn't going to help us. I'm not even sure I've seen you do anything except shoot your mouth off.”
The man's words riled the others. Gary was quick to strike back with words of his own, words that only served to incense the crowd and soon they came to blows. Mack tried calming them down, but he wasn't quick enough to stop people from piling on Gary, who flailed his arms around in an effort to get them off. Mack and a few others ran in and pulled the others off Gary, who looked exhausted, with tousled hair, and blood dripping from a cut lip. Daisy grabbed him and pulled him away, even though he was seething with anger.
“Whether you like it or not, we're a part of this settlement now, and the sooner you get that into your head, the better,” she said sharply.
“Mack's taken us in and given us shelter. The least we can do is pay him back by putting some effort into keep this place running. Get your stupid ideas out of your head because nobody is listening to you and nobody feels the same way. I'm sure Mack won't kick you out, but you won't really be a part of this settlement unless you start pulling your weight. Is the feeling of being superior to everyone else really worth all of this?” she asked.
Perhaps it was because the words came from someone he had known for a long time and trusted, but Gary actually seemed to listen to Daisy. His head hung in shame and the outward rage subsided. He wiped the blood from his lip and turned away from everyone else. Mack nodded to Daisy in thanks. He was glad the different communities were coming together as one.
However, just as he was about to speak again, there was a noise in the distance, a strange noise that seemed familiar, and yet was hard to pinpoint. Mack wasn't the only one to have heard it. Others turned their heads and looked at each other in confusion, trying to figure out what the noise was. Mack turned fully to face the barrier of New Haven, for the noise was coming from outside the settlement. As the noise came closer, he grew more aware of what it was. It had been hard to identify at first because it wasn't just one noise, it was a cacophony of them all joined together in one great tornado of sound. The longer he listened the more Mack knew what those noises were, and they filled him with dread. A grim expression fell upon his face as he realized what this meant. The same expression found the others who knew what it meant as well. Many of the people who were standing around Mack had been to their camps in the city and seen the devastation wrought by the animals. Now the cry of the beasts rang loudly through the air, a portent of doom.
It was time to fight again, and it filled Mack's heart with sorrow. He had spent too much time fighting. He knew once again he would have to rally his followers to the cause. They would have to defend their home from this new threat, because it meant to much to them to surrender meekly. He looked at the people around him and wondered how many of them would die because of this battle. How many of them would be mauled to death by the animals that these other men had yoked and tamed to do their bidding? In some ways, he was eager to meet the leader of this other group because the use of animals was ingenious. So, he breathed in deeply and steeled himself, then gave the word to prepare for battle. People scattered all around him as he made his way to the gate of New Haven, ready to greet those who threatened his home.
Chapter 15
Mack was flanked by the people he trusted most, while others ran to get guns. They'd been through drills about how to handle an invasion, so everyone knew where they were supposed to be and what they were supposed to do. Guards were stationed at key points around New Haven, protecting both important areas of the settlement as well as vulnerable points around the barriers. Others ran to the armory to bring back the more powerful weapons, while handguns were drawn, ready to fire in case they needed to drive away the enemy. Mack left his holstered, hoping that some way he could find a peaceful way out of the situation if that was possible. He always looked for the peaceful solution, even if violence had to be dealt out in the end. And given that he had seen what these people were capable of, he sensed that violence was going to be the order of the day.
He walked up the steps to the level where the watchmen sat, protecting the entrance to New Haven, joined by Maggie and Saul. Then his eyes widened and he blew out his breath as he saw what was approaching.
“That's a hell of a thing,” Saul said, and that was an understatement.
Mack placed his hands on his hips and shook his head as he looked out to the narrow road where the parade of men and animals came forward. He hoped Grace and the others had managed to avoid them. They'd plotted a route that should have taken them away from this group, but Mack knew that nothing was for certain. The cars slowed the group down, but didn't stop them completely. They poured through the gaps in the blockade. It was quite a sight to see men and animals coming together like this. It reminded Mack of the parades that used to accompany the circus whenever it was in town. Although a feeling of dread accompanied this one rather than the feeling of joy that had been present when he had seen the circus parades.
He folded his arms across his broad chest and took stock of everything he was seeing. The people in the group either were walking or riding animals, and they didn't seem to mind that they were moving slowly. Aside from the exotic animals from the zoo there were also horses and dogs, which snarled savagely as they approached the settlement, obviously trained to be vicious. But there were lions and tigers, panthers, hawks and other birds of prey soaring overhead. Even an elephant was stomping behind them. Mack’s only regret was that, if necessary, he would harm these innocent beasts if they threatened New Haven.
It was such a strange sight to see these animals coming toward them, but Mack knew this was probably part of the group’s tactics. It would give them an early advantage to make the enemy awestruck, but Mack was not going to fall for it. New Haven was a stronghold. He knew they could drive back the enemy, even though they were an imposing sight, and deafening, too. The sounds of the beasts were almost as loud as the storm that had raged down upon them, and the stench of them was powerful, too, rising up and making Mack gag.
The leader approached, riding on horseback, his followers remaining dutifully behind. They seemed to be fairly well-armed, although Mack thought that New Haven had the advantage when it came to weapons. However, he wasn't surprised that these animals had been able to cause so much devastation in the other settlements. The leader had his hair slashed off, and a colorful tattoo over his scalp. He wore a loose shirt that had been ripped, showing off his chest, which had a scar upon it. It was clear that either the cold didn't bother him, or he did not want to give the impression that it did. Mack himself tried projecting a calm demeanor to try showing he wasn't scared. He didn't think it wise to provoke this other leader, as he thought that any sign of action would be seen as a sign of war. It wouldn't take much for this other man to order an attack since war was the only life he knew.
Mack leaned against the barrier with his hands, looking down at the man who led this army of humans and beasts, wondering what circumstances had forged the alliance. It was a smart idea, to use nature as a means of survival, and it was an inspired choice to build an army of animals, which took its own set of skills.
“Quite an impressive band of soldiers you have there,” Mack called out. The other leader smirked and steadied his horse.
“And it's quite an impressive place you have here. These barriers look sturdy.”
“We've built them that way. I'm sure you know that there are dangers lurking in the city.”
“All too well, I'm afraid,” the leader said, and flashed an unsettling smile.
“But then again, there always were dangers, some more easily dealt with than others.”
“I know what you mean.”
“I'm not sure that you do. I was talking about something more philosophical, something that can't be settled by a mere show of force.”
“And what would that be?” Mack asked.
“We just should mow them all down now while we have a chance,” Saul said, leaning into Mack's ear and speaking quietly, wanting to press the advantage they had, but Mack shook his head.
He didn't know what would happen with the animals. They were unpredictable, and for now the barriers would hold. They had the advantage and Mack wasn't going to slaughter a group of men without hearing them out.
“You know, all this,” he gestured to the broken city around him, “happened for a reason. We had become too reliant on technology and had forgotten our roots. But what happened wasn't enough. There still are people who cling to that world, who cannot accept the new order of things, people like yourself. You want to rebuild the world in an image that long ago was long rendered obsolete, that was proven not to work.
“We are moving toward the future by looking back to the past, by choosing to return to our natural world order where humans and beasts work together. We must accept nature, and monstrosities like these need to be razed to the ground. You do humanity a disservice by hiding in your buildings. We are stronger than that, we are better than that.
“We once walked this planet freely, and that is what we can do again, but you need to embrace it and let go of all we have learned. I do not blame you for holding on to what you know, but it is time for you to let go and leave this place. Return to your true nature and embrace what the world is trying to tell you! These animals do not deserve to be kept as pets. We are equals, and they have just as much right to be here as us.”
“Is that why you're riding on the horse's back?”
The leader smiled a little. “We are just using each other for our unique skills. You'll come to understand when you accept the truth.”
“Quite frankly, I'm tired of hearing everyone else spout off about their truths and the new order of the world. You're not the first fanatic I've come across who thinks that all this happened for some grand reason, and I doubt you'll be the last. I'm not going to tell you what to believe, but there is no greater meaning or purpose behind the end of the world. The only meaning is the one we make. You've chosen to go down your path, and we've chosen to go down ours, but that doesn't mean you get to impose your beliefs on us. We don't want to hurt you, but we'll defend ourselves if necessary. You'll find that we will put up more of a fight than the others you've come across. You speak of your new world order, but from what I've seen of your handiwork there hasn't been much order about it.”
“If you've seen our work, then you should know not to resist us. The others felt much the same as you. They didn't want to go down a violent path, even though that is the inexorable conclusion, and completely unavoidable. I understand why you are so reluctant to give up everything you know, but this is the new way of the world. It does not matter whether you accept the new order or not. It is simply the way things are now, and you must deal with that.”
“We know you've been coming for a while. We've seen the path you've been on.”
“Yes, we have known about your group for a long time, but we had...other targets we needed to deal with first. The pyre you lit was not a smart move. It showed us that there was a big group of people here, people who needed to be shown the new way of the world. There will be many people after you as well. We are going to straddle the world and gather more people. I am sure there are some of you who will want to join us. We have taken in others, too, ones who have been able to see the light. For those who cannot, we simply extinguish the fire of their lives, as that is the merciful thing to do. Why let someone live in a world that has no place for them?”
“That sounds cruel to me, about the furthest thing from mercy as I can imagine.”
“That is because you still are tied to an erroneous way of thinking. We seek to release you from the shackles of your cultural programming. Embrace the new world, do not cling to something that is decaying and dying.”
“We've taken on people such as you before. We're not afraid of you. We're going to defend ourselves, and what we believe in. This place is called New Haven for a reason. We don't judge people. We don't tell other people how to live their lives. We just want to build a settlement and live with each other in peace and harmony. I'm not going to give that up without a fight. You can believe what you want, but is it really worth all of this? Do you really want to get into a fight and sacrifice a lot of innocent lives, both human and animal, just for the sake of making a point?”
“I serve a higher purpose, and it is not for me to choose the time of my death. I only can seek to deliver the message. That is my duty, and that is what I am choosing to do. Any life that is not in service to this ideology is one that must be slain. It is the way of nature, and the way we should be doing things. Animals do not care for all this philosophical talk, they just act and do whatever they need to survive. That is what needs to be done, and I will vanquish every remnant left of the old world to bring about the new.”
“And I will stand firm and resist you. You cannot win here. We have the advantage. All you're going to do is get a lot of your people killed.”
“Dying for what you believe in is a worthy death, but I know my cause is just and I shall not fail. You are not the first ones to resist the will of the world, and you shall not be the last.”
