Black Sun by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 48

Rising late that afternoon, both Abby and Ryan found themselves exhausted by what they realized was the most intense act of passion they had experienced since they met. So much so, that getting out from the covers and climbing off their makeshift bed took almost more effort than they had strength for. Once they were able to crawl out and onto the floor, both realized how cold it had become with the slow sinking of the sun. Reaching the horizon, it's light quickly turned from the usual white light of day to the almost red broad beams of evening light. Ryan's first concern was food, and there seemed to be plenty among the two restaurants and the store at the end of the center. They would help themselves to whatever they could find and carry more with them on the way to their stop – wherever that happened to be.

They waited for the sun to disappear over the horizon while studying the roads and trees for any signs of movement. Seeing none, they assumed that no one would be outdoors at night, and this would make traveling both easier and safer. As they once again stepped out onto the highway, Abby inquired as to where they would stop.

“Is it going to be a long walk?”

Ryan kept the map in his jacket pocket, but had already memorized its contents.

“It shouldn't be,” Ryan replied. “In fact, if I remember, there should be a Dunkin Donuts up the road a bit.” They had already eaten somewhat meager portions of food scrounged from the travel center, but hearing the words 'Dunkin Donuts' made Abby's mouth water and ask if they could speed up the pace a bit. She desperately hoped there would be something left that wasn't spoiled or moldy. The last thing she wanted was to, again, find herself on her hands and knees vomiting violently. “So, how far is this place?” she asked. Ryan didn't know exactly where it was as he had not been in that area for some time, but he knew it would be on the right, somewhere halfway between where they were and the next highway.

“I'm not really sure, but I know it's on the right,” he replied. Abby was becoming as frustrated as she was hungry and launched a brief sarcastic jab.

“Oh, that really helps.”

Ryan understood that sometimes desperation breeds hostility, and he was willing to let her comment slide unless it continued.

Quickening their pace, they were able to arrive at the on-ramp going to route 890. Stopping at its entrance, Ryan examined where route 90 would appear and even under the cover of night, he was easily able to find it. But there was something he had forgotten. Route 890 was an overpass, so they would have to stay on route 90, walking straight through to the other side. Once there, they left overpass behind and proceeded along to what they hoped would be an easy meal. It wouldn't necessarily be nutritious, but it was something. Now, Ryan slowed his pace, looking for the large 'Dunkin Donuts' sign. By this time, Abby was beginning to tire and her steps were beginning to slow.

“Are you alright?” Ryan asked.

Given that she had come so close to death, due to the heat, he was beginning to become concerned and didn't want to see her collapse in the middle of the highway.

“Oh yeah,” she replied. “I'm okay.”

Her voice quivered slightly as her eyes closed half-way. “Are you sure?” Ryan asked. “You don't look so good.” At these words, Abby lost consciousness, but had it not been for Ryan's quick action, she would certainly have struck her head on the asphalt. In that event, Ryan knew that there would be little, if anything, he could do to save her.

Struggling to walk, Abby had begun stumbling over her own feet, prompting Ryan to put an arm around her, walking her off the highway at Old Carman Road. He stopped to get a look around and finally noticed a large sign bearing the words 'Dunkin Donuts'. One would have thought the kingdom of God had materialized in front of them as Ryan hurried Abby toward the front door. Oddly enough, the front door was open and helping Abby walk would be something of a challenge, but with such a short distance to go, the time it would take to get there would be brief.

Arriving at the 'Dunkin' Donuts', Ryan found a cushion large for Abby to lie on. Carefully setting her down, he turned her on her side, ensuring that she could breathe easily. Turning back toward the counter, he found the darkness unnerving, but allowing his eyes to adjust was able to see through the dark to the glass covered shelves behind the counter.

“Oh, fuck, food,” he whispered.

As he drew closer, Ryan discovered a large collection of doughnuts and other pastries. But there was a problem. Without power to operate ventilation fans and air conditioning, everything on the shelves had molded.

“Fuck,” he said.

Ryan was starving, and he knew that if he was that hungry, Abby was too. Then, came an idea. Opening the glass doors, Ryan closely inspected the food items and found that not everything had molded. Parts of each item were quite inedible, while others were untouched. He would have to pick out the moldy spots, separating them from those that appeared edible. Making quick work of two or three of the pastries, he went back over where Abby was lying. “Abby,” he said.

She took a few deep breaths as her mind drifted up from her own dark place.

“Abby,” Ryan repeated.

Struggling to sit up, she asked Ryan what had happened. “God, I'm so damn hungry,” she said. Ryan thought a bit of humor would help as he pulled her up to a sitting position.

“Well,” he began. “With all the fucking we did yesterday, it doesn't surprise me. You're wiped out. I'll go easy on you next time, okay?”

Ryan handed her part of a doughnut as she let out a giggle. “What is it?” Ryan asked.

Still giggling, Abby replied between bites of the glazed pastry. “Go easy on me? You fuckin wish you could, you animal.” Both found themselves laughing as they continued eating. But Ryan decided that history would not repeat itself and firmly prompted Abby not to eat too much, reminding her of the incident at McDonald's.

“You're not going to let that go, are you?” she asked. Ryan thought for a moment about what the right response should be, but instead of being diplomatic, he would come right out with what he was thinking.

“Are you kidding?” he said. “That was comedy gold. I've never seen anyone puke like that.”

Abby tried to laugh, even though she felt a bit of resentment over Ryan's choice of humor. Still, with her own brand of humor, she leaned over and kissing him gently on the lips whispered, “Fuck you.”

Both began laughing in what was a rare moment – a reason to laugh. With the world having fallen apart, finding a reason to laugh was rare, and seeing so many dead lying about almost everywhere they went made it difficult to maintain their sanity. But in trying to reach their goal, they were slowly finding strength in each other and themselves, and it was this strength that would get them through their journey.

The world had been overtaken by darkness, as night overtook the light of day. Ryan and Abby ate quickly and, once again, set out on the highway. Abby appeared to have recovered from the rapid onset of exhaustion that had left her on the floor of the ‘Dunkin' Donuts’, barely conscious. Ryan, however, knowing that this was the second time she had collapsed, was worried that there might be some underlying cause – some common denominator that could explain both episodes. But the more he thought about it, the more lost he became for an answer. For the time being, he would make it a point of watching her – observing her speech, the way she walked, how many times she stopped. Ryan had never worked in healthcare, but he knew a problem when he saw it.