Them and Us by Paul Schueller - HTML preview

Chapter 7

The next morning Joe was sitting at his desk working at his computer when Kevin came into the office. The two had known each other for years but never conversed beyond what was basic and necessary to do their jobs.

Kevin was agitated and direct. “What the hell are you up to with Sam? He’s a good kid. Why don’t you and the good doctor just leave him alone?”

“What did he tell you?”

“Nothing but I could tell there was something bothering him and you two met yesterday, so it doesn’t take a genius.”

“Smart young man leaving you out of this. You don’t have clearance for what he’s going to be getting into.”

“Funny, he didn’t seem too excited about it. Dr. Canard told me at the interview when us hired him that he wouldn’t run. What are you holding over his head?”

“Nothing. He’s just happy to serve his city.”

“Bullshit. I’ll figure it out.” Kevin stated.

“Good luck with that and even if you did that might not be good for you.”

Kevin glared at Joe for a few seconds, fully understanding that statement was a threat, before turning and walking quietly out the door to navigate the drone back to Sam’s location. From the camera on the drone Kevin could see that Sam was still sleeping even though the sun has been up for over an hour. The whisper quiet drone approached and Sam still didn’t stir until Kevin yeld, “Dude! Wake up!”

“Oh my God. What the hell are you doing. Dammit, I could’ve wet myself.”

“Can’t believe you were still sleeping that soundly. Usually guys there first night alone, separated from everything they’ve always known are scared stiff and haven’t slept a wink all night.”

“Well I didn’t sleep the night before and all the walking and frustration…I was beat. Plus you know I was made for this.”

“It certainly looks like Dr. Canard and Joe have their man. Are you going to tell me what they have planned for you and what they have that you’re holding over you?”

“No I’m not. Just something I’ve got to deal with. Hey, sorry about yesterday. I was just mad. I know you didn’t know anything about what creepy Joe and the doctor have planned. Sorry I can’t tell you more. You’ll just have to trust me for now.”

“I have no choice and us are almost out of time so I need to tell you something. A huge storm is coming in. Already raining like nuts west of here. There’s likely to be flash floods. You need to get to high ground in the canyons ahead of you.

“Got it. See you this evening.”

After about a five mile walk Sam started to get into some narrowing canyons and he looked for a way up and out of the riverbed where he had been walking. Sam found his way up through a narrow but climbable crevasse to a plateau about 80 feet above the rocky riverbed. Sam watched the clouds rolling in contemplating what he should do. He knew the storms would be on him soon so he decided to search the plateau for a good spot to shelter.

Suddenly he was attached from behind. He had felt so isolated he didn’t give a thought to seeing another human being. The surprise had given his adversary the upper hand. As Sam went down to the ground a metal pipe was pushed across his neck. The man was similar in build an age to Sam but with long knotted hair and frayed city government issued pants and shirt.

As they struggled a light rain turned to a downpour. Both men looked frightened but ready to do anything that was necessary to survive. Sam gained enough leverage to free himself from being choked. They each scrambled to their feet and stared at one another. Sam had his back to the cliff so was in no position to run. He waited, shocked, paralyzed. The stranger suddenly launched himself at Sam who dropped low and used the aggressor’s momentum to launch him over the cliff. Sam scrambled to the edge and looked down to see the man lying unconscious on the rocks at the edge of the river.

By the time that Sam worked his way back down to the riverbed the stranger’s body was half covered in water from the rising river caused by the upstream rains. Sam checked for a pulse and there was none. He looked down at the man, eyes darting, mind racing. Clearly this person had been traveling alone or Sam would have been confronted.

At a panicked pace Sam changed his clothes with the man, took all the supplies from his backpack and put the pack on the man, positioning him face down on the rocks with the back of his head still slightly out of the rising water. Next he took out his knife and cut some man’s long

hair shorter to match his own. After thoroughly cleaning the knife he stepped back to observe his work and then reached back down to rip the upper right sleeve and expose the dead man’s right shoulder.

After another review of the scene he turned the knife on himself, cutting deep into his left shoulder letting out a scream that he knew no one would hear. The pain brought him to his knees as the shallow water rushed around him. He mustered the courage and dug his finger into the open wound until he was able to dislodge the tracking chip that had been in his shoulder since he was 12 years old. The pain was excruciating but he felt liberated as he smashed the chip with a rock and tucked it between the man’s left shoulder and the backpack strap.

Sam stumbled out of the river with the pain numbing and clouding his mind. He took one last look back and forced himself up to the canyon’s plateau. He walked for several hundred yards away from the cliff’s edge and wrapped himself in a tarp; cold, hurt and hungry but ready to ride out the storm.