The Road Home by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 19

Packing everything into the trunk of both vehicles, the group piled in and, with Maya and Jackson at the wheel, they drove off to the cabin they had recently spent several days in. Taking whatever side streets they could find brought them to Route 5, then Route 167. Soon, they found themselves on the familiar Route 90. Passing two state parks, Eli asked Maya if they could go to one of those. Given their size, he believed that they could easily hide if they traveled deeply enough.

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” she said. “I think it would be better if we went someplace we already knew.”

Although Eli agreed, Maya suspected that they may have to go from place to place in order to find the resources they needed. She also believed that those who were left behind by the military would be quick to start looting and were likely dangerous. Continued isolation was an absolute necessity.

By the time they reached the access road to Kachess Lake, the sun had already dipped to the edge of the evening horizon. Driving slower than normal, Maya believed that increasing their speed would make the engine louder and wanted to maintain a low profile, and it seemed to be working. As they turned into the access road, everyone was thinking the same thing—what if someone else was there already? If this was the case, they wanted to know sooner rather than later. As they approached the road’s halfway point, everyone in both cars leaned towards the windshield, looking for the cabin to appear. Driving the lead vehicle, Maya slowed as they arrived within sight of the cabin. If someone else was there, they could turn around without being seen as long as they maintained a safe distance. Slowing to a crawl, everyone was relieved to find the cabin unoccupied. With no vehicles in sight, Maya led the way around to the back. The last thing she needed was for someone to discover them, knowing that during times of crisis, people tend to revert to their animal nature. Under those circumstances, anyone could kill for a can of beans and a pint of water without so much as a flinch of conscience. Life would become meaningless for most, driving them into the mental collapse common with isolation. But the five former students were, essentially, thinkers and possessed the means to occupy themselves with intellectual matters. Problems would only begin if any of them lost touch and became obsessed with their circumstances, throwing them into a psychological chaos. The end would not be far behind.

With both cars stopped, everyone quietly got out, still concerned that someone may be lurking in the woods—planning their attack. And with no means of defending themselves, concern quickly became paranoia. But with the sun setting towards the horizon, the group, prompted by Maya made a hasty retreat into the cabin. It was agreed that if the lights could not be turned off, then the windows facing the entrance road should be covered. Before settling in, the group searched for anything that could be used as blackout material, and it didn’t take long to find what they needed. “Alright, everyone,” Maya began. “Do you think this will work?”

Jackson spoke up with an answer. “Maybe someone should go outside and check.” Everyone was in agreement. Now, it was just a matter of who would go. A moment of stressful hesitation filled the air.

“Oh, for Christ’s sakes,” Maya said. “You guys are such pussies. You’d think the boogieman was out there. Now, somebody get out there and check.”

Quickly frustrated by the group’s reaction, Aurora volunteered and, walking outside, made her way around the cabin where the windows were covered. But just to make sure, she walked back about thirty feet and, turning around, saw the windows absent of the slightest sliver of light.

Walking back in, she happily informed the group of their success, leaving them to turn more lights on and prepare for dinner. But it suddenly occurred to Eli that there was one thing they forgot to do.

“Fuck,” he said. “We forgot to stop at a store.” Realizing their mistake, everyone sighed in disappointment.

“What the hell do we do now?” Jackson asked. The answer was simple, yet it was how to accomplish it that concerned them. No one wanted to go back out with the possibility of infected people on the loose and the uncertain presence of the military. Maybe they were gone, maybe not. Finally, it was Aurora who volunteered to go back down the access road and look for a store—even a convenience store would provide the basics. Up to this point, Nathan had been silent but seeing the necessity to stock up on what they needed argued against Aurora being the one to go.

“Um, wait a minute,” he began. “Back at the apartment, she was a nervous wreck, and you’re going to let her go out there?”

He turned to Aurora and with a gentle voice conveyed largely the same message. “Aurora,” he said. “I really appreciate you wanting to do this, but I really don’t think you could hold yourself together for it. And even if we thought it was okay, you couldn’t go alone. I wouldn’t let you.”

Being a fairly emotional woman, she understood that Nathan was being protective and, with a slight tear in her eye, stepped up to him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

“Thanks, Nathan,” she said.

It was only a moment, but looking into her eyes, he gave a brief expression of affection. “No problem, kiddo.”

He wasn’t accustomed to expressing his feelings and was, in fact, uncomfortable with the idea, but somehow he managed it. But their moment of connection was interrupted when Eli began issuing cat-calls, telling them to get a room. Never being able to convince the others of possessing a significant degree of maturity, Eli’s comments were cut short as Maya scolded him. “Eli,” she said. “Don’t be an asshole.”

This seemed to be enough to prompt him into silence. But there was still the matter of obtaining food and water, and Nathan had already volunteered to go. Maya, on the other hand, had a different idea.

“Nathan,” she began. “You can’t go alone. We have no idea what’s going on out there. So, take someone with you.”

Turning to Eli, he asked if he would accompany him. But Eli, not being the most courageous of the group, weakly declined.

“Oh, dude,” he said. “I don’t know…” Now Jackson took his turn and began teasing him. “What’s the matter, pussy,” he said. “Are you afraid of the dark?”

Before Eli could react, Maya interrupted. “Both of you,” she began. “Shut the fuck up!” The cabin quickly fell into silence as everyone looked at her wide eyes. They had never seen Maya exhibit anger. After all, she had been a law student and trained herself in the art of calm. Taking a breath, she paused to collect her thoughts. She knew herself well enough to be surprised by her reaction, but having seen what was happening in the city, the stress of their circumstances was already staking its claim. “Guys,” she continued. “I’m sorry, but everybody needs to pitch in. There’s going to be a lot to do and as far as what’s happening out there, I have a feeling that things are going to get worse. We can’t let this shit get to us, okay?” Having sat in a nearby chair, Eli held his head in his hands. Maya was right, and at some point, he would have to muster some strength and do the things that needed to be done. It was the risk he was unaccustomed to. Burying oneself in books, studying, and papers provided a convenient shield from the real world. A mistake could lead to less-than-perfect grades, but no one would die in the process.