Leibowitz Concludes by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
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Chapter 1
As they walked hand in hand, they heard another explosion
behind them. Neither bothered to look back in the direction of
the blast. It had become so commonplace an event. Very
predictably one became immune to the sound. He thought; “Another
trekker bit it.” But, this time he instantly heard the less
jarring, dull thud of a smashing cantaloupe echo. This time he
stopped and turned around to get a view. In the distance he saw
something writhing on the ground. It appeared to be a legless
human; of the heavy on the garish ketchup sort. He said; “Poor
voyager didn’t die from the blast. He’s gonna suffer. With no
medical help available, a wounded predator is a slowly dead
predator.” As usual, Maddie was silent and seemed dispassionate.
Her eyes showed nothing but a glaze. A small sigh may have been
heard by one with acute hearing. Maybe it was just one small
part of her normal breathing process.
They again carefully walked. He heard a gunshot. He pushed
Maddie behind him, crouched and pulled out his handgun. The man
on the ground was not moving and had a revolver where his head
once was. “Brave man,” he said. “Dumb as can be. But, brave in
the end. You’ve got to know what you’re doing before you get
into these bad parts.” His life experience had led him to
believe that it was impossible to know something without
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experiencing it. But now life depended on having some sort of
prior knowledge; as many first “experiences” had become deadly
ones.
Michael “Conk” DeAngelo and Maddie held hands as they
walked down the last of the remaining clear road. His huge
football meat-hook of a left hand engulfed Maddie’s elevated,
little girl soft right one. He could see that just ahead the
risk level was going to increase. The dirt roads would soon
become overgrown dirt roads. The traps were shortly to become
harder to detect.
He thought; “Likely, the faction who had mined all the
roads was the same faction which had detonated the nuclear
bombs. A number of competing terrorist groups had been
threatening a devastating attack for some time. This one knew
how to simultaneously take out the internet and make all
communication devices inoperative. Its technical abilities were
outstanding, but its genius was the precision co-ordination.”
On the paved sections of road, the patches over the
explosives were obvious to anyone paying attention. The problem
was that the main roads were menaced by armed and dangerous
lunatics; some with “official” appearing uniforms. It had been a
few days since Conk last got reckless. He had been in a rush to
leave the mushroom clouds behind and find out if the rumors were
true. His car got blasted near Phoenix. His limping foot and
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anxious curiosity had been paying for it since then. But, if not
for that he would never have seen Maddie.
The going was tough, hot and slow. Every day since was a
mirror of the last. Flat, scorched land ahead. Flat, scorched
land behind. Flat, scorched land to the left. Flat, scorched
land to the right. The Superstitions and the Camelbacks appeared
to be stoic in their distant, lofty perches. Periodic, toxic,
black clouds spit from the earth. Browning of the century old
Giant Saguaro. Blackening of the closer-to-the ground Prickly
Pear and Peyote.
The sameness of the barren, blackened flatlands brought a
mental despair. Oddly this also relaxed him. Some kind of fate
had taken the upper hand in his life. There was nothing he could
do about that; other than to take care of little Maddie as best
he could. It was just a matter of how the cards had been dealt.
This time it helped to make things clear. In good moments he
settled into an “I don’t give a damn” relaxation. He well knew
the periodically helpful mindset from the football field. In bad
moments he wanted to kill those responsible. He also knew that
from the football fields. But, this time he didn’t even know who
they were.
Breezes were a visual delight. In them, what remained
rooted of the lifeless brush would rush around. Like burnt out
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tumbleweed they hurried to their place of final impalement. But,
there had been no breeze for days.
This had become mere normality in 2052 USA after “it”
happened. Maybe the entire world. Conk risked losing
concentration when he glanced to his left. A piece of charred
brush broke the ugly dullness. It showed a hint of green at the
base. Or maybe that was his wishful thinking. Or maybe it had
gorged on the formerly human carcasses rotting next to it.
Maddie seemed to take no notice.
Conk heard the clip-clop sound of horses’ hooves. From a
mile behind Conk saw two riders approaching. Their horses
foolishly galloped and the riders yipped like coyotes near prey.
He took the automatic handgun out of his pants pocket. He
checked it for ammo and cocked it. He said to Maddie; “Stay
behind me. Ready for a clash today? No sweat. It’s only two.”
Maddie closed her eyes. She seemed wary.
As the two neared, Conk fired his gun into a dirt patch ten
feet ahead of the horses. The explosion caused the mounts to
rear up high. When they settled Conk said; “Dangerous place,
huh.”
The two looked at each other. The talkative one in the
dusty black, felt cowboy hat with brims pointed at the sky
responded in an overly false demure way. The man with the
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circling, silver plated amulets and a week’s growth said; “Hey,
we’re the good guys.”
Conk said; “Yeah, right. Me too. Want something here?”
“You look familiar.”
Conk scowled and shrugged.
“You’re that middle linebacker who was always in the wrong
place.”
Conk inwardly smirked. Five years ago he had been a top ten
draftee out of Old Miss’, an NFL rookie with “huge potential.”
He had been another saddled with the curse of expectations. Two
years later he was a disappointment as everybody knew that he
overplayed the run. At six foot three, two fifty he had little
man’s syndrome. He liked to hit. He liked to knock 350 pound,
offensive linemen on their fat butts. He said; “Still am, I
guess.”
The talkative one snickered and derisively said; “Messed up
that Super Bowl. Third and seven ain’t a run situation.”
“Least I was in one. You been on prime time?”
“Giants, right?”
“Yeah. Anybody know what happened yet?”
“Still dead screen. Not even blue.”
“See many people heading this way?”
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“Some. A few think someone’s got it started over in LA.” He
shrugged, as if to say; “Suckers. There’s some mean hombres
between here and there. Ain’t too many makin’ it.”
Conk said; “I’ll take my chances. I don’t really care.”
Conk thought; “This is a slow death trap. ......... I just want
to do my best for Maddie. She so young and can’t understand.”
“Who does?” The horseman leered at Maddie and said; “She
your property?” Maddie kept her eyes shut and winced.
“She’s my god-daughter. I’m her protector.”
“You can put that gun away. We’re legitimate businessmen.
You got any oil? We got some whiskey to trade.”
“Do I look like an Indian to you? I could use a horse,
though.”
The talkative man looked to his partner and forced a laugh.
The back-up-man with a gray beard down to his belly button
responded in kind. Talkative said; “Badass dude, outnumbered,
bum leg and all. ............. Draw!” They reached for their
guns. Conk fired first and hit both their hands. He picked up
both of their dropped weapons and pocketed them. He took her
hand, and said; “Come on, Maddie. These guys are a waste of
time.”
As they walked away the spokesman said; “You haven’t seen
the last of us. Next time we’ll introduce you to our friends.”
They galloped away.
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Conk was unhappy with himself. Again, he should have played
the pass and not the run. He thought; “Idiot. I’m too much of a
nice guy. I should have killed them and taken their horses.”
Maddie held his hand and skipped alongside him. She almost
smiled. For the moment she was happy, but she knew that would
change. She knew that next time there would be more. She knew
that there was now only one path left. It would soon be more
difficult on the overgrown dirt road. But, she was still unaware
of the difficulties added by that situation. She just knew that
something bad always happens. But, she knew that this big guy
was there for her. She knew that he might not succeed. But, she
was happy because she knew that he’d try. Maddie trailed Conk,
making a game of stepping into his footsteps. She also thought
it best to take the precisely identical route.
The sun was setting in front of them. Conk was thankful. He
felt as if his left leg was no longer there. It was time to rest
for the night. He led Maddie off the road. They sat behind a
cluster of dead somethings. At one time they might have had a
defining form, but everything in the world had changed. He took
blankets from his backpack and spread them over the scorched
earth.
He said; “I never knew that the earth itself could burn.
Stupid, I guess. Here’s another stupid one. Are you hungry?”
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Maddie sighed and shook her head no.
Conk rubbed her cheek and said; “Brave girl. But, you have
to have at least one.” He handed her a strip of beef jerky and
took one for himself. They washed it down with small sips from
the half empty canteen.
He said; “It’s going to be more dangerous than usual to be
on the road. The traps will be less clear. Those guys can find
us too easy. If there are a bunch of them we’ll be in big
trouble.”
Maddie’s brown eyes expressed a question.
“As long as we follow the late day sun we’ll be going the
right way. ................ We’ll just have to watch out for all
the rattlers.”
Conk had known that it was safer to avoid the major
highways like I-40, I-10 and Route 66 as through a bit of
experimentation he had learned that the main roads had become
magnets for the dangerous lunatics. His problem was that he
wanted to leave the east coast and make it to California as
quickly as possible and didn’t want to risk getting stuck behind
a tree carcass on the back roads.
From a distance she appeared to be a tiny person, which was
confirmed as when Conk got up close Maddie appeared to be about
9 or 10. He had found her sitting under a Mesquite Tree
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somewhere near where Phoenix and his 2052 silver Benz SL-Class
means of transportation had known better days. She sat just off
Interstate 10 and moved only her head when she heard Conk’s
vehicle shatter from the blast. She appeared totally
disinterested and resigned, as if she had given up all hope and
was just waiting for death to pay its inevitable visit. She was
calm and aloof. He gathered what things he could from the car
and walked to her. He kept saying; “Hey.” This calling just
prompted her to look away from him; perhaps in her last hope.
That being that the unwanted intruder might take the hint and
just go away.
Conk kept approaching. He was not subject to subtle
innuendo when there was a little girl in possible distress. When
he got near her he squatted and said; “Where are your folks?” If
he had heard a reasonable answer he’d have respected her wishes
and moved on.
“ ....................... “
“Come on now. You can’t be all alone out here.”
“ ........................ “
“Can you hear me?”
She nodded, seeming very put upon to be required to make
any sort of reply.
“Mute?”
“ ....................... “
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“Well, listen. All hell has broken loose. I just can’t
leave you here.”
“ ....................... “
“Look. If you don’t tell me who you have to protect you,
I’m making it my job.”
“ ....................... “
“Okay, you made your answer, whether you know it or not.”
Conk reached for the chain which hung to her breastplate from
around her neck. He wanted to see if there was any information
about her; like that contained in a locket. Perhaps thinking
that this movement was some sort of attack, in fear, she rolled
onto her side and stood up. She tried to run, but Conk got his
arms around her belly.
“It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you. It’s okay. I’m just
trying to find where you belong.”
She relaxed as she laughed, covering her mouth with her
hand. She then used both of her hands to pull back the shoulder
length brown hair which had fallen into her face.
Conk was dumbfounded. He let go of her and said; “See; I’m
a natural born comedian.” He was simultaneously thinking; “This
girl has the strangest sense of humor.” He asked; “Okay, can I
take a look at your chain?”
She again laughed. He took the triangular, silver medallion
in his hand and read it out loud. “Madeline Moitiesaurian?”
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She shrugged.
“Well, that didn’t tell me much. I know one thing though.
Madeline Moitiesaurian is just too big a name for a little girl
like you. So, I’m going to call you Maddie. Any objections?”
“ ................ “
“I didn’t think so. Come on. You’re coming with me.”
She offered no resistance when he took her hand and led her
to the road. He talked to her because he liked the company.
“We’ve got about 370 miles to go. Do you know how far that it
is?”
“ .................. “
“It’s pretty far, but we can make it in about two weeks.
Bum leg and all.”
“ .................. “
“When the big bomb went off in New York I hightailed it out
of Old Canaan as quickly as I could. Took the stuff I needed and
drove west.”
“ ............ “
“Well, what other choice did I have? ....... Didn’t stop
all that much. Didn’t have to. There weren’t many cars on the
road. ............. Well, there were cars on the road; but most
of them weren’t moving anymore.”
“ ............... “
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“Not too funny, huh? Guess it ain’t. Anyway, I stopped once
for this biker guy who was working on his Harley Electra Glide.
Turned out he had things under control. To fix the wobble he
just had to make an adjustment on the slop in the bearings. He
was finishing up. But, he thanked me for stopping and told me
some things. He didn’t know exactly how extensive the bomb
damage was, but figured it was the worst ever by a longshot.”
Maddie chuckled once more and this time Conk thought he
knew why.
“Yeah, I know. Gigantic revelation. Right? But, this guy
was in Iraq when all that tonnage got dropped by what were said
to have been hacked drones. I had a feeling something big was
going to happen after that. You remember the news about that?”
“ .................. “
“To get back to the story, he told me that he knew about a
group called the “LA Wild Living Edibles Survival Syndicate;”
LAWLESS; who had been predicting that this would happen for a
while now.”
Conk thought that he might have detected tenseness in
Maddie’s hand. He looked toward her and saw that she was staring
at the Superstitions. He went on; “Like most survivalist groups
they didn’t do a lot of advertising as they didn’t want
everybody to descend on them when the big event came.”
“ ............. “
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“So, when he got the bike going again, we parted and
continued to head west. In my rear view mirror I saw that he hit
a trap and he and the bike became one in little pieces spread
all over Route 78.”
“ ................ “
“Too bad. Seemed like a good guy. ...... At least it gave
me some kind of a destination. LAWLESS.”
Maddie looked up at him. It seemed as if she might have a
question or comment. If she did, she decided to keep it to
herself.
“Almost, eh? ........ Maybe someday. But for right now,
you’re going to need some more clothing and a backpack. There
are probably the remnants of some stores in Phoenix where we can
find you some stuff. ‘Sides, I could use some more supplies.”
Maddie frowned.
“I might know what you’re thinking. The place is rampant
with gun toting looters.” He pulled out his gun and held it in
the air. He said; “So are we. We joined the club.”
Maddie laughed.
“And there won’t be any buried mines on the way.”
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