Desert Angels (7 page)

She did not know what that sound was – or to what unholy creature it belonged. But Angela did know it was a direct and present danger to Jack.

She went back to Jack’s quarters and curled up into a fetal position at the base of Jack’s bunk, where she fell asleep until early morning when Jack awoke and she once again found herself in her feathered wardrobe.

* * *

Upon reading the Guardian Angel’s letter, Jack assigned himself the duty of preparing for company. What he expected was a slew of refugees from Ashwood, the most logical and logistically feasible point on the compass from whom desperate folk might emigrate from to his premises.

Which is why he was stupefied to find the first visitors to his home were none other than Dr. Mathias and around twenty of his flock, all driving cars, or motorcycles, and at least from a mechanical perspective, seemed not at all inconvenienced.

But it was evident as Jack deactivated his gate and exited the Dome to meet them that Mathias’ people were desperately sick from advanced radiation poisoning.

Dr. Mathias himself seemed to be possessed of his old robust nature, and there was no outward evidence that he had suffered such as all of his followers.

“Morning, Dr. Calisto,” Mathias said, tipping his 12 gallon hat.

“Hello, doc,” Jack said softly. “How are you?”

Mathias looked to the sky and sighed. “The Lord my God has smote the world as he had revealed to me, and myself along with my children, are managing as best as we can.”

“Your vehicles work,” Jack noted.

“They did not in those first few horrible hours. Fortunately, we are well provisioned with mobile battery chargers – things that the good Lord imbued in me as items of great importance and which I had procured in anticipation for these dark days.”

“How are you fixed for food and water?” Jack asked, ignoring Mathias’ religious digression.

“We were well prepared for the apocalypse, doctor,” Mathias said. “Although I was not prepared for radiation poisoning. I believed the Lord would have spared us that, given our forsworn loyalty and love to God’s commandments.”

“Yes, well, radioactivity is probably not as religious as you had hoped. It is an equal-opportunity affliction,” Jack said without malice.

“So it would seem,” Dr. Mathias nodded in assent.

“I have substantial antibiotics which I can provide to you and your people. I can also assist with blood transfusions. My stores are fairly vast,” Jack offered, his heart sinking as he regarded a few of the sicker members of Mathias’ crew.

“Yes, I assumed you would have prepared accordingly for this disaster, though not out of any faith in the Almighty, simply out of a sense for self-preservation and gifted insight into the possibility that God would levy his wrath against a sinful world,” Mathias said, with just a trace of annoyance in his voice.

“To be frank, I did not expect the worst to happen at all,” Jack said truthfully. “It was my hope that Mankind would have acted more wisely.”

“Mankind’s wisdom was never an issue,” Mathias said. “Only its sinful ways.”

“Yes, well, you’re a doctor, doc,” Jack said, feeling new ire for Mathias suddenly welling within him. “What can I provide you with?”

“Everything, Dr. Calisto. By my divine right, and by instructions invested in me by the Almighty, I must confiscate your stores and assume the mantle of leadership to your facility,” Mathias said, withdrawing a Colt .45 pistol. Every other member of Mathias’ cult likewise produced weapons.

Jack cursed his stupidity. He should have realized something like this might have happened. But he least suspected it from Mathias and his witless pacifists.

Walter flapped from Jack’s shoulder back into the Dome.

“Beautiful bird,” Mathias said.

“Yes. He doesn’t like you,” Jack said with some satisfaction. “So, you plan to take over the place and no doubt put me under house arrest.”

“For the time being. But you are a man of the old world, Dr. Calisto. You are clearly not even afflicted with God’s radioactive scourge. Your place is with the dead.”

“So you mean to kill me,” Jack said evenly.

“You shall be crucified and blessed and we shall pray for your salvation in the world beyond,” Mathias said without losing a beat.

“Do you really believe Jesus would approve of that action?” Jack asked, a whirl of options circulating in his troubled mind.

“The Christ rules the next world, it is incumbent upon me to rule this one for as long as it is deemed necessary. This is what has been revealed to me,” Mathias said in a loud voice for the benefit of his followers.

He motioned to three of the nearest men, and they moved forward, and grabbed Jack by either arm.

“Fear not, we will camp outside of your sin-filled installation of science and deviltry. But you will have a guard at your door day and night.”

“Until my murder is finished,” Jack said cynically.

“Your spiritual cleansing, yes,” Mathias said reverentially.

“You’ll rot in your own hell for this, Mathias,” Jack said, spitting into Mathias’ face.

Mathias back-handed Jack, then turned on his heel and called out to his people.

“Make camp!”

* * *

Because Mathias was obviously not thinking as sharply as Jack himself, he simply ordered that Jack be confined to his room, his door locked from the outside. Mathias did not stop to consider that Jack was well-fortified from an armament standpoint. The door no sooner closed behind him and his gatekeepers leaning on the door from the outside in sickened exhaustion, then Jack was pulling out of his closet, an AK-47, a 9 Millimeter Beretta pistol and a Colt APC revolver.

He would have to make his move when the guards came to give him water or food. That is, unless of course, Mathias would expedite his execution tonight. Jack doubted this would happen as the men and women Mathias led were weak from radiation poisoning, and the journey alone from Mathias’ encampment to Eden must have proved daunting.

They would all sleep to be fresh for the crucifixion tomorrow morning.

As it turned out, even Jack’s plan of escape would be altered somewhat, though in the end, Jack would not be disappointed.

Angela transformed slightly before midnight, as Jack slumbered. She immediately headed for one of Jack’s three laboratories and rummaged for a syringe and some medicine she knew would assist her in the task at hand.

She then moved with stealth through the halls until she was just outside of Jack’s sleeping quarters. The two guards that Mathias had unnecessarily assigned to Jack’s room were fast asleep on the floor.

Angela approached the nearest guard, and rammed the syringe into the man’s neck. The man moaned slightly, then fell back into unconsciousness. Moving quickly, Angela likewise dispensed with the remaining guard.

She hit the combination sequence to Jack’s door and ran to the computer. She typed out a quick note, and printed it out.

She then moved to Jack’s bed, and put the note on his chest.

Angela then slapped Jack as hard as she could.

* * *

Jack awakened with a start, to find Walter flapping above his head.

He felt his face, still stinging from Angela's open-handed blow to his face. Then he saw Angela’s note on his chest. He read it quickly.

Jack, the guards are unconscious outside. Do not make any deals with Mathias. He is insane and can never be trusted. But I assume you know this already. Yours, GA

“No shit, angel,” Jack said, rising and grabbing his weapons which rested at the base of his bed.

He moved quietly out of his quarters, impressed with the Guardian Angel’s effectiveness in somehow rendering the guards so quiescent. He then moved to the entrance of the Dome and exited.

Outside, tents were scattered outside the main gate. Everyone appeared to be asleep. He heard an occasional cough or retching sound, but aside from that, Mathias’ camp was motionless.

Jack found a dolly and loaded it up with several crates of refrigerated antibiotics and some blood bags. He then exited the Dome and rolled the dolly with supplies outside ten feet. He then backed up near the gate, and fired off in rapid succession, a dozen rounds from his AK-47.

The camp mobilized sluggishly, with Mathias appearing first. He levied a deadly gaze at Jack, who was pointing the AK-47 at Mathias, and the pistol at the camp in general. Had he wanted, he could have cut down every one of Mathias’ group.

“Mathias, that’s medicine for you and your people. And some blood from my bank for transfusions, if needed. I want you out of here in ten minutes, never to return. If you try to attack my facility again, I’ll kill every one of you.”

Mathias said nothing at first. Then he offered a smile.

“Jack … you misunderstand. This is a new world. We –“

“Save it. The clock is ticking.”

Jack moved back inside the gate perimeter and activated the power. “Touch the gate, Mathias, and you die a second later.”

“What about my two men still inside?” Mathias asked.

“I’ll send them out when I see you and your group are on the far horizon.”

Mathias considered this, his chest heaving with congestion and pain.

“I will kill you one day, Dr. Calisto,” Mathias said quietly. “You are in defiance of God’s mandate.”

“And you’re fucking nuts,” Jack said, watching as Mathias’ apostates were breaking camp.

Half an hour later, Jack kicked out the two guards that Angela had drugged. He watched them trudge into the darkness toward Mathias’ small armada at the edge of the horizon, dimly lit by the rising dawn.

Walter flapped from inside the Dome to Jack’s shoulder.

Jack did not harbor a shred of hope that Mathias and his people wouldn’t come a calling again. He was sure they would. And he girded himself up to the idea that he may have to one day kill Dr. Mathias.

FOUR – EXODUS

As it turned out, it was nearly a week later that the first citizen of Ashwood rode up to Eden on her bicycle.

Aunt Sheila looked exhausted, but when she saw Jack, she fairly howled in glee.

“Doc! You’re alive!” she yelled, as she put the pedal stand down to support her bike. She took out a small dog from a basket wedged between the bike steering handles.

“Hello, Aunt Sheila,” Jack called out. “Don’t touch the gate, it’s electrified. One moment!”

Jack neutralized the gate’s power and he opened the gate entry door and allowed Sheila to enter.

Sheila touched Jack’s arm and just stared at him silently for a minute. “Horrible times,” she said at last.

Jack nodded, then glanced at the small dog, some kind of mutt he surmised, that Aunt Sheila held close to her breast.

“This is Scrubby, Doc,” Sheila said, holding the dog up in two hands.

Jack reached out to pet the dog, but Scrubby growled and nipped at him. Jack retracted his hand in pain, as Sheila chided the animal.

“I know you don’t feel good, Scrubby, but there’s no need for attitude,” she said to the ill-tempered mutt.

“I’m sure you’ve already seen the trouble element that has moved into the neighborhood,” Sheila said to Jack.

“What trouble is that?” Jack said.

“The monsters with their eyes,” Sheila said.

She was, of course, referring to the Stiffers.

"Oh,
that
trouble!" Jack said, not trying to be funny. Aunt Sheila was a twelve foot tall Rabbit Late For A Date. He was having a tough time adjusting to her presence here.

“Don’t get me wrong, Sheila, but why are you still alive?” Jack asked.

“Well, I saw the explosions in the distance and I averted my eyes immediately. I had read up on radiation a lot in the days before the End, and knew that I should find shelter as soon as possible, and not just the shelter provided by my house, which is built entirely of wood. I dashed to my basement, which is surrounded by thick brick. I had jugs of water down there, so I just stayed there until … well, until I could stay there no longer.”

She smiled at Jack. “And then I remembered your offer to come out and visit you. You did invite me, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did,” Jack said, smiling. “How is everyone else in Ashwood?”

"I think you're going to be a very busy host soon, young man," Sheila rambled on, fluffing her dress and petting the glaring dog. She did not seem to notice Walter on Jack’s shoulder.

"Oh?" Jack said yet again.

"Yes, quite. I was farther ahead than the rest, but they're coming. Some from town, others from the roads. So many cars on the roads. They just stopped, you know. All the electricity – gone – just like that! And the toilets, too!"

"Would you like to come in?" Jack finally asked.

"Well, only if you don't mind Scrubby here. He's not feeling too well. He's been upchucking for hours. To be honest, so have I. But when
he's
sick – it breaks my heart. Poor little booby!"

He gave a furtive look around the area, wondering once again how this addled old woman had escaped the slobbering attentions of the mutant Stiffers. But that is a question that could wait for later.

They both entered the Dome and Sheila turned to him in sudden confusion.

"Doc, forgive me, but for the life of me, I can’t remember your name," Sheila said.

“Jack. Jack Calisto,” he said.

Sheila nodded, then seemed distracted by something else, her eyes wandering lazily to the horizon. ‘Thank you, sir,” Sheila said in a soft voice. She looked at him and leaned in to him: “Do we know each other, young man?”

Jack was distressed to discern immediately that Aunt Sheila’s mind had been unhinged by recent events, now referring to him as a virtual stranger. She was either a victim to extreme radiation poisoning or was presently victimized by advanced Alzheimer’s. Her short-term memory was obviously non-existent.

“Scrubby likes you,” Sheila said, looking down at her dog.

Scrubby growled at Jack.

Jack was sure that Scrubby, in fact, did
not
like him. Jack was sure that while she talked, Sheila had not a clue that Scrubby was growling at him throughout the conversation. The growls, Jack felt, were easily translated. They underlined an intense, rabid desire to bite.