Exodus: Book Two: Last Days Trilogy (13 page)

The refugee camp wasn’t difficult to locate. Todd stopped the car on a jam-packed freeway. For miles, it seemed, the road was filled with abandoned cars and trunks, doors standing ajar.

Todd and Devante stepped from the car and scanned the dimensions of the tent city.

The refugee shelter was just off the highway. Daily arrivals had overflowed onto the freeway and extended the boundaries a good deal further than the facilities could handle. No clear spot of land could be seen. The noises of people meshed into a low hum.

Todd walked to the back of the car. “Well, looks like we’re here.”

Devante looked out to the multitudes of people, his face seeming to mirror their confusion and fear. And then he smiled.

Reggie and Kyle exchanged waves as he sat on the roof of the home. She was too far away to notice his scowl, wandering with Michael toward a barren section of open ground on the edge of some woods. Kyle had erected a Sears and Roebuck security fence there five years earlier to mark the property line.

“Right here will do,” Michael said.

“Good,” Reggie nodded. “For?”

“Training, learning, planning strategy. In this we must always act as one. We must think ahead.” Michael pointed to his temple. “Be one step ahead of this...” He reached for the word.

“Devante. Thank you very much,
Marcus
.”

“Why did you say that?” Michael asked. “That, ‘thank you very much, Marcus.’”

“Oh, it’s customary, at the end of every sentence, to thank the person responsible. You should be doing it.”

“Then I shall.” Michael nodded once. “To continue... We need an exact spot.”

“For?”

Michael closed his eyes. “Just pick a spot.”

“All right,” Reggie shrugged. “There.” She pointed to her right, near the tree line.

“Thank you.” Michel walked over, and found a flat stone. “This is where the true warriors for our battle will now gather their strength from the earth for the Great War.”

“Will they pray here?”

“If they wish. You have picked the chosen spot. When each is a great warrior, ready for battle, he will be able to pull from the earth his strength and weapon. It will be their crowning and reward.”

Reggie just stared.

“You do not understand?”

“No.”

“Observe.” Michael walked to the flat stone. He grabbed up a small stone and scraped it on the surface of a larger one. He etched the figure of a scale of justice. Dropping the smaller stone, Michael ran his hand over the etching, then lifted the flat rock. He plowed his fist in the earth with a mighty, rapid thrust. The ground vibrated beneath Reggie’s feet. A cloud of dirt rose as Michael withdrew his hand from the hole. Then he dusted the dirt from his hand and reached back into the hole, and, seconds later, drew out a long sword. Reggie turned her eyes as the blade reflected a blinding golden light from the sun. Michael knelt down, one hand holding the sword, the other covering the hole with the smaller rock.

“Oh, wow.” Her mouth dropped open.

“The true warrior ready for battle will be able to retrieve the gift.”

“No way.” Reggie ran to the rock. “Do I need to rub this or draw on it?”

“No.”

With a smile Reggie lifted the flat rock and reached in the hole. She stopped, confused, as she felt around in the hole. “Hey, mine’s not here.”

“Then you are not yet a true warrior.”

With a huff, Reggie pulled out her hand. “That sucks.” She re-covered the hole with the flat rock.

“What is this ‘sucks’?”

“It’s a word we use to describe something that is bad. Like me not getting a sword. That sucks.” Reggie stood up, pouting. “How am I supposed to learn how to battle without a sword?”

“Right now, we will walk and speak of strategy.” He moved.

“Why don’t we just get a shitload of M-4s and when we go to battle we’ll just blow the hell out of them?”

“Are these M-4s modern weapons?”

“Yes.”

“Then they will not work battling the dark side,” Michael said. “Those dedicated to him are damned souls, and will not fall to modern weapons. They can only die by the sword.”

“So we’re fighting a bunch of zombies?”

Michael gave a questioning look.

“Walking dead?”

Michael nodded slowly. “Yes.”

Reggie cringed, her face reflecting her misgivings.

“So would that be considered something that... sucks?”

“Yeah. That really sucks.”

Michael nodded judiciously. “I see. Let us walk.” Reggie felt his hand on her back; his touch was gentle. “And... I’ve already learned something from you. Thank you,” he added, his hand remaining as he guided her.

Reggie wondered if God would be pleased that his archangel had learned to use the word ‘suck.’ It wasn’t on her list. But at least he wasn’t chastising her and calling her ‘woman,’ so it was a small step in the right direction. The two continued on their stroll.

Kyle felt foolish, keeping watch over a deserted town. This was more Herbie’s kind of work, so he dragged Herbie back out to relieve him. He told everyone he would be on “area re-con” to make sure all was well around town. But he knew he just had to get the hell out, alone, away from everyone. He also had to see something for himself.

He wondered about the latest radio reports, events he couldn’t verify, like the news that Las Vegas was ablaze. And how people were flocking by the millions to government-sponsored refugee camps for food, shelter and an all-out God feeling.

Kyle hit the road and cruised the perimeter of Medina County, taking the highway first, then the back roads. He was still amazed that everyone had disappeared so quickly. Kyle tried to slough it off and joke about it, but as he drove the crushing reality sunk in. His life in a world that he loved wasn’t just different; it was plain gone.

Seth slammed his math book shut and complained. A whine with character, Marcus thought, one he wished he could get away with. “Marcus,” Seth whined his name, leaning demonstrably on his hand at the dining room table.

“What?” Marcus tossed his hands up. “I don’t know what to tell you.”

“We’ve been doing this all day.”

“No, we haven’t,” Marcus corrected, and grabbed the reading book. “Every time we start, you stop. You’re either hungry, or tired, have to go to the bathroom, or need to finish that game. We have to learn. You have to.”

“Why do I have to learn?”

“Seth,” Marcus began, “schools do not exist anymore. At least for now. When the dust settles, if it does, if the trouble’s ever over, you have to be ready for whatever world there is.”

“How’s that going to happen?”

“Other parents out there are too scared to take the time to teach their kids.”

“Are you being my parent, Marcus?” Seth asked.

“I was making a reference.” Marcus felt his face burn as he flipped through the pages of the book.

“But you don’t have a kid.”

“No. And I probably never will. What about...”

“I thought my mom was going to have your baby?” Seth said. “Wasn’t she?”

“At one time. What’s with all the questions?”

“You should have a baby with my mom.”

Marcus was lost. Seth was rattling. “Seth...”

“But then you’d have to kiss her.”

Marcus grinned at Seth’s cringing face.

The screen door slammed. Marcus looked and barely registered Reggie in a blur, then heard running footsteps on the stairs. “Your mom.”

“Is she all right?”

“I think.” Marcus pushed the book to Seth. “Here, read this. I’ll go see. And no games. Read.”

“All right. All right.” Seth buried his head in the textbook.

As he reached the stairs, Marcus heard Seth’s game on the TV. Halfway up the stairs, he heard another door slam, but couldn’t figure out which.

He paced down the hall, listening for sound. He didn’t want to intrude or make a big deal out of it. He just wanted to make sure Reggie was all right.

As he passed the second door, Marcus heard something in his mother’s room. He knocked briefly and looked in. Eliza paced about the bedroom, arms crossed tight, head down and crying.

“Mom.” Marcus tapped again on the half-opened door, then pushed it open all the way and took a step inside.

“Don’t come in here,” Eliza squeaked.

“Are you all right?”

“Do I look all right?” she rasped hoarsely, tears on her cheeks.

“I just...”

“What do you care, Marcus?”

“Mom, please. We shouldn’t be apart right now. We’re going through the same thing.”

Eliza stepped closer. “What do you know about what I am going through? Nothing. I hope to God, Marcus, that you never lose a child, because there is no greater pain. I lost my husband, my daughter, my granddaughter… and it’s all because of you.”

“How... how can you say that?” Marcus stuttered, his eyes welling.

Eliza gave a bitter laugh. “You might as well have put the weapons in the hands of those people. You and your knowledge. You always had to be so smart; always had to be different. I begged you. I begged you not to create him! But you did.” Eliza moved her hands about as she faced off her son in the doorway. “You brought the devil himself into this world. And when this world ends, Marcus, it will be on your head. And even though you don’t worship him like the fools who do, you will burn in hell with them. And, as far as I’m concerned, you are not my son. My son died with my husband, daughter and granddaughter. I have no children.” She slammed the door in his face.

He turned, head hanging. When he lifted it, he found himself face-to-face with Michael.

Michael stared. A second passed, eyes locked. “Marcus.”

“Excuse me.” Marcus tried to go around him.

“Have... have you seen Reggie? She has slipped by me rather quickly again.”

Marcus shook his head. They heard a flushing toilet sound, followed by running water.

Seconds later, Reggie appeared at the bathroom door right beyond Michael. Reggie took a step out, saw Michael, and tossed up her hands. “God!”

“No, I am Michael.”

“Stop that. And stop following me.”

“You left me without warning.”

“I told you I had to go,” Reggie said. Marcus retreated to the other bedroom. “Did you say something to Marcus?”

Michael gently took hold of Reggie’s arm and pulled her toward him, whispering, “Marcus and his mother, Eliza, spoke with harsh words.”

Reggie raised her eyes and peered down the hall.

“He is very hurt by this.”

Reggie said, “Michael, will you go down and teach Seth while I talk to Marcus?”

“Yes.” Michael nodded. “May I tell him a story?”

“Yes.” Reggie walked down the hall to Marcus’ bedroom. “Tell him about your great battle.”

“I shall.” Michael caught up with her. “You know this means we will be separated.”

“I’ll live,” Reggie said, reaching for the doorknob.

“Reggie,” Michael said. “Speak little words. He has heard enough. It is your heart that he needs to hear now.” Reggie nodded. “And now Seth needs to hear my story.”

“Michael,” she called after him. “Keep it clean. He’s only eleven.”

Michael nodded. Reggie walked into the bedroom without knocking.

Marcus leaned against the dresser, facing the mirror, hands pressed white on the counter top. He raised his eyes to the creak of the door and peered in the mirror’s reflection only briefly before looking down again. “Reg,” he said, his voice cracking, “please leave.”

“No.” Reggie shut the door. “Don’t ask me to.” She moved to him slowly and silently till she brushed into him and lay her hand on his back. She let her body lean into his.

Marcus closed his eyes tightly, his grief palpable. With each comforting stroke, Marcus at once tensed up and crumbled inside, fighting both feelings. His fingers curled up, pressing harder on the dresser’s surface. “What have I done, Reg?”

Reggie’s only answer was a tighter embrace.

“I single-handedly caused the end of the world,” he sighed. “The end of the world. Can you top that?”

“No you didn’t, Marcus, and you know it.”

Marcus shook his head ‘no.’

“Come on,” she cooed softly. “You’re smarter than that. You are the smartest man I know. You only played with science. Man, Marcus, is the one ending the world.”

“I created the clone.”

“Sure you did, you’re smart, a scientist. But you couldn’t create the people who worship that clone. You’re not that good of a scientist.”

“God will never forgive me.”

“Bullshit. Remember Moses? And Aaron? What did Aaron do? He created the golden calf, right? Okay, well did he worship it? Did he tell the people who betrayed Moses to worship it and turn from God? No. And did God know Aaron wasn’t to blame?”

“This is a lot bigger scale.”

“So what? Same difference.”

Marcus slowly shook his head. “But I could have stopped it. Now my father and my...”

“Marcus, stop!” Reggie whispered urgently. “I will not let you blame yourself. I won’t. Okay? The more you do, the more I will counteract you... until I’m blue in the face. I remember somebody saying to me, ‘I won’t let you blame yourself.’ Remember when I confessed to you what I told Daniel before he left that night? You’re the only person who knows what I said to him... the only one who knows that we fought and I told him I hoped he’d die. But you wouldn’t let me feel guilty.” She leaned her head into him. “All our lives Marcus, when one of us was weak, the other was so strong. That’s us. You were the one who made me walk when I didn’t want to see the sun again. You held my hand when I didn’t want to be touched. You took care of Seth when he was too painful for me to look at. And if you think I’m not going to do the same for you, then you’re nuts. I’m here. And I ain’t going no place.”