The Quest: Countdown to Armageddon: Book 6 (7 page)

     “How bad do you think it was, Tom? In the cities, I mean.”

     “Well, honey, I’ve heard stories from Scott and from Hannah. It depended on how well people prepared, and how much they had stockpiled. Those who were ready for a crisis and who were in a position to protect their goods and property probably had a relatively easy time of it. Those who were caught totally off guard had to scavenge alongside many others for the same limited food and water. In that case, I think it was probably survival of the fittest. The weaker people got squeezed out.”

     “Do you think my mom suffered much over the last couple of years?”

     “Well, she survived when the majority of the people didn’t. That’s very telling right there. It means she was strong. It could also mean she was driven. Maybe she
had
to survive. Maybe she had no choice. Maybe you saved her life and didn’t realize it.”

     “What do you mean?”

     “I mean it would have been easy for her to give up and shoot herself after she shot Glen. But she didn’t, and I suspect the reason why is because she felt the same need to find and protect you as you’re feeling for her. Maybe it was that need to find you and protect you that kept her going when people were dying around her. Maybe your leaving that day to go and stay with Jordan and his family is the only thing that’s kept her going all this time.”

     “Do you think we’ll find her, Tom?”

     “Yep. No doubt in my mind. If she’s still alive, we’ll find her and bring her home.”

-10-

        It was nearing noon on their fifth day out when Tom and Sara rode into the northwestern outskirts of San Antonio.

       They'd been riding on the grassy shoulder of Interstate 10, avoiding the hard pavement as long as possible. The asphalt and concrete was hard on the horse's hooves and muscles, and every good horseman knew to take care of their animals. Many cowboys took better care of their horses than they did of themselves. And Tom was old school.

     Sara had been to Baker Street once before, when Scott took her to meet Rhett and Scarlett Butler. But that entire day was but a fog in her memory. That was the day she'd learned that her mother hadn't died after all, and that she was also a victim of Sara's abusive step-father. Her head was spinning that day, and she was lucky to have remembered anything.

     But she was looking forward to seeing Scarlett again.

     Scott had written down directions to Baker Street just in case she couldn’t remember how to get there .

     "Hey, look! Horses!"

     It was an excited cry they'd hear over and over again as they traversed the residential streets of San Antonio. Sadly, not many of the children survived the chaos of the blackout and the plague that followed. Those who did survive were traumatized in a variety of ways.

     One of them was the loss of nearly all of their family pets and other animals.

     Virtually all of the dogs had been killed and eaten, as well as many of the cats.

     Squirrels and jackrabbits outnumbered the citizens of San Antonio prior to the blackout. Now it was a rare day when the children saw either. And none could remember the last time they saw a horse on city streets.

     Horses had been making a comeback as a reliable source of transportation, but only among those who traveled any distance. Within the confines of the city, they were still a rare sight.

     The children survivors would cry out to alert their friends as Tom and Sara approached, and would follow the pair as they passed through each neighborhood. Occasionally they would stop and let the kids draw closer, even touch the animals.

     Sara's heart went out to the children. She couldn't help but wonder how long it had been for them to enjoy something as simple as an animal's touch, in a world that had become so cold and cruel.

     It was late afternoon when they finally turned onto Baker Street.

     Scarlett was in her front yard, tending to her garden, and stood up and yelled when she saw them approach.

     Sara noticed Scarlett's baby bump for the first time.

     She stepped off her horse and hugged the woman, then remarked, "Wow! You sure got pregnant fast."

     Scarlett laughed.

     "No, not really. This blouse is just a bit tighter than the loose one I was wearing when we met a couple of weeks ago."

     There was no masking the glow on Scarlett's face.

     "So, you're happy that you're pregnant, then?"

     "Oh, yes. I couldn't be happier. How have you been?"

     "Very good. Scarlett, this is my good friend Tom. Tom is the sheriff of Kerr County. He's volunteered to help me try to find my mom."

     Scarlett reached up and shook Tom's hand.

     "It's nice to meet you, sir. And it's very admirable for you to help in such an endeavor. I sure hope you can find her."

     She turned back to Sara and asked, "When was the last time you had a good meal?"

     "Not since we left Junction. Are you offering?"

     "Yep. Tom, climb down off your horse and tie them up at that oak tree over there. I'll bring them some water and feed. Then y'all can wash up for dinner."

     Tom asked, "You have horse feed?"

     "Yes. John Castro brought a big bag of it a few days ago, when he said you'd be riding in to see us. And by the way, after we eat you might want to call the people up in Junction and check in. They've been calling three or four times a day, wanting to know if we've seen you yet."   

-11-

     Tom and Sara tied their horses beneath the big shade tree. They had a system going now, whenever they stopped for the night. Since the saddles were too heavy for Sara to handle, she uncinched them one by one and Tom set them off to the side. Sara went behind him and removed the blankets and Tom the bridles. 

     Then Sara would give them a quick brushing while Tom checked their mouths and hooves for any signs of sores or blisters.

     In addition to the feed and water, Scarlett brought out three apples.

     “These are just a bit too ripe for human consumption,” she said. “But I don’t reckon your ponies will mind too much.”

     About the time they finished, Scarlett's friend Jessika stuck her head out of a nearby house and yelled, "Supper's ready!"

     At that exact moment another door opened two houses away and Tom and Sara heard a familiar voice.

     "Sara! Mister Tom!"

     They turned to see little Misty Castro running toward them at full steam, her grin seemingly covering her entire face.

     The surprise showed on Tom's own face as he picked up the girl and spun her around in a full circle.

     Sara asked, "What in the world are you doing here, Misty? I thought you guys lived on the other side of the city."

     Scarlett explained.

     "She and Rachel are staying with us for the time being. Hannah is supposed to be too, but we can't pry her away from the hospital. She hasn't left John's side for three days now."

     Scarlett saw the puzzled looks on her visitors' faces and said, "Oh, my God. That's right. You guys have been out of radio range. So you haven't heard..."

     "Heard what?"

     "About John Castro getting shot."

     Tom's jaw dropped and Sara's knees went weak.

     Sara exclaimed, "Oh, no. Is he all right?"

     Instead of responding, Scarlett looked directly at Misty. Tom and Sara both knew what that meant. Whatever happened to their friend John, whatever his condition was, Scarlett didn't want to discuss it in front of John's daughter.

     That worried Tom. He assumed it meant the news was bad.

     "Why don't we go get some chow?" Tom suggested. "I'm starving, and I heard you guys were pretty good cooks."

     “Well, some of them are,” Misty said. “Some of them really suck at it.”

     Scarlett made a scary face at the child.

     “You better not be talking about me, you little weasel.”

     “If the shoe fits…”

     Scarlett pretended to be angry and said, “I’m gonna get you, you little snot.”

     Misty squealed in delight and ran off, keeping her distance several yards in front of the group. Finally Tom picked her back up and said, “Don’t worry, little one. I’ll protect you.”

     Tom carried Misty toward the house where he could see the other Baker Street residents gathering.

     Scarlett walked twenty paces behind, filling Sara in on the shooting and its aftermath.

     She was careful not to speak loudly enough for Misty to hear.

     "Three days ago. He was picking flowers to take home to Hannah. Some cowardly bastard shot him and then ran away."

     "Oh, my God. Is he okay?"

     "They don't know. He's at St. Mary's Hospital, in Becky's old ward. Becky, bless her heart, volunteered to come back and help take care of him, but the nurses told her not to. They said they've got it under control."

     "Was he able to tell them who shot him and why?"

     "That's just it. He hasn't woken up yet. They did three different surgeries on him to repair the damage to his chest and back and collapsed lung. But they said what worried them the most was the head wound."

     Sara felt faint at the words "head wound." She reached out to Scarlett to steady herself.

     "The doctors said the bullet never entered his brain cavity, and that's a very good thing. Apparently it was a glancing blow, though, and it hit his skull hard enough to break it and to force a big piece of it into his brain. They said his brain is swelling and it's too soon to know whether he'll survive."

     "Oh, no. Please don't say that."

     "I'm sorry, honey. But you might as well hear the rest of it. They also said if he does survive, there will probably be extensive brain damage. He'll probably never walk again, and could live the rest of his life in a vegetative state."

     Sara started to cry.

     "How is Hannah? And Rachel?"

     "Hannah hasn't left his bedside. I don't think she's slept, except for napping when they've had him in surgery. Rachel and Misty don't know the extent of it. Rachel can sense it's serious, but she doesn't know any of the details."

     "Is there anything we can do to help?"

     "Probably not. Rhett's going to be home from work soon and he's going to take me up to the hospital to check on Hannah. You guys can go along if you don't mind riding in a cramped police car."

     "Of course we'll go. Or, at least I want to. I suspect Tom probably will too. We both grew quite close to Hannah and the girls when they were at the compound with us. I consider them among my best friends."

     Scarlett smiled.

     "That's the same thing the girls said about you. That's why they've been working so hard on the flyers."

     "Flyers?"

     But Scarlett didn't have time to elaborate. They were suddenly surrounded by the residents of Baker Street who'd gathered for their community supper.

     Sara remembered many of them from the street party Scott had taken her to a couple of weeks before.

     The conversation about John's shooting and whatever flyers Scarlett was talking about would have to wait. Sara had a lot of people to greet and introductions to make.

-12-

     Tom was leaned back in an easy chair, regretting that he’d eaten so much of Jessika’s spinach lasagna, yet still wanting another portion.