THE PARTIALLY HIDDEN sun is still beating down on us in the wasteland, It peeks at us behind the poisoned clouds.
We have come to the gates of the hidden city. It is all guts and tears now.
“What are you doing back so soon, Cowboy?” The Warrior’s voice carries over us.
I searched for her, but only found her circulatory system shining behind the gabion wall. She is near the top. There are others with her, armed and ready for anything.
I’m not sure what she might be thinking, but I hear the whispers of both my light and dark sides.
‘You came with no survivors; she thinks you’re going to attack.’
‘Attack first, show dominance. Humans must be humbled.’
I quieted my thoughts, thinking of only black. This is a trick I learned to cope with the wars and the fighting. At night, I would lie awake, if I did nothing, so I learned a secret:
When your mind is full of noise, and you need it to be quiet so you can rest, all you have to do is think of the colour black. Every time a worry or a thought enters your mind, push it out with black. Soon it will be all you can see, and your mind is silent. Sleeping becomes easier.
When the world is falling apart around you and your neighbours seem to be becoming unhinged, the only way to survive is to develop ways to cope. You will never be the same; the world is changed forever; don’t let it change you.
“I need some help. We’re gonna end the danger.” The Cowboy says.
There is motion behind the walls. She is not exactly rushing to come talk to us. She is talking with a few others at her side.
“How are you gonna end the danger?” She asks.
“I understand you’re tryin ta protect 'em, that’s what I want for them; it’s why we built this place, remember? I can’t do it alone. I need everybody fur this ta work.” The Cowboy takes his hat off.
One of the people next to her pulls the Warrior back, but she comes anyway, and the Gabion door slides open. She comes out, and she and the Cowboy hug. It is warm and real, not something I will taunt him about later.
“You’re back so soon. I thought something was wrong. You didn’t bring any survivors. There are no vehicles.” She states, her eyes dissecting us and her surroundings.
He puts his hands on her face and directs her sight into his.
“Fur everything ta work, we gotta do this together.”
She nods her head. She knows this is going to happen. We are about to walk that line; we are treading the waters of uncertainty; we are about to go to war.
The two-headed crow lands on the ground nearby.
“Time to go.” It says.
A CALL TO ACTION
The Cowboy lets out a frustrated breath.
“I need some brave souls who are capable of traversing the wasteland. We need to lure the Monster into the caves.”
They stay silent as I scan the sea of faces standing nearby. I can’t believe how clean and healthy they all look; not a single mutant among them. I am gazing upon what is left of humanity. (Well, out of who we found so far, anyway.)
It is extra warm today. The constant dripping of melting frost can be heard echoing on the breeze. These cracked ancient roads are a friend to nobody. This trek is going to be dangerous, and these people are all that’s left.
I am surprised to learn how many want to volunteer to help us capture the Monster. Seeing how many step forward will melt all this snow with the love I feel for them.
How brave these humans are, knowing they could die, or worse, be eaten by the Monster. They don't let that stop their glorious hearts. A fire burning in every one of them. I know they mean it.
The Cowboy tastes his grin once more, and it looks like it tastes good because that is a brilliant smile.
“We only need a handful of ya. Jus enough to keep him chasin us. My heart is truly touched by your bravery; I am glad to know ya.”
I step forward. All eyes on my grinning face.
“You make him come, and I will get him.”
I know. It came out wrong. I hear it too.
It had been a long time since I felt the green come up in my face. Still not embarrassed. I’m not even going to acknowledge my slip of the tongue. Just like the company AMAZON, it will be forgotten about in time.
I enjoy getting things brought to me, but when society fell, they needed drones and guards to get people their stuff. They actually stayed in business for a number of years until the mutiny.
People don’t like slave labour. When are they ever going to learn? If they shared the profit, they would still be in business. They were too greedy and didn’t care about people.
My mother told me an old saying: “Without the people, the king is just a lonely man sitting in an uncomfortable throne.”
They are dressed well. Winter gear and faceplates. Every bit of flesh is covered. It is a good thing too because the wind is unforgiving, and there is death in the cold, waiting to claim you in the little it can. It eats your flesh, turning it black and killing it.
Every one of the chosen five is armed and ready to fight for life. They are ready to beat back death and live for their people. Are they ready for Monster?
Warrior steps forward, her faceplate not on yet; she is geared up.
"I’m leading this trek."
One of the women whom I have seen standing near her steps forward.
“You can't!” She commands.
Warrior lowers her head and lets out a breath. She marches closer to her and pulls her into a hug. The woman’s Native (First Nation’s) face, staring at me over her shoulder. Warrior steps back, letting her hand slide down the woman’s arms.
“All of this has made me realize some things. Some of you have ideas, and me staying holds you back from growing. I’m not that selfish. I want this colony to grow. You have to stay strong and look out for each other. Chief is the leader now, and one day she will choose another.”
She touches Chief’s face. “When you're ready and another shows you, they can be the leader…”
She turns Chief around and guides her view with her hand through the air.
“You go out there and find others. You bring them back here. That’s what I’m going to be doing. It’s what one day we will all have to do.”
She turns and gains the eyes of her people.
“I’m counting on you to teach those I bring here our way. We can never let the world become the way it was ever again. People first.”
“PEOPLE FIRST!” They cheer back to her.
“Okay.” She emotes.
Doing up her faceplate, she finds her place in front of the Cowboy.
“Yer commin with?”
“For now, later I will need to go out on my own.” She replies.
“I understand.” The Cowboy replies.
He turns and faces the road ahead. A smile painted on his face through his facial hair. He’s going to take a walk with his friend and save the world.
The Ghouls, the Demon, and I follow behind. We leave this community of stout survivors behind and begin our journey into the frozen tundra. We have no idea what is waiting for us, but we are going anyway.