The Desolate

I held my rifle at the ready as we drove through the front gates of the settlement, they called Jericho. A small laugh escaped me at the biblical connotations that came with the name, especially since it probably was indeed the oldest settlement still in existence. My mind was still on edge despite the pain that was making itself known as the adrenaline left my body, three bullet wounds and a likely broken ankle had taken their toll on my strength. No doubt Ashe could sense it as she sat beside me with a pistol on her lap.

The pants she had traveled in were ruined, cut away by that butcher, and soaked in blood, but her eyes were filled with the fire of determination. The same look that had first captured my curiosity all those weeks ago. Thankfully, the bleeding had slowed significantly, though I wondered how much blood she had lost during the whole incident. Still, she was conscious and she was not about to let her guard down. Millie was physically okay, her injuries were mostly superficial in that respect. But the emotional wounds inflicted on her would undoubtedly last longer, the events of that day had drawn her and Ashe closer together. And I could see the protective instinct in Ashe towards the younger girl, her eyes glancing in her direction, maintaining the same determined expression. Through their shared trauma, a bond had formed, the foundations of a strong friendship. Natalie was mostly quiet, her calm breath and focused eyes hinting at a lifetime of horrors. None of this was new to her in any sense, and she held the same determined ferocity that Ashe did, one that sparked a procession of memories as we continued into the town.

She just drove, her eyes focused on the road ahead, careful to slow down when the road got rougher. I had no doubt that this was not the first time she'd seen hell and come through it. I couldn’t help but reflect on the idea that she had lost her first love, in much the same way. Yet she'd lived a long and full life with my father, and in her words, they'd been mostly happy.

A short time later, the truck pulled onto a section of paved road leading up to a well-established central part of the compound inside a second layer of walls. There was the outer barrier, with traps and obstacles and light fencing that made dealing with zombies easy. Between the two layers of walls was a large area set aside for agriculture of various kinds. The outer layer was likely used primarily for clearing and dealing with zombies, not that they seemed to get a whole lot around here given the twenty kilometers of hills between Thornton and the compound. But the second barrier was much sturdier, made from thick metal sheets attached to steel beams that had been concreted into the ground. There were guard towers overlooking the surrounding area as well, providing them with a clear line of sight of any approaching threats. These guys were industrious, and very well set up, there was no doubt about that.

We entered the main gate to the inner compound, where two young men stood guard. But once we passed through, Natalie and Millie seemed to relax slightly, which instinctively put me on edge once again as I started making mental notes of everything I saw. Ashe seemed to notice my reaction and nerves and put a hand on my thigh to try and reassure me. Still, I couldn’t help but do what I had been trained to do for so many years, analyzing the defences, and searching out any weak points. Inside the main compound, Natalie continued along the paved road, passing dozens of small houses and cabins, farm plots, water tanks, and windmills. Every roof seemed covered in solar panels and likely had at least some usable power. There also appeared to be multiple workshops around the outer walls of the compound. In all, I estimated the population to be somewhere between seventy and a hundred based purely on the amount of accommodation available, but it could easily be more if they had satellite settlements, which Natalie had hinted at.

These people had built a functioning and capable industrial village, full of well-armed people, with a well-organized economy. At least on the face of it. But I couldn’t help but think of it in the same critical way that I did with all places like this. What was going to be its downfall? Still, this was a jewel close to the ocean, and if the New Alice leadership knew it was here, they would come for it in force.

Moments later, we pulled up in front of an old-looking farmhouse that seemed to have been restored to its original condition, or perhaps it simply hadn’t changed that much in all this time. It was difficult to say, but it was very familiar to me. I noticed several garages around the far side of the house down a small incline where mechanics worked on maintaining and restoring vehicles alongside several large fuel tanks and a space for ammunition production. When we stopped, Natalie smiled proudly and said proudly, “Welcome to Jericho!” She then turned to me, smiling, and said, “Welcome home, Jack!”

Truthfully, she had every right to be proud, they had accomplished a lot here even compared to some of the most prominent settlements in the interior. She pointed to the garages and workshops, explaining. “Out there, we make biofuel, ammunition, melee weapons, armor, tools, and an assortment of other equipment and supplies.” She turned to an agricultural area we had just driven through. “Over there, we grow most of our own fresh produce. We have livestock and a whole host of different crops that are constantly on rotation, and there are a few workshops and warehouses dedicated to making sure we never run out of clean water and food.”

That part of my mind that had long ago dismantled places like this could not help but note the numerous vulnerabilities and weak points. But it was impressive nonetheless. Still, I kept my thoughts to myself and turned my focus to Ashe, who was still gripping my hand tightly, her leg throbbing with pain from the drive up. My own wounds were not much better, but I wasn't about to let them treat me before they treated her leg. I smiled in response to her explanation, and said, “It’s beautiful Natalie but it can wait, is there somewhere I can take Ashe to treat her leg properly.”

She directed me to the main farmhouse we had parked in front of, and said, “Bring her up here, the ground floor is mostly an infirmary these days. Your dad and I used to live there, but when he died, I decided to move into a smaller cabin and let our resident medical staff take the house and use it as they needed. Upstairs has been cordoned off though. It’s a kind of historical site for us, your mum, dad, and I held out in one of the rooms in there the first night of the outbreak.”

Millie didn’t hang around and wait for us, she ran up to the house, and moments later a middle-aged woman with long greying hair tied up in a bun came out onto the front porch. The woman burst into tears before rushing away from the house. Though Millie didn't follow her. "Her mother?" I asked.

Natalie gave me a small nod, as Millie walked back to the truck, helping me get Ashe inside the house. Once there, an elderly man greeted us with a warm, welcoming smile and said, “Hello there, what happened here?” he asked, looking down at the open wound on Ashe’s leg.

“It’s a very long story, Doc,” Natalie answered flatly. “The flesh was cut away with a sharp knife, though I doubt its cleanliness. It might be worth treating for infection just in case.” She turned to me and said kindly, “Leave her with us, Brandan is great at what he does. She’ll be fine.”

I nodded before turning to Ashe, who threw her arms around me. “We’re good, Jack, I’m not going anywhere.”

“You should stay as well and let us take a look at your injuries too,” Natalie insisted as she cleaned her hands with what smelt like a potent alcohol solution.

I nodded and said, “Look after her first, I’ll wait!” I didn't give them a chance to respond, making my way out onto the front porch. Unable to bear her screams and cries of pain as the doctor worked to clean her wound. Millie joined me for a moment and just sat, offering a reassuring smile. "She'll be okay, Jack!"

I nodded my thanks and leaned back closing my eyes. Etching her suffering to memory and silently swearing I'd never let it happen again. Once they finished, Natalie came out onto the front porch, placing a hand on my shoulder. “All done. She's fine, but she is going to need some rest for at least a few days before she starts feeling okay, and then maybe a few weeks before doing anything too strenuous.”

“Thank you,” I said appreciatively before standing and walking inside to see for myself.

As soon as Ashe saw me, her face lit up though she seemed groggy from some kind of powerful painkiller. “Jack,” she said, her voice no more than a whisper. I sat down next to the bed, saying nothing. Kissing her forehead and appreciating her touch and her warmth as she placed her hand on mine. “We're okay.”

Natalie followed me inside and checked on Ashe’s wounds once more, ensuring her leg was bound correctly. As soon as she finished, she turned to me and said, “Come on, Jack. Let’s look at you as well.”

The doctor managed to pluck several pieces of a shattered bullet from the second shoulder wound before flushing out the hole thoroughly. I'd refused any sort of painkiller, gritting my teeth the whole time. But I wanted to stay lucid. The bullet seemed to have hit and broken a rib on its way through my chest, shattering it into several pieces. Thankfully most of it seemed to come out easily enough. Natalie and the doctor cleaned my wounds thoroughly with some kind of clear alcohol before covering them in gauze to prevent infection. I kept my face stoic through the agonizing pain, gritting my teeth as the doctor worked. Afterwards, Natalie cleaned the wound on my face and used several stitches to hold the wound closed though it did little to help the ringing in my ear. She then checked my ankle over properly as well and strapped it for support.

“You are one tough son-of-a-bitch!” The doctor said, eying off the dozens of bullet and knife wounds I had accumulated over the years.

“Occupational hazard,” I answered dryly, before pulling my shirt back on.

“Try to rest up a few days,” The doctor said, “You all look like you've been through a meat grinder!” His eyes looked at Natalie and he added, “You too ma’am. You look like you’ve been through hell.”

Once he finished his work, I returned to Ashe, who was lying on a single bed in what was probably once the lounge area of the house. She had fallen asleep from exhaustion after what had turned out to be an extremely long and grueling day, to say the least. But I refused to sleep, not wanting to be rendered unconscious in a strange place and not leaving her alone too long after what had happened earlier. My paranoia surfaced once more even when surrounded by people who were for all intents and purposes family. But what surprised me is that my paranoia no longer seemed to see Ashe as a potential threat, instead, it focused on the potential threats to her.

Natalie left me with Ashe for several hours to 'rest', before returning shortly after dark with a plate full of fresh fruit and vegetables. “You should at least eat something if you are not going to sleep!”

I nodded, accepting the offer of food, taking a small round white and yellow fleshing thing from the plate and biting into it. I couldn’t help but smile, remembering what it was by the taste, it was my first apricot in years, “Thank you,” I whispered, trying not to disturb Ashe.

“You are very welcome, Jack!”

“Eggs?” I asked, curiously, gesturing to another bowl in her hand.

She nodded, as I ate one, “Good?”

“Absolutely,” I replied gratefully. I managed to stay awake most of the night sitting next to Ashe’s unconscious body, my hand not leaving hers or the Glock on my hip for more than a few seconds at a time. By the early hours of the morning, I found myself talking to her in her sleep to keep myself awake. “I’m not going anywhere either,” I whispered to her, “that’s a promise! And when you wake up, I’ll make sure you know exactly how I feel. I want every day of the rest of my life to be with you.” I leaned over and kissed her on the forehead before standing up to stretch my legs. Heading outside to the front porch to get some fresh air for just a moment.

Millie was sitting on a chair just a few meters from the door, holding her rifle across her lap while drinking a cup of tea. She looked up, offering a shy smile as I walked out. “What’s going on?” I asked, wondering why she was still there.

“Guard duty,” she explained. “Well…Sort of…” I looked at her a little confused before she explained, “Aunt Natalie asked if I could watch over you two, there are too many idiots that want you to give a full debriefing tonight over what happened. They’re paranoid that you will lead to more problems for the community, or even that you might be a threat yourself. Luke and Josh were talking about taking you into custody, but Natalie insisted that it was a horrible idea that might get someone killed, especially with Ashe incapacitated.” She then let out a long sigh, adding, “So, as a compromise, here I am!”

I nodded. “It’s a fair thing to be afraid of!” I said, “I can’t blame them for their paranoia, it’s one thing that has kept me alive all these years. But you're right, there is no way I will be leaving Ashe alone here. Not until she’s on her feet, after that, they can decide on our fate.”

“Understandable!” Millie said, “I figured as much. Besides, Aunt Natalie and I already debriefed them…” She said hesitantly, “Minus a few details that they have no need or right to know about! But they can wait until tomorrow to hear from you directly.”

I nodded, understanding their desire for more information. “Tomorrow is fine for me though I am not sure if Ashe will be up to it.” I sat down next to her on the front porch, my mind reflecting on my memory of the day’s events. “How are you doing after everything?” I asked, squeezing my eyes shut at the memory of her cries.

She was quiet at first, thinking about her response, but before I could apologize for my question she said, “I’ll be okay… from what Ashe told me, she went through much worse.”

“That’s probably true enough, but it still doesn’t make it okay, and it still doesn’t mean it’s not a horrible thing for someone to go through. I’m sorry I couldn’t get there in time. And for your father as well.”

“It’s not your fault, Jack, and you saved us. Well, mostly.” she said, adding, “It’s honestly good to have you both here!” She continued, “Hell, you and Ashe are exactly what this place needs in a lot of ways. So, fuck those assholes on the council, they can wait until tomorrow and then hopefully they will see the value in having two people who have seen the world and who can teach us and help us get better organized.”

Her comment got me curious, I had a few ideas, but I was interested in what she saw as their biggest weakness. So I asked, “What is it that we offer to this community that you do not already have? You’re pretty well set up.”

She poured a cup of cold tea from a bottle and then handed it to me. She thought for a moment, searching for the right way to make her point. “In simple terms, this place needs a bigger perspective. The people here need to understand that we can’t just wall ourselves up inside forever and shut out the rest of the world. They need to know that there are other groups and settlements out there and that there are still raiders, slavers, and zombie herds roaming the surrounding areas. Those people will not just go away, especially if they know what we have. Hell, from what Ashe was saying about New Alice, if they know about us which is possible given today’s events, it could mean trouble for all of us. Especially since that truck has a radio in it. I don't know about its range, but...”

I nodded and said, “She was right about New Alice. If we can help in some way, I am more than happy to do so. At the end of the day, I’m just looking for a safe place for us to settle now, a safe for Ashe.”

She smiled warmly at my answer. “She’s lucky to have you,” Millie said almost under her breath.

I laughed to myself. “I think you have that backward. I’d be dead if it weren’t for her. Maybe not physically, but...”

"I get it..."

I finished my tea without adding to the conversation further. Millie was pleasant company and perfectly comfortable with my silence. She was clearly still grieving her own loss, both for her father and for her own trauma. We just sat watching the moon rise in the east above the distant hills, enjoying a moment of peace.

A short time later, a young man approached the front porch and nodded to Millie before turning his attention to me. He appeared to be in his early twenties, with a short, well-kept beard and short dark hair, his skin looked rough from a life spent mostly outdoors, but he was clean. “Jack?” he asked, his face difficult to read.

I nodded in answer to his question, leaning forward to shake his outstretched hand.

“I’m Matthew, my mother gave me a rundown of what happened. She asked me to come over and check on you guys and see if you needed anything.”

“Your mother?” I asked curiously.

“Umm…Natalie!”

“I see,” I said, realizing that I was talking to one of my half-brothers.

“I think we are good, thanks, Matt!” Millie said abruptly.

He just stood awkwardly for a long moment staring as if searching my face for an answer to some unasked question. A warm smile soon flashed across his face as if getting the response, he was after. He turned to Millie, and asked, “I heard you guys had a close call out there?”

Millie sighed. “Yeah!”

“I’m sorry about your dad,” he said solemnly. “If you need me to do anything for the funeral, just let me know! Sean and I will head to the cemetery in the morning to dig the grave for him so you won’t have to.” Millie stood, her face strained as if holding back tears, but the floodgates opened the moment she wrapped her arms around him. The young man held her tightly trying desperately to comfort her. “Hey, it’s alright,” he said warmly. “I've got you.” The words and the sentiment rang true and reflected my own regard for the young woman asleep inside.

Sensing that they were having a moment together, and since Millie was on watch I figured it would be safe to leave Ashe for a short time and have a bit of a look around. I quickly finished my tea and went out to find Natalie. Millie directed me to her cabin, and when I arrived, she did not seem to be inside. “Natalie?” I called out while trying not to disturb her neighbors.

“I’m out here,” her voice returned from the rear of the house.

I found her preparing several bowls of what appeared to be rice and offcuts of meat, a delicacy almost anywhere else I had been. “What are you doing?” I asked.

“I’ll show you.” She smiled, leading me around behind a small workshop. As we approached, I could see several cages lined up along the back of a small workshop, and the whines and pawing of several large dogs.

I instinctively backed away when I heard them, the only dogs I had seen in my life were not exactly friendly towards people though I remember reading that they were once a common companion in the old world. Natalie moved from cage to cage, sliding one bowl into each one for the dogs. They did not show even the slightest hint of aggression towards her, their tails wagging as they each ate their food hungrily. “Come over here,” Natalie said, summoning me to the far end of the kennels.

But it was dark, and I couldn’t help that familiar sense of paranoia. All I could manage at first was to shake my head. It was perhaps an irrational fear, but I didn't want to be in such proximity to them. “The only dogs I have ever met before have been wild pack hunters, not pets.”

Natalie came out of the caged area, sensing my anxiety. “That’s okay, maybe next time. I’ll introduce you to Smoke, he’s my baby boy!”

I looked at her curiously, not fully comprehending the meaning of her words. “One of the dogs is your companion?” I asked.

“Oh, yes!” She laughed, “They all are really, but I found smoke many years ago now. He was just a puppy when we rescued him, his mother had been killed by Zombies along with his siblings.”

I listened as she explained all about dogs. I think, above all else, she appreciated the company and the conversation. A little like Henry, she just wanted to pass on her knowledge to anyone who would listen. But I was soon itching to get back to Ashe and make sure she was okay. So, I bid Natalie goodnight and headed back to the farmhouse, finding Millie and my brother Matt sitting next to each other on the front porch. I waved, not stopping to chat as I went back in and sat by Ashe’s bed, my anxiety relaxing only once I had seen her for myself.

I ran fingertips through her red hair, tucking a few loose strands behind her ear, leaning in to kiss her softly and whispering, “Goodnight,” I then sat in the chair and leaned back, falling asleep moments later with my hand still on hers.