Chapter 16
The three sat quietly, slowly chewing the tough jerky. Luke looked over at Humphrey and said, “You’re old, what did you do before the collapse?”
Humphrey laughed and answered, “I am not that old. You had trouble keeping up with me.”
Luke made a face, “It’s just hard running through all this underbrush and stuff.”
“Exactly my feelings,” Humphrey agreed. Then he was quiet for a minute.
“I had a corporate job up top,” he said.
“Softwar company?” Luke asked.
“No. I didn’t write software. There were lots of city jobs, group work, in big buildings back then. Not real work like growing food but it was stuff that needed to be done, then. I worked for an advertising company,” Humphrey explained.
Kate swallowed the meat in her mouth and leaned forward. “What kind of job was that?”
“In its way, it was a good job,” Humphrey replied. “It paid good. I didn’t get my hands dirty,” he said holding up his dirt-covered hands. “But I didn’t really enjoy it,”
Luke said, “What did you have to do in ‘advertising’?”
Humphrey smiled. “That’s a little harder to describe. You know, back then, things were a lot more complicated and a lot more interconnected. Things are a lot simpler now.”
Humphrey looked off across the tunnel as he continued. “There were some people that did real work, individual work, by that I mean they physically made things that were needed. So let’s say you made jerky. Now these days we take our things to town and trade them for things like clothes and bread and such.
“Back then there were lots of people, big corporations, making jerky. You went to a ‘grocery store’ to buy your jerky. The big corporations would come to us and we would sit around a conference table and think of ways to make jerky ‘prettier’ and ‘smarter’ and ‘tastier.’
“We would take pretty pictures of the jerky and write happy songs about it and show people why this corporation had the best jerky in the world. And then people would go buy it. My job was writing short little stories about products, like jerky.”
Humphrey looked around at Kate and Luke. He looked a little embarrassed.
“What if the jerky tasted bad?” Kate asked. “Some kinds do.”
Humphrey looked at her and answered, “If the jerky was bad, we had to take even prettier pictures and write better, funnier little stories for it. They weren’t selling the jerky for taste. They were selling it for money.
“Now don’t get me wrong,” Humphrey added. “Money is not bad in itself. It allowed you to go and buy things from all over the world. Right now we can pretty much only trade for something in the nearest town. But money got out of balance. There wasn’t enough to go around so the corporations starting fighting each other for it. Next thing you know, it all collapsed. And here we are eating jerky that’s hard as the soles of my shoes.” Humphrey laughed and banged his feet together making a loud noise.
“How did you get down here after the collapse?” Luke asked.
Humphrey looked up the tunnel past Luke “We’ll save that for another time. We have company coming.”
Luke and Kate looked up the tunnel. There were two men heading their way about two kilometers away.
Kate stood up to evaluate the threat. Her right hand dropped down to the dagger’s hilt. Her fingers tapped on it in a musical way.
There was nothing special about the two men. Average height. Average builds. Usual clothes. They were older looking. They did walk as though they were carrying a burden.
Humphrey whispered urgently, “When they stop, if they stand close to each other they’re safe. If they step away from each other and lower their packs to the ground, be ready to fight.”
Kate saw both men carried packs on their backs. They were not backpacks, more like half water kegs.
Humphrey stood up. Luke rose up beside him.
The men came on until they were ten meters away. They stopped and stood near each other. The one on the left raised his arm in greeting and called, “Good day Pilgrims.”
Humphrey answered before Kate could speak. “Good day, friends. Have you traveled safe? Where are you about?”
“Up to Sutphin,” the man answered.
The man on the right joined in, “And if that doesn’t work out, on up to Jamaica. We’ve had no problems. Road’s been empty. And you?” he asked.
“Road’s been good. Takin’ the kids to One Hundred-Twenty First. Looking for some squash seed,” Humphrey replied.
“Not worth the walk,” the first man stated. “The people there are tighter than a Scotsman's purse!” He winked his left eye at Kate, “Cleaning it up for the Lass.” Then he continued, “If you’re out for a walk then head up to Woodhaven. If not, then you should head home, where ever that might be.”
“Home is Jamaica,” Humphrey offered. “So we might as well do the walk about. Good for the kids to see the world.”
“Such as it is,” the second man added.
“Such as it is,” Humphrey agreed. “Care to rest a bit with us? We can offer some good water.”
Both men laughed. The first one explained, “No thanks Pilgrim. We’ve got two half casks of the best Scotch money used to buy on our backs. Flying Monkeys it’s called. Lifts you up and carries you away,” he laughed. “We’re making it in Woodhaven. This batch,” he twisted around so everyone could see the cask. “has been resting for a month. If you don’t like its taste you can use it to peel paint!” he laughed again.
Humphrey laughed along with him. “You giving samples?” he asked.
“No, Pilgrim. Wish I could. We’re trying to set up a trade line and can’t afford any fun. Unless you have something to offer?” he answered and looked at Kate. The second man added his eyes to her.
Kate’s hand gripped her knife.
“Afraid all we have is some jute,” Humphrey answered, ignoring the looks. “Took us nearly a year to make. Like you, we can’t afford to waste it on fun. Need to trade for some seed or we’ll starve.”
“That’s a pity,” the first man said with a wink. “But starving ain’t fun, is it Archie?”
The second man, Archie, laughed and answered, “With some Flying Monkeys in you, starving with some fun on the side ain’t half bad.”
The first guy laughed and gave Archie a shove. “Archie, you’re terrible. Let’s get on up the road,” he ordered then raised his hand in goodbye, “Pilgrim, Lad, Lassie, be careful and stay on the road.”
“Thanks,” Humphrey answered. “You all be careful, and dry,” he added.
Both men laughed as they moved away.
Luke glared after them. “Did you see them eyeing Kate?” he asked angrily.
“We all saw it Luke,” Humphrey answered.
“We should kill ‘em,” Luke spat off.
Humphrey answered, “Boy, if we killed every man that looked at a girl there would be a lot fewer men to worry about and we would never run out of a job.”
Humphrey looked over at Kate, “Are you okay?”
Kate nodded and answered, “I’m fine. Let’s get out of here. We’ve rested enough.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Humphrey responded. He pointed up ahead of them, “Larson’s tracks ran over along this wall. I’ll get after them unless you need me to help with the gear?”
“Get after them,” Kate answered, “I can handle the gear.”
Humphrey nodded and shamble off after the trail.
Kate bent down to hoist up the backpack.
Luke came running over. “Let me help you!” he said and reached out for one of the pack straps.
Kate jerked the pack to her. “I said, I can handle it.” She glared at Luke.
“Okay, fine,” he told her. “Excuse me for trying to help.”
“Like I told you, if you want to come along, it’s a free world. I didn’t ask you, I don’t need you.”
Luke glared at her. “You’ve made that plain. I’ll catch up with Hump.” Luke turned around and walked after Humphrey.
Kate did not watch Luke stomping off. She was busy hanging the canteen on the pack and then swinging the pack up onto her shoulders. Kate picked up the shoulder bag and checked the knife. It had settled to the bottom of the jerky. She moved it up to the top so that it was closer at hand and slung the shoulder bag over her right arm and followed after the other Pilgrims.
Chapter 17
It had been a long slow day of trying to find, and follow the trail. “You can see this wide area that’s been tramped down,” Humphrey said pointing out a spot. “Larson’s keeping everyone close to the wall. He’s still hoping to find an open exit. But he hasn’t yet.”
“You’re sure no one has split off?” Kate asked.
“I’m sure,” Humphrey answered. “Maude would leave me a sign if she left the pack.”
“The Twins can’t do that,” Kate said.
“I know. But they got little feet. And they wouldn’t go off alone. Larson is keeping them with him. We’ll find them when we find him.”
Luke spat on the ground near his foot.
Humphrey looked up from the trail at him, “You okay, Luke?”
“Yea, just a bad taste in my mouth,” he answered.
“Well, maybe you should work on that,” Humphrey suggested.
Luke spat again. “I’m working on it,” he answered.
Kate ignored the conversation.
If you can’t say anything good, don’t say anything.
“Is that One Hundred-Twenty First up there?” Kate asked.
Humphrey looked up ahead. “It looks like the tunnel opens up. That should be One Hundred-Twenty First.”
“Let’s get on up there then,” Kate answered.
They reached the entrance and stopped. One Hundred-Twenty First ran from tunnel wall to tunnel wall. There were not a lot of buildings but they were spread across the space. The tunnel lighting was bad, except across the cavern, so the town was strung out like a line across the area. There was no way to avoid the town. You had to walk right through it.
“Well, what do you think they did?” Kate asked.
“The only thing they could do. Larson has no fear. They walked right in,” Humphrey answered. “What do you want to do?”
“Walk right in,” Kate answered. “I’ll go in first and ask around. Someone had to see them.”
“It’s got to be close to lights down, so hurry,” Humphrey added.
“Right,” Kate answered. She pulled the jerky bag off her shoulder and handed it to Luke then slid out of the backpack and set it on the ground. She turned and walked into the town space.
As she got close to the line of buildings her eyes scanned along them looking for someone. No one was outside. The town looked deserted. Then, off to her right, someone turned on a light, spilling it out through the window. Kate changed directions and headed to that house. As she got close she heard someone humming, a man’s voice.
Kate stepped up to the door and knocked.
The humming stopped. There was a second delay. “Yeah?” a deep voice asked.
Remembering what had happened in Sutphin when they mentioned Raiders, Kate said, “Sorry to bother you, but I am looking for my family. I was wondering if they had passed here?”
Kate heard a chair scoot against the floor. Someone crossed over to the door.
“And who is this?” the man asked.
“My name is Kate, daughter of Jerome and Kay. I’m from up tunnel. My sisters are traveling with a big group of people going to Woodhaven. Did they pass here?”
The door opened and the light poured out of the room, silhouetting a big man who answered, “Lots of people pass by. What do your sisters look like?”
“Twin girls, red-headed, seven years old,” Kate replied. With the light in her eyes she could not see the man’s face, but his voice sounded concerned and helpful. “They’re with my aunt, Aunt Maude.”
“There’re some folks staying with William. I think they have redheaded twins with them,” the man answered.
“Really!” Kate almost shouted in excitement. “Where is William’s. I was afraid I’d missed them again.”
The big man stepped out beside Kate and closed the door. “William’s is just down here,” he said and pointed to Kate’s left. “He’s got a big place so’s he can rent out rooms. I’ll walk you down there,” he said adding, “My name’s Bill.”
“Thank you, Bill,” Kate gushed. “I hoped to catch up with my aunt and sisters earlier today but I missed them in Sutphin.”
Now that Bill was out of the bright light Kate noticed that he had really broad shoulders, wide enough for two men but his waist and legs were thin and narrow. It gave him a V-shape with him balancing on the point.
“You out here all by yourself, Miss?” Bill asked as they passed some dark buildings.
Kate answered, “Yes,” without thinking. The Twins were just over there!
“You shouldn’t travel alone,” Bill stated. “There’s all kinds of people out and about. You could have run into Raiders!”
“I didn’t see anyone in the tunnel here except some guys selling whiskey,” Kate laughed. “They were harmless.”
Bill laughed. “Yeah, they were here. Flying Monkeys, right?”
“Yes,” Kate laughed happily. She saw a big, low building ahead with lights on inside. It sounded like music was coming from inside.
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“That’s William’s place,” Bill said. “He does some merry making in there.”
Kate and Bill reached the door. Bill pushed the door open and the light slightly blinded Kate. She heard the music stop.
“Step right in Miss.,” Bill said placing a hand on the small of Kate’s back and guiding her forward with a push through the door. Bill followed after her and shut the door behind them.
Kate’s eyes quickly adjusted to the light. She was in a low ceilinged room filled with smoke and men.
“Who you got there, William?” someone called out.
“Tonight’s entertainment,” Bill laughed. “If you got the money for it.”
Kate looked around in terror at the dozen men staring at her. She looked at Bill, “Where are my sisters?”
“No idea, Missy,” Bill chuckled. “Never saw them. But if they were here, we’d let ’em join in!”
Bill grabbed Kate’s left wrist and lifted her arm up into the air. He looked over at the crowd of men and roared, “Who’s got money? What’s the opening bid?”
Kate screamed and tried to twist away. Bill shook her about like a rag doll.
“Who’s first?” he shouted.
Chapter 18
The door behind Kate burst open, crashing into the wall. Luke came flying in like a screaming dervish, wielding the big knife like a blazing scimitar.
The crowd of men was transfixed by his appearance.
Kate struggled against Bill’s grasp. He held on tightly to her as he roared terrible oaths at Luke. Kate’s right hand went down to the dagger’s hilt. She pulled it free and in an arcing sweep of her right arm she stabbed Bill in the forearm holding her.
Bill screamed in pain and released her, almost tearing the dagger out of her hand as he pulled away.
“Who wants to die?” Luke screamed as he lunged at Bill, aiming the knife’s point at Bill’s throat.
The crowd of men was frozen in horror watching Bill dodge Luke’s thrusts.
“Who’s first?” Luke shouted.
Kate raced past Luke and outside. It was ‘lights down’ and hard to see after the bright lights in William’s place.
But Humphrey was there waiting. “This way, Kate! This way!” He took her left hand in his right and started running as fast as he could move across the line of buildings leading her toward the far tunnel entrance.
Kate could hear Luke swearing at the men behind her.
Humphrey moved faster than Kate could imagine. He was wearing the backpack and carrying the shoulder bag and she still had trouble keeping up with him as they ran past the buildings of One Hundred-Twenty First and to the down tunnel entrance. They stopped at the entrance to catch their breath.
The tunnel was in ‘lights down’ mode but it was easy to see the road running down its center.
Humphrey transferred the backpack and shoulder bag to Kate. “Get going!” he ordered. “I’ve got to go back and help Luke!”
“I can help!” Kate shouted.
“No you can’t! Get going,” Humphrey repeated. “We’ll catch up. After we make sure no one follows!”
Kate raised her right hand still clinching the dagger, “But...”
“No ‘buts’,” screamed Humphrey. “Go! We’ll catch up!” He shoved Kate forward. “Go!”
Kate took off running down the tunnel road.
Humphrey turned around and ran back to help Luke.
Kate ran. She ran until a pain in her side forced to slow down to a walk, but she kept moving forward until she reached a spot where the tunnel curved gently to the left. She stopped at the beginning of the curve. It was a good spot to keep watch of her back trail. She set the backpack and shoulder bag down and in the low light of the tunnel she watched and waited.
Kate stood there for what seemed an eternity staring out into the tunnel. Finally she heard the sound of running feet echoing down the tunnel to her. As the sounds grew louder and closer she pulled her knife out and moved farther back into the curve so that only her face peeked down the road.
She saw some movement but could not make it out.
Sometimes you can turn your head a little and look out the corner of your eyes. I’m not sure why it works, but it does.
Kate turned her head and watched carefully. She made out two shapes running down the tunnel. One of the shapes moved in an odd fashion. It had to be Humphrey struggling sideways beside Luke. They were both okay!
Kate stepped out of the curve and ran to meet them.
Humphrey was struggling to stay on his feet. Luke had one arm around him to keep him upright and moving and in the other he carried the knife.
Kate burst on top of them, hugging them together. “Are you okay? Are you okay?” she begged pulling everyone together tightly.
“I’m fine, I’m fine!” Luke answered laughing. “Except you’re breaking my neck!”
Kate pulled him closer and kissed him quickly, pulling back to look at Humphrey.
“Are you okay, Humphrey?” she demanded.
Humphrey grinned at her. “Do I get a kiss?” he asked.
“Of course you do,” Kate laughed, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek.
Kate hugged them both tightly. “You both saved my life! How can I not kiss you!” and she kiss them both again.
“I need to set down,” Humphrey gashed. “I can’t move another step.”
Kate and Luke helped Humphrey down to a seat on the tunnel floor.
“We’ve worn his ass out.” Luke laughed. “You should have seen him with those creeps!” he told Kate, pulling her over to him and kissing her on the cheek.
Kate pulled back from Luke and looked down at Humphrey. “What did he do?” she asked.
“I didn’t do anything,” Humphrey answered. “Luke was the one doing everything.”
Luke reached down and tousled Humphrey’s hair. “I wouldn’t have gotten out of there without you old man!”
“I told you I wasn’t so old,” Humphrey laughed.
“Well, what happen?” Kate demanded looking back and forth between the two.
“Well, so I was waving this here pig sticker you have at those creeps when you ran out the door,” Luke started. “I lunged at that big, ugly guy and he jumped away screaming like a baby. Then I ran at this little, ugly guy and he screamed and probably wet himself. Then I was waving the knife at everyone at once,” Luke stated and he stepped back and started jumping around flashing the knife showing how he did it. “Then I start thinking.”
“He wasn’t doing any thinking before that,” Humphrey laughed.
Luke waved the knife at Humphrey in a mock attack and continued, “I was thinking, ‘How am I going to get out of here?’”
“See what I mean?” Humphrey told Kate.
“Well, that’s when Hump came in!” Luke shouted. “And Hump was like a crazy man, crazier than me even,” Luke added. “He was bellowing like a bull elephant, roaring like a lion, and howling like a mad dog! All at the same time. He might even have been foamin’ at the mouth. He started flippin’ and throwin’ tables and chairs around like they were toys. Those creeps were scared to death of him. I was scared of him!” Luke boasted. “Next thing I knew those dudes were hightailing it out a back door and Hump was pulling me out the front and telling me to ‘Run!’ And we ran!” Luke asserted.
Kate looked down at Humphrey. “Did you really do all that?”
Humphrey grinned. “I don’t know. But what I do know is that Luke there had every one of those guys ducking and dodging for their lives. It’s just a shame he didn’t nick a few of them, but they didn’t give him a chance. They were streaming out that back door like the place was on fire!”
Kate looked back and forth between the two, “You saved my life.”
“We should have never let you go in there by yourself,” Humphrey stated. “That was stupid.”
“Yeah, you should kick us for letting you go in there,” Luke added. “That was dumb!”
“Like either of you could have stopped me!” Kate laughed. “Daddy always said I was hard headed.” They all laughed.
“What do we do now?” Kate asked. “Head on up the tunnel?”
Humphrey shook his head, “Really, I can’t take another step. I’m not even sure I can get back up.”
“Those creeps aren’t goin’ to follow us,” Luke stated. “It’ll take ‘em a day just to clean up the messes they made on themselves.”
“Okay them,” Kate said. “Let me run up and get the water and stuff and we’ll rest here until Humphrey’s ready to go.”
“Okay, just until I catch my breath,” Humphrey agreed.
Kate turned and ran back to the curve where she had left her stuff.
Chapter 19
Kate opened her eyes. It was still lights down. Someone was shaking her foot softly.
“Need to wake up, Kate,” said Humphrey. “We need to put some more distance between us and One Hundred-Twenty First.”
“Okay,” Kate mumbled and closed her eyes. Humphrey shook her foot again.
“Do you want to meet the Creeps again?” Luke asked loudly.
“Nooo,” Kate muttered. She opened her eyes and rolled her head around. Both Luke and Humphrey were standing near her feet looking at her. Luke had the backpack on and Humphrey held the shoulder bag.
Kate rose up on her right elbow. “How long you been awake?”
“Not long,” Humphrey answered. “I woke up and got Luke up and now it’s your turn. You need to get up, it’ll be lights up soon.”
Kate pushed herself up to a sitting position. “Okay, okay. I’m getting up. I’m getting up.”
She stood up and stretched. “Luke, have you got the water?”
“It’s here on the backpack. There’s not much in it,” he answered turning his back to Kate.
Kate pulled the canteen off the backpack. It was light. She raised it to her ear and shook it. “Have you had any?” she asked.
“Hump and I both had a sip,” Luke answered. “We saved the last for you.”
Kate opened the canteen and took two sips. She handed the canteen to Humphrey. “I’ve got a small jar of water in the pack,” she told them. “You all split the rest of the canteen. That and the jar should get us to the next town. Don’t you think?” she asked.
“That should be One Hundred-Eleventh,” Humphrey stated. “It should be plenty, if we’re careful with it.”
“Well, let’s go,” Kate stated. “Lead the way,” she said to Humphrey.
Humphrey slung the bag over his shoulder and moved out toward the center of the tunnel and the road. Kate and then Luke fell into line behind him.
“There won’t be any tracks to follow out here,” Humphrey said over his shoulder. “The ones we were following went into town back there. No way to tell which ones they are coming out of town. That place really messed everything up.”
“Yeah, we should have messed them up,” Luke growled.
Nothing good ever comes out of anger.
“I’m just happy we got out there,” said Kate. Then she shouted in joy, “They saw the Twins! The Twins had been there.”
Humphrey stopped and turned to face her. “How do you know that?” he asked.
“That big guy, Bill. He told me there were ‘red headed’ twins in that place. I didn’t say anything about Kayla and Kaylie being redheads. That means he saw redheaded twins! He saw Kayla and Kaylie!”
“Then we’ve got to go back,” Luke said moving up beside Kate.
“Right,” Humphrey agreed.
Kate laughed. “I don’t think so. I mean, you two scared that whole town. Do you think those creeps captured a bunch of Raiders?” She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
Luke kind of pushed his chest out. “Hey, Hump and I are some bad men.”
Kate shoved Luke on the shoulder and staggered him back a step. “You are ‘bad men’ alright,” she said. “But you aren’t that Larson guy. Are you Humphrey?”
“No, we’re not,” Humphrey answered. “We’re not anything as bad as Larson.” He nodded at Kate, “You’re right. Those guys didn’t capture anyone. Larson is still ahead of us.”
“Well then, let’s go,” ordered Kate. “Lead on Humphrey.”
Humphrey turned and started forward.
“See, something good did come of my going in there,” Kate stated. “I know the Twins are alive.”
It was not long before lights up. The lights in the tunnel began to hum with the increased flow of power. The color range of the lamps went from a dull yellow to light blueish tint. The three were able to pick up their traveling speed in the better light.
After a while Humphrey raised his right hand in a “halt” motion and he turned around facing Kate and Luke.
“Let’s take a bite to eat,” he said looking back at them. Then to Kate he added, “Are you okay?”
“Sure, why?” she asked.
Humphrey walked up to her and quietly said, “You have some blood on you.”
“They didn’t hurt me. Where’s the blood?” Kate asked.
Humphrey walked on past her. “Luke, turn around and let me get the canteen.” Then he looked to Kate and said, “On you pants. Do you have a change?”
Kate looked down and saw the red stain Humphrey had noticed. She groaned, “Great. Just what I need. I thought I had finished yesterday.” Her period was continuing.
Kate turned to see if Luke had noticed but he had his back turned to her as Humphrey was fiddling with the canteen.
“I have some stuff in the backpack,” Kate answered Humphrey and moved up beside him.
“Luke, let me just take the pack off and set it down,” Humphrey said. “Kate can get that water jug out of there easier that way,” and he slid one of the shoulder straps off Luke’s shoulders.
Luke wiggled out of both straps and Humphrey lowered the pack to the ground, keeping hold of the canteen.
The pack was beside Kate’s feet. She sat down, opened it up and began unpacking.
Luke turned around. “Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Everything is great,” Humphrey answered and pressed the canteen into Luke’s hands. “Take a sip then pass it back to me,” he ordered.
Kate pulled out the poncho Jolene had given her and pulled it on over her head. It’s bottom fell to the ground covering her as she sat. She pulled some other things out of the pack and sat them down away from the guy’s view.
She took the water jar out and held it up for Humphrey. “Here,” she said. As he took the water she added, “I need to go over there,” and pointed to the tunnel wall closest to them.
“Sure, we’ll wait right here,” Humphrey answered. Then to Luke he said, “The lady needs some privacy, Luke. Let’s just turn around and give her some. Okay?”
Luke looked at them puzzled. “Sure, no problem,” he answered and both he and Humphrey turned their backs on Kate.
Kate stood up with the small bundle of things in her hands. The poncho was long. It fell on down below her knees. She headed away from the guys.
“What’s goin’ on, Hump?” Luke asked.
“It’s a woman thing. Just drink some water and be quiet,” Humphrey replied.
“Ooooh,” Luke responded.
In a few minutes Kate walked up with the poncho on her arm. “Okay, let’s go,” she said.
Humphrey and Luke turned around. Luke was red faced.
Humphrey said, “Kate, why don’t you and I stay here and let Luke go ahead and get some water. He can make a lot better time without us holding him back. He can be back in no time.”
“I’m not going to hold us back,” Kate stated a little angrily.
“Well, I certainly slow everyone down,” Humphrey said. “And you could use the water. You don’t need to get dehydrated. None of us do,” he added quickly.
Kate looked from Humphrey to Luke and back. “You two already made a plan?” she asked.
Luke shook his head vigorously. “We don’t have any plan. I don’t know what Hump is talking about.”
“Kate, you and I can sit down and rest while Luke goes ahead. It won’t hurt you and it’ll help me. What do you think?” Humphrey asked.
“Whatever you think,” Kate answered. “I’m tired.”
“Luke, there’s a little bit of water in the canteen for you,” Humphrey said. He reached into the shoulder bag, pulled out some jerky and handed it to Luke. “Take this and get on up to One Hundred and Fourteenth. Kate and I’ll wait here for you.”
Luke took the meat and looked at Kate.
“Well, go on,” she said.
“I’ll be back as fast as I can,” Luke said. He turned and headed down the tunnel at a fast walk.
Kate bent down over the backpack and started repacking it.
“There is no use wearing ourselves out,” Humphrey stated.
Kate did not respond. She continued with the backpack.
“Let’s move over to the wall,” Humphrey offered.
“Sure,” Kate answered picking up the pack.
Chapter 20
Kate and Humphrey were sitting with their backs to the tunnel wall. No one had spoke for a couple of minutes.
Humphrey cleared his throat and asked, “What did your parents do before the collapse?”
Kate looked down at her hands for a second then looked up and answered. “Well, like you, they had city work. Mom was a mechanical engineer at a big corp. They had a ‘campus’ she worked in. She was part of a big design team, like sixty people or something,” Kate explained. “She hated it. But it paid the bills. Said she never really felt like she got to design anything. She was just always working on some team project. Said it was like being on a committee.”
Committee’s never solved anything. They just talked.
“Dad was an educator. Taught philosophy or something. He never really talked about it. Just said it wasn’t relevant to the moment,” Kate finished and looked up at Humphrey.
“They sound like very interesting people. How did they make it down here?” Humphrey asked.
“I was one when we came down so I just know what I picked up. They didn’t really talk about it. I guess you would call them ‘secret preppers,’” Kate laughed. “They could see which way things were heading so when it all collapsed they were ready.”
Kate continued, “Mom was the greatest mom in the world. She could do anything and Dad turned into the best farmer, ever. He could grow anything. Even in the dark. He was one of the first to use the roots from the remaining topside plates to do photosynthesis for our crops. He had a copy of One Straw Revolution that he called his Bible. He loved that book,” Kate said softly.
He could grow vegetables in the desert!
“I couldn’t find it after the Raiders left. I’m sure they didn’t take it to read.”
Kate rubbed at her eyes with the back of her left hand. “You were going to tell Luke and me about how you got down here,” Kate reminded Humphrey.
“Okay,” he answered, “If you don’t think Luke will be angry about missing the story?”
“If the story is that good, you can tell it twice,” Kate said with a smile.
Humphrey laughed, “Okay. It might be that good. But I doubt it. So, I told you what I did up top, well Maude was a writer. She wrote niche novels called ‘cozy mysteries.’ Which, like your father said, they’re not relevant to our current existence. What is relevant is that she and I had an income that allowed us the freedom to travel. And we did travel, all over the world. When you get out and see how the rest of the world lives it makes you appreciate what you have. And like your Mom and Dad, we could see the troubles coming.
“I quit my job about twenty months before the collapse. Maude continued to work, but not very hard. I’d always believed that whatever one man can learn to do, so can another. So I spent every day, reading, trying to learn everything I could. Everything I thought we could need to know.”
Humphrey smiled, “I read you Dad’s Bible, for example. I read about hydroponics and Japanese wood joinery and apple tree grafting and trout farming and subway tunnels and basic electricity.
“We were ready when the collapse hit,” Humphrey stated. “I knew where we needed to go and had a stockpile of stuff ready. We were doing great until Larson showed up one night.” Humphrey shook his head. “I should have read about Temüjin.”
“Who?” Kate asked.
“Genghis Khan,” Humphrey answered. “Not that anyone defeated Genghis Khan. Larson could have taught Temüjin a thing or two.”
“What good would that have done?” Kate asked.
Humphrey had a grim look on his face as he answered, “I could have fought better, defended Maude better.”
Kate reached out and touched Humphrey’s hand, “When he attacked us, there were probably twenty men with him. Dad needed an army to fight him.”
“I should have formed an army,” Humphrey stated quietly. “I didn’t understand one was needed. In times of anarchy, ‘Might is right.’ I know that now.”
Kate pulled her hand back. “My parents would have challenged that statement. But maybe you are right. Mom and Dad needed an army’s help.”
Kate and Humphrey were quiet with their own thoughts. Kate was the first to speak.
“Do you have any kids?” she asked.
“No,” Humphrey responded, shaking his head. “Maude and I have never had children.” Raising his eyes up to Kate’s he asked, “Did your mother ever talk about the ‘Not Now, Later’ program?”
“No. What was that?” Kate asked.
“It was just advertising, that’s what it was,” Humphrey answered. “Back when Maude and I were at studies the biggest biological pharmacology corporation came out with ‘Not Now, Later’. It was a procedure to postpone pregnancy in females. It was only mildly invasive and completely reversible.”
“What does that mean,” Kate asked.
“Basically the procedure stopped the hormonal changes associated with fertility without inhibiting the natural maturation of the subject,” Humphrey stated.
Kate thought about those words. She rolled them over and about in her mind. Finally she asked, “So women wouldn’t have their periods anymore?”
“Exactly,” Humphrey answered with some embarrassment.
“I would go for that,” Kate stated. “Being a girl was great until I was eleven. Then everything changed.”
“That’s the perspective the corporation sold. ’Not Now, Later.’ Maude and I weren’t married yet, which wouldn’t have mattered. It was Maude’s choice, not mine. But I would have agreed. It sounds too good to be true.”
Humphrey shook his head. “It was too good to be true. The collapse happened. There’s no way to reverse the procedure now. Maude and I can’t have children. Another small part of the collapse.”
Humphrey was in tears as he continued, “The most important things humans do is create and educate the next generation. And Maude and I have recused ourselves from that.”
Humanity is a bell curve. You have extreme success and extreme failure at opposite ends with the vast majority of people in the center. After raising children the individual’s responsibility is to move that center forward.
“Don’t undervalue the wonderful process you have in your body,” Humphrey added.
“Now you sound like my Mother,” Kate stated. She shoved Humphrey and laughed.
Humphrey wiped at his eyes and smiled. “Shows you how smart she was.”
“Well, you don’t have the periods do you?” Kate answered. She stopped laughing. “She was smart,” Kate stated. “She told me that even before the collapse many women had to use and reuse ‘rags’ during their periods. That’s just terrible. We could destroy the world but we couldn’t do one small thing for women.
“Down here Mom made a device that took roots and milled, dried and compressed them. Something about the cellulose content,” Kate stated. “I don’t understand the science of it. But she was able to make pads with the stuff. That’s the only thing I’ve ever used.”
Kate paused, then continued, “Until I run out. The Raiders broke the machine.”
“Often ignorance is scared by knowledge,” Humphrey stated.
Kate smiled at Humanity. “Now you sound like my Father. I wish you could have met my parents.”
Humphrey pulled Kate close to him and said, “I have, in you.”
Kate hugged Humphrey tightly.