Chapter 21

Kate opened her eyes. She saw and heard that Humphrey was still sleeping. He snored like a buzz saw. Kate rolled onto her back and saw Luke looking down at her. He should not have been back yet. And he had changed his clothes.

It was not Luke!

Kate whipped her dagger from its sheath and jumped to her feet in an ‘attack’ attitude.

The young guy leaped back, raising his hands above his head to show that they were empty and shouting, “Hey. Hey! I wasn’t doing anything!”

“Sneaking up and staring at me while I’m asleep is nothing?” Kate shouted at him.

“Well, you’re pretty,” the young guy answered. “And I didn’t sneak up. I shouted at you a couple of times as I walked up. I was beginning to think you were dead.”

Humphrey had awakened and was sitting up.

“Well, we’re not dead. Are we?” Kate demanded. “Were you planning on robbing us?” She took a step toward the guy.

The guy took two steps away still waving his hands above his head. “No. I was just checking on you. Like I said, I was worried about you.”

“Kate, you might be overreacting,” Humphrey said.

“I should have acted this way with those creeps,” Kate riposted.

Prepare for the worst, plan for the best.

“I am not arguing that point, Kate,” Humphrey conceded. “I am just advising less aggression.”

Kate’s body language softened, a little of the tension left.

Humphrey stood up. “My name is Humphrey. This is Kate,” he said to the visitor. “And you are?”

“Hunter,” the guy answered. He looked over at Humphrey then back to Kate and her dagger. “Is it okay to lower my arms?”

Kate took a step back and lowered the dagger. But she did not sheath it. She held it loosely at her side ready to bring it up if needed.

“Whatever,” she answered. “Just know I’m watching.”

Hunter lowered his arms. He smiled at Kate. “I’m glad you’re watching.”

Kate glared.

Humphrey moved up beside Kate and said to Hunter, “Sorry, we’ve had some problems. We are now erring on the cautious side.”

Hunter smiled at Humphrey and answered, “I have no idea what you just said. It just flew right over my head,” he added ducking his head below a wave of his right hand.

Kate glared harder.

“Sorry we can’t offer you any water. We’re out at the moment. We are waiting for our fellow Pilgrim to return,” Humphrey explained.

Kate cut her eyes over to Humphrey. “Why are you being nice to this guy? You know him from the Raiders or something,” Kate demanded. The hand holding the dagger came up and forward a little.

Hunter tossed his hands back in the air. “Never seen the guy before,” he announced. “Hey, I was just heading up to Woodhaven and saw you guys over here. Sorry I checked on you. What if I just go on my way? Would that be okay? I have some water you can have. I don’t need it. I’ll be okay. Really.” Hunter lowered his hands and pulled a misshapen bag from over his left shoulder and held it out as an offering.

Kate looked at the bag with disgust, “That is the ugliest, nastiest looking thing I have ever seen. You have water in that? And you drink it?”

Humphrey spoke up, “Is that a goatskin?”

“Sure,” Hunter answered. “Made it myself.”

“Ugh,” Kate said. “You drink water from a dead goat?”

Hunter tipped the skin up and shot a stream of water into his mouth. He swallowed and then grinned at Kate, “Sure do. Water tastes great. You want to try?” he asked, extending the bag out toward Kate.

She took a quick step back, “No,” she snapped in answer.

“I’d love some,” Humphrey said and stepped forward to take the skin. “If you’ll stay a little, we have some jerky to share.”

Hunter made a disgusted face. “Is it dead cow, or pig, or goat?” Then he laughed and handed the goatskin to Humphrey. “Jerky sounds great. I’m starved.”

Humphrey took the goatskin and pointed over to the shoulder bag lying on the ground. “Jerky is in that bag,” and then he raised the goatskin and sent a big jet of water into his mouth.

Hunter moved over to the shoulder bag, keeping Humphrey between him and Kate. When he got to the bag he squatted down and opened it.

“Man!” he exclaimed. “Lookee here. You all come prepared,” and he pulled out the big knife. “Little girl, this is the knife you should be carrying,” he said to Kate. Then he set the knife down beside the bag.

“I am not a ‘little girl,’” Kate responded angrily.

Hunter pulled a piece of jerky from the bag and stuffed it into his mouth. Around his chewing he said, “Well, that’s a little girl’s knife,” he said motioning toward the dagger.

“It had you backing up a minute ago,” Kate swore and raised the dagger back up into an attach position.

Humphrey reached out and put his left hand on Kate’s hand holding the knife, “He’s just messing with you Kate. That’s what boys do. The water is good. Do you want some?”

“You’re just taking his side because he’s a male,” Kate snapped. “At least I guess he is.” She slipped the dagger into its sheath and took the goatskin from Humphrey. She raised it up and shot a stream of water into her eyes.

Humphrey and Hunter both looked away with smiles on their faces. Kate looked to see if they had seen. She did not see the smiles. She tried again and the stream of water made it into her mouth. The water was cool and fresh. It tasted much better than out of the canteen or jar.

When Kate was done drinking she moved over beside Hunter to return the goatskin. As he stood up and took the goatskin from her she said, “Thank you. It was good.”

Hunter grinned, “I’m glad you like it.”

Eye to eye with him Kate decided Hunter did not look anything like Luke. Hunter was taller. His nose was larger, almost big. And his ears were smaller and pressed close to his head. He had friendly green eyes.

Humphrey cleared his throat, “Kate, if you’re feeling better, maybe we should walk awhile.”

“Have you been sick?” Hunter asked Kate in a concerned tone.

Kate looked at Humphrey but he would not let her catch his eye.

“I was just tired, that’s all” Kate said. “We didn’t have any water and I just got tired.”

“I could walk with you, if that’s okay,” Hunter offered. “I’ve got plenty of water. I don’t mind sharing.”

Humphrey walked over to the backpack and shoulder bag. “We wouldn’t want to slow you down. I don’t move very fast,” he added

“Hey, I’m in no hurry,” Hunter said rushing over beside Humphrey. “Let me carry that for you,” he offered taking the backpack from Humphrey.

Kate stepped over and grabbed one of the straps. “It’s mine. I can get it,” she told Hunter.

“Sure. No problem,” Hunter answered releasing his hold on the bag. “I was just trying to help.”

“And I thank you for that,” Kate said. She smiled at Hunter.

“Do you want me to get the shoulder bag?” he asked.

“Can you get the shoulder bag, Humphrey?” Kate asked.

“Of course,” Humphrey answered.

“Well then, Hunter, if you’ll get your water we’ll start,” Kate suggested.

“Sounds great,” Hunter replied swinging the goatskin over his shoulder. “But if you get tired,” he said to Kate, “let me know and I can carry that backpack too. This old bag ain’t that heavy.”

“Thank you,” Kate answered and headed back to the path in the center of the tunnel. Humphrey and Hunter fell in line behind her.

Chapter 22

Hunter moved up beside Humphrey as they walked, “What’s up with her?” he asked nodding toward Kate who was far enough ahead that she did not hear his question.

Humphrey hesitated to tell the stranger everything, so he said, “Kate lost her mother and father recently. She is still in mourning.” Then he added, “Kate has twin sisters up ahead and we’re trying to catch up with them.”

“Sounds rough,” Hunter commented. “If there’s anything I can do to help, I’d be glad to.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that,” Humphrey said. “And I’m sure Kate appreciates it too.”

Hunter grinned, “Sure. I bet she does.”

“She’s not as mean as you think,” Humphrey stated. “She’s had a lot of stuff to deal with.”

“I’m sure,” Hunter answered. Then he added, “I think she’s cute. Even with that knife pointing at me.”

Humphrey shook his head in disbelief. “What about you, Hunter? What are you doing out here?”

Hunter stood up a little taller as he answered, “I’m going to get rich,” he announced. “I heard there’s opportunities in Woodhaven. If you’re willing to work.” He stuck out his chest a little bit farther, “And I’m not afraid to work. There wasn’t anything in Sutphin.”

“So, you’re from Sutphin?” Humphrey asked.

“Well, kind of. That’s where I was living. My parents indentured me to a tanner there. He taught me to work, when he wasn’t beating me. I had enough of that. I left.”

“I can understand,” Humphrey stated. “A big, strong, young man like you should be able to find work where ever you go.”

“And not just using my back, either,” Hunter said. “I’m smart. I can read and write. And I can do sums.”

“Really?” Humphrey asked. “You’re boss taught you all that?”

“No.” Hunter answered and he spat on the ground. “I learned all that on my own, watching him doing business and stuff. He’d hit me whenever he caught me, so I learned to be sneaky.”

“I can see,” Humphrey nodded in understanding. “What about your parents. Where are they?”

“Don’t know. Don’t care. They never did anything for me other than sell me to that guy,” Hunter stated and spat again. Then he asked, “What’s your story?”

Humphrey was taken aback by the sudden change in the conversation. He looked at Hunter who was watching him closely.

The lights went down just then.

“Damn lights,” Humphrey cursed. They he answered Hunter, “Kate’s sisters are with my wife.”

In the sudden gloom Hunter replied, “Oh. Great. It’s good to have friends.”

“Yes, it is,” Humphrey responded, then he called up to Kate. “Can we take a short break?”

Kate stopped and turned around. “Your back holding up?”

Humphrey and Hunter walked on up and stopped in front of Kate.

“Well, kind of” Humphrey answered.

“You mean, ‘no’,” Kate interpreted.

“Right,” Humphrey acknowledged. “Just a couple of minutes and I’ll be good to go.”

“Let’s get out of the middle of the road and take a seat,” Kate ordered. She looked at Hunter. “You staying with us?” she asked.

“If it’s alright with you,” Hunter answered.

“Sure,” Kate responded. “Let’s take a break.” And she started away from the road.

Hunter leaned close to Humphrey and said, “See, she’s warming up to me already.”

As he was following Kate and Humphrey, Hunter stopped. “Someone’s coming.”

Kate and Humphrey stopped.

“Can you hear ‘em?” Hunter asked.

Kate listened. She heard someone running toward them from down tunnel.

Humphrey was looking in that direction.

“Is it Luke?” Kate asked.

“Who’s Luke?” Hunter asked.

“I can’t tell,” Humphrey answered to Kate. “I think I can see someone. It might be Luke.

“Who’s Luke?” Hunter asked again.

“I hope he’s not bringing trouble,” Kate stated.

“Well, if it’s Luke, he’s running. Better get ready for anything,” Humphrey responded.

Kate reached into the shoulder bag and pulled out the big knife.

“Who’s Luke?” Hunter demanded.

Humphrey answered, “He’s a young man that’s traveling with us. When we ran low on water he went ahead to fetch some. He moves a lot faster than me.”

The running figure was much closer. Through the low light Kate could see it was Luke. “That’s him,” she said. “I don’t see anyone following him. I wonder what’s up?”

Luke started shouting, “I saw them! I saw them!”

“Saw who?” Humphrey called back.

“The Twins!” Luke shouted back. “I saw the Twins.”

Kate took off running toward Luke.

“Come on,” Humphrey told Hunter and then he took off walking as fasted as his twisted form would allow.

Hunter followed.

Luke stopped when Kate reached him. “I saw ‘em! I saw ‘em!” he panted.

“What did you see? Where were they?” Kate demanded.

“I was in Woodhaven,” Luke gasped for air. “And I saw a redheaded girl playing.”

Humphrey and Hunter came up.

“What were you doing in Woodhaven?” Humphrey asked.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

“There was nothing at One Hundred and Fourteenth or One Hundred Eleventh,” Luke explained.

“That explains why there’s been no traffic,” Humphrey commented.

Luke continued, “So I kept goin’. Then when I was gettin’ water in Woodhaven I saw a redheaded girl about seven years old plain’ with some kids. I shouted at her. All the kids turned and looked at me and then they ran away. I chased after them but they disappeared on me,” Luke finished.

“Why didn’t you call them by name?” Kate demanded.

“I forgot their names!” Luke answered.

“Kayla and Kaylie,” Kate snapped at him. “Let’s go!” she said and started running down the tunnel.

“We’d better follow her,” Hunter said, “before she gets herself in trouble.

While telling his story to Kate, Luke had not noticed Hunter. Now he looked him up and down and asked, ” Who are you?”

Humphrey spoke up, “Luke, this is Hunter. Hunter, this is Luke. You both need to catch up with her before she gets into trouble. And slow her down. She can’t run all the way to Woodhaven. Now go! I’ll follow as fast as I can,” he shouted at them and gave them both a push.

Luke and Hunter took off running after Kate, and eyeing each other.

“Testosterone,” Humphrey said under his breath as he ambled after them.

Luke and Hunter made ground on Kate slowly. Luke was out of breath before they started their chase but he never let Hunter get away from him.

“She’s fast,” Hunter stated.

“Right,” Luke grunted.

Hunter picked up speed and Luke matched him.

Hunter started calling to Kate when they were a couple of hundred meters behind her.

“Kate! Kate! Humphrey says slow down!” he shouted.

Kate looked back over her shoulder and waved her right arm in a ‘hurry up’ motion. With her head turned, looking back, she stumbled and fell in a crash to the ground, rolling a couple of times head over heals. Luke and Hunter caught up with her before she could get up.

“Humphrey said you should slow down,” Hunter repeated as they stopped beside her. “You can’t run all the way there.”

“Yes, I can!” Kate shouted, getting back to her feet. She took off running again but only went a few meters before she stumbled again and fell to the ground. She burst into tears.

Luke stood bent over in exhaustion, holding his side, gasping for air. Hunter ran up beside Kate.

“Catch you’re breath. We’ll get to Woodhaven. The race doesn’t always go to the fastest,” he told her.

Still crying she looked up at him and sat up, trying to get her emotions and breathing under control.

Hunter pulled the goatskin off his shoulder and handed it to Kate. He looked back at Luke then rose up looking for Humphrey.

“Humphrey will be here in about five minutes,” he told Kate. “Then we’ll start off again, walking.”

Chapter 23

Kate and the guys walked through One Hundred and Fourteenth and One Hundred Eleventh during lights down. Both towns were small and deserted. They held a creepy feeling that Kate had trouble shaking off.

“Humphrey, what do you think happened?” Kate asked as they left One Hundred Eleventh

“Not enough people,” Humphrey answered. “Towns need energy, human energy, to exist. Without enough people, they just dissolve.”

“Raiders drive them away?” Kate asked.

“Could be,” Humphrey replied. “Certainly didn’t help.” Then he added “It’s just tough to make enough to get by.”

“I like the quiet,” Hunter stated. “Nice and peaceful.”

Luke glared at Hunter, “Like a graveyard,” he muttered to himself.

“Luke? How much farther to Woodhaven?” Kate asked.

“We should get there by lights up,” he answered.

“Humphrey, you doing okay?” Kate asked.

“I’m holding up,” Humphrey replied.

“Let’s see if we can move a little faster then,” Kate suggested.

At lights up they had not reached Woodhaven. The four were spread out along the road. Kate and Luke were walking together leading the way. Hunter was hanging back two hundred meters behind them trying to maintain contact with Humphrey who was even farther behind.

“You said we’d be there by now,” Kate said between hurried breaths.

Luke was breathing heavy as he tried to keep up with Kate’s pace, “We would be there if it wasn’t for those two,” he said. “What’s with that guy, Hunter, anyway?”

Kate looked back over her shoulder. “He’s just trying to stay close to Humphrey.”

“Well, I don’t like him.” Luke asserted.

“He’s alright. Maybe a little goofy, that’s all,” Kate answered. “Besides, when we find the Twins we’ll need his help.”

“If he doesn’t run away,” Luke replied.

“I don’t think he will,” Kate answered.

Luke looked back over his shoulder, then turned and concentrated on keeping up with Kate.

After half an hour Kate pointed down the tunnel. “Is that Woodhaven?”

Luke had been watching the ground in front of him as he walked, trying not of fall from fatigue. Sweat filled his eyes as he looked up and saw where the tunnel began to widen.

“Yeah,” he answered. “We should wait up for the others.”

Kate looked at him. “My sisters are up there. No telling what those Raiders have done to them. You can wait if you want. I’m not!” Kate slipped out of the backpack and dropped it to the ground. Then she broke into a trot.

Luke tried to pick up his speed but he could not. He slowed to a walk and watched Kate pull away from him. Then suddenly Hunter raced up, snatching up the backpack as he sped by, and ran forward closing the gap with Kate. Luke watched as Hunter caught up with Kate and matched her pace.

Kate and Hunter were nearly at Woodhaven when Humphrey lumbered up beside Luke. Humphrey was too out of breath to even speak to Luke.

Kate and Hunter ran into Woodhaven. It was a big town with several streets. The main road was filled with people.

The pair ran to the first person they saw, an older woman carrying firewood on her back to the town market.

Kate was too out of breath from running to speak. Hunter called out, “Ma’am, Ma’am,” as they ran toward the woman.

She saw them racing to her, she screamed, dropped her firewood and ran away. The scream caught the attention of several of the men in the street.

“Hey?” one man shouted at Kate and Hunter. “What are you up to there?”

“We’re looking for Kayla and Kaylie,” Hunter called back. “They are twin, redheaded girls. Seven years old. Have you seem them? This is their sister, Kate! She’s come from up tunnel looking for them.”

“You’re crazy, you two. There are no twins here,” the man shouted back.

Several men were now stopped together, looking at Kate and Hunter. Hunter trotted over to them.

“We’re looking for Kayla and Kaylie,” Hunter repeated “They are twin, redheaded girls. Have you seem them? That’s their sister, Kate over there!” and he pointed to Kate who was still trying to catch her breath.

“Like Ralph said, there are no twins in town,” one man answered.

Another man added, “Never even seen twins before.” Several of the men nodded in agreement.

“I was told...they were here,” Kate called out between breaths.

“You were told wrong,” the man answered. “And you shouldn’t run in here like crazy folks. We thought you were Raiders or worst!”

“But...but,” Kate stammered.

“No twins here, girl” the man stated.

Kate burst into tears. Hunter looked back at Kate.

“Better go help her, boy” the man suggested. “Didn’t mean to upset her. Just no twins here in town.”

Humphrey ran into town in his sideways twisting way. He saw Kate crying and the men milling around talking. Hunter walked over to Kate and hugged her.

“We’ll find ‘em. We’ll find ’em,” he repeated over and over to Kate as he held her.

Humphrey came up beside the pair. “The Twins?” he asked.

Looking over Kate, Hunter shook his head no, while continuing to repeat, “We’ll find ‘em.”

Luke finally made it into the town. He walked over to Kate, Humphrey, and Hunter and asked, “What happened? Where are your sisters?”

At the sound of Luke’s voice Kate spun away from Hunter and faced Luke. “They’re not here!” she screamed. “NO ONE has seen them! You didn’t see them, did you?” Kate stepped up to Luke and hammered her fists onto his chest.

Luke was knocked back a step but he stood up to Kate’s pummeling. Hunter reached out and pulled Kate away. She fell against his chest crying as he closed his arms around her.

“I saw them over that way,” Luke stated. “It was like a school or something. Here, I’ll show you,” and he took off walking toward the back of the town. Humphrey followed and Hunter brought Kate after.

Luke led them to a small building near the tunnel wall. There were little kids playing outside.

“See!” Luke shouted. “There’s one of them! Right there!” and he pointed at a small redheaded girl.

The kids all looked up at Luke’s shout. There was a small redheaded girl in the group.

Kate looked at the girl. “That’s not my sister!”

“Well, it has to be,” Luke countered. “We followed the trail here.”

“It’s not my sister,” Kate repeated painfully.

Luke spun around to face Humphrey. “You led us here. They have to be here!”

Humphrey did not respond.

“So you found one redheaded girl?” Hunter asked.

Luke turned to Hunter angrily. “And what have you done? You just show up and take over!”

“I am just trying to help,” Hunter answered.

“Help! You’re helping?” Luke screamed. He jumped over to Hunter and shoved him in the chest.

Hunter staggered back.

“Stop it!” Kate shouted.

Luke lunged forward again, striking at Hunter.

Hunter sidestepped Luke and tossed him to the ground.

Luke jumped up and lunged for a grip on Hunter’s waist.

Hunter repeated his move. This time Luke stayed on the ground. He rolled over onto his back and gasped, “I’ll get you.”

A woman stepped out of the small building. “Kids! Get inside!” she ordered and chased the kids watching Luke and Hunter inside. Then she turned on Hunter and Luke, “What are you two doing? You’re acting like Raiders. These are just a bunch on little kids. How dare you behave this way!”

Humphrey spoke up. “Ma’am, we’re sorry. We didn’t mean for any of this to happen. We’re sorry. We’re going.”

He walked over to Kate and took her hand. “Come on, let’s go Kate. There’s no reason to stand here. They’re not here. Let’s go,” and he started Kate walking away from the house and the fight, heading on through the town.

Hunter stared down at Luke for a second before he turned and followed.

Luke picked himself up off the ground and hurried away in the opposite direction.

Chapter 24

Outside Woodhaven, back on the road, Hunter asked? “What do we do now?”

“We keep looking! That’s what we do!” Kate snapped. “They haven’t left the tunnel yet, have they?” she demanded of Humphrey.

“No,” Humphrey shook his head. “There’s no sign that they have.”

“Then we keep following!” Kate stated. “If you two don’t want to go with me, that’s fine. I’m not stopping!”

“If we don’t go together, I’m still going,” Humphrey said.

“I’m here to help in any way I can,” Hunter added. “I’m sorry about what happened back there. “I don’t know what started it.”

“Luke started it,” Kate answered. “He made his own decisions. Humphrey, lead. We’ll follow.”

Humphrey started forward. “As big as Woodhaven is there must be an exit. Larson has to be going nuts looking for a way to the top. He’s trapped down here,” Humphrey explained.

“Hunter, watch the tunnel on the left side and I’ll concentrate on the right side,” Humphrey instructed.

“Okay,” Hunter answered. “What am I looking for?”

“Anything that’s not a smooth tunnel wall,” Humphrey replied. “Anything that might be a side tunnel or a doorway.”

“Got it,” Hunter replied.

They walled only a few minutes when Hunter asked, “Something like that?” and he pointed up ahead to their left.

Kate and Humphrey both stared at the spot Hunter indicated. It was a narrow dark area two meters high and a meter wide. There looked like decorative columns on either side.

“Yes! It’s an exit!” Humphrey exclaimed. “Exactly! Let me go first!” and he took off along the edge of the road in his running gate. Kate and Hunter followed.

Nearly even with the exit Humphrey stopped dead in his tracks and pointed, “There they go!” he shouted. “Do you see those tracks?”

Kate and Hunter stopped beside him.

“Yes,” Kate shouted. “Are there any children?”

“Yes, I see some small prints,” Humphrey answered. “But do you see that tall grass ahead, where the stock has been broken and points to the exit?” Humphrey turned to Kate and Hunter, “Maude did that! That’s no accident. And if Maude’s here so are any important kids. Larson wouldn’t let them out of his sight.”

Humphrey shouted out orders feverishly. “You two stay below the tracks and walk toward the exit. Don’t get on the tracks! Watch them closely and see if anyone slips out between here and the exit. It could be a single person or a group. Even Larson could circle out and double back. Call out if you see anything, I’ll go up above and follow the wall back checking to see if anyone went ahead.” Humphrey did not wait for an acknowledgment. He hurried up the road looking for the top of the trail.

Kate and Hunter walked slowly off the road and carefully made their way to the exit. They did not talk, they hardly seemed to breath as they followed the edge of the trail. They reached the wall without seeing any signs that someone had left the group.

Humphrey reached the opposite side of the door at almost the same time. He looked up at them and asked, “Anything?”

Kate shook her head.

“Nothing here either,” Humphrey replied. “Let’s go inside,” and he stepped out onto the path Larson had taken into the door.

“Don’t follow too close, though,” Humphrey instructed. “Larson might have bobby-trapped the path.” He stepped into the dark opening.

There was a flickering of light from the top of the tunnel. There was an increasing blinking and flashing of light as Humphrey stepped farther inside. Suddenly the light coalesced into a fully lit tunnel as old fashion florescent light fixtures warmed up.

“There must be a motion sensor in here somewhere,” Humphrey told Kate and Hunter who waited at the entrance.

“This is a hallway, runs about twenty meters,” Humphrey called back to them. “Looks like there’s a big room at the end. Lights aren’t on down there yet. When I get there I’ll call you and you can come on,” he continued as he moved slowly away from the entrance.

The earth beneath Humphrey’s feet was soft and loose. The impressions left by Larson and his group on the ground where overlapped and Humphrey could not make out individual footprints.

He made it to the end of the hall and peered into the dark room. With the light from the hallway he could not even determine the size of the room.

“I’m at the end of the hall,” he called back to Kate and Hunter. “I’m going to step into the room now.”

Humphrey took a big step into the room and froze in place.

Like in the hallway there was a spitting and sputtering of light but it came from the walls not the ceiling. When the lights finally settled down Humphrey saw he was standing at the base of a large vertical shaft whose top he could not see.

Against the opposite wall from where Humphrey stood was a platform. And above the platform the wall mounted lights rose up the shaft, illuminating a long flight of metal stairs.

“You both should come on in and see this,” Humphrey called out. Then he waited.

“That goes up to the surface?” Hunter asked. He, Kate and Humphrey stood on the platform looking up.

“Looks like it,” Humphrey answered.

Hunter walked over to the stairs and grasped the handrail and pushed on it, testing its strength. It did not move. It did not even creak. It was solid.

“Looks safe,” Hunter announced.

“These tunnels were built to survive a nuclear explosion,” Humphrey stated. “I think they’ll survive Soft Wars.”

Kate tilted her head upward looking for the end of the shaft. “Do you think OZ is really up there?” she asked quietly.

“What?” Humphrey asked in disbelief. “What are you talking about?”

Kate turned and looked at Humphrey and Hunter. “My mom used to tell me stories about the surface, before the collapse. She said there was a city up top that had survived the soft war because it had a big green wall. She said it was a Green Zone, a safe area. It sounded like the Emerald City to me so I started calling it OZ. Mom thought that was cute, so by the time the Twins were born we all called it OZ.

Do you think it’s up there?”

“Nothing but wind and weeds up there, I bet,” Hunter answered.

“I don’t know,” Humphrey replied. “I’d heard about the Green Zone but I was never sure it was real. It was supposed to be a government thing. But to me, the government and the corporations were all the same.”

Kate looked back up the shaft following the flights of stairs until they disappeared in the distance. “Well, I know the Twins are up there,” she stated and took hold of the handrail and started up the first step.

“So is Maude,” Humphrey stated and he moved to the stairs.

“And Raiders,” added Hunter. “Kate, why don’t you give me the backpack and let me go up first?” he asked.

Chapter 25

Hunter reached the top platform, twelve steps below the door. There were two wall hanging florescent lights illuminating the area. Hunter sat the backpack and water skin down on the metal platform and looked the door over. It was a one and a half meter wide, circular, steel door, hinged on the right-hand side with a smaller wheel in the center that actuated locking rods.

Kate stepped up on the platform beside Hunter. “You can see where they went up and out,” she said pointing out the footprints on the platform and remaining stairs.

Humphrey climbed up the stairs until his head was above the platform. Looking around he said, “Well, it all looks pretty straightforward. Twist the wheel to unlock the door, there’s some hydraulics over there to help lift it and we’re out.”

“Sounds easy,” Hunter stated.

“I’ll go first,” Kate replied.

“No. I’ll go first,” Hunter replied. “It’s a guy thing,” he laughed and started up the final steps before Kate could object.

When he was within reach of the center wheel Hunter grasped it with his right hand. It was cool to the touch but not cold. “Least it’s not cold outside,” he said down to Kate and Humphrey.

Kate had moved up the stairs and was three steps below Hunter. Humphrey had moved onto the platform.

Hunter stepped up another tread so that he could get both hands on the wheel.

“Here we go.” He gave a grunt and turned on the wheel. It did not budge.

“Try again,” encouraged Kate.

Hunter gathered up his strength and twisted on the wheel. Nothing.

“It won’t move,” he said down to Kate and Humphrey.

“Let me try,” Kate announced.

“Really?” Hunter answered. “I am bigger than you.”

“Brains over brawn,” Kate replied. “Let me up there.”

Humphrey had been looking over the door from the platform. “I don’t think Larson locked it when they left. See those two rings there,” he said pointing to a couple of large, thick metal rings beyond the door’s edge.

“I think those are the receivers for the door’s bolts. It’s unlocked. Just try pushing up on it and see what happens,” he suggested.

“Okay,” Hunter answered and he pushed up on the door. It began to slowly rise on its own. Hunter let go and stepped down a step watching it open.

As soon as the door’s seal was broken air from inside the tunnel began to rush outside in a whistling fashion.

“Looks like we have positive air pressure in here,” Humphrey commented. “Keeps dirt and stuff from blowing in.”

As the door opening grew larger the whistling air sound stopped but Kate could still feel the air moving past here.

Looking out through the enlarging space Kate could see it was dark outside and then she saw sparkles of light.

“There are stars out there!” she exclaimed. “Mom and Dad always talked about the stars!” She moved up the stairs and stood just below Hunter.

“Yep,” Hunter agreed, “those must be stars. Never seen any before.”

Humphrey stood silently on the platform watching the sky appear through the door opening.

“It’s cool out there,” Hunter stated. “Do you all have anything warm to wear?”

Kate shoved Hunter’s bottom. “Get going or get out of the way!” she ordered.

Hunter climbed the rest of the stairs and stepped out into the night with Kate right behind him. Humphrey followed behind, bringing the backpack and water.

They stood beside the open tunnel on a compacted, sandy soil. The light from inside the tunnel beamed out like a lighthouse.

“We need to shut that door,” Humphrey cautioned, “before everyone outside sees it.”

“Right,” Hunter answered. He moved quickly over to the side of the door where he could reach it easily and pushed down on it. Just as it had opened, it closed softly into the ground.

The night was pitch black. There was a cool breeze blowing, carrying strange new smells and Kate could not make out anything. Hunter and Humphrey were barely discernible. But as she stood she became aware of the vastness of the sky and the stars lighting the heavens. The moon was low on the horizon, just a crescent sliver of light cradling the sky above with one amazing star above it, outshining all the rest.

“Look at the moon. It’s beautiful,” Kate said quietly. “I never imagined it being this beautiful.”

“It’s a new moon,” Humphrey explained. “That’s Venus, the evening star, hanging above it. They’re setting.

“Before you closed the door I saw Larson’s tracks heading out in that direction,” and he pointed out a line perpendicular to the moon with it on his right shoulder. Humphrey turned around and pointed to a single, lone star, not very big and not very bright. “That’s the North Star,” he explained. “So he’s heading South. I wasn’t expecting tunnel time to be off from real time,” Humphrey continued. “We’ll have to get use to a new daylight schedule. I’m afraid we’re going to have jet lag.”

“What?” Hunter asked.

“It’s just an old saying,” Humphrey answered. “It means you internal time clock is messed up. Like now, we just went from the middle of the day to the middle of the night when we stepped out of the tunnel. Our bodies will have to adjust to this new time cycle. And our bodies will ‘lag’ behind.”

Kate had continued to watch the beauty of the night sky while Humphrey and Hunter talked. She finally spoke up, “The moon is going down.”

Humphrey and Hunter turned to look. The moon was definitely lower to the horizon.

“That double shows us that’s west, then” Humphrey stated. “And Larson headed south.”

Kate turned and looked at Humphrey, “My mom taught me that the sun and moon are not in sync with each other When one is coming up the other is not necessarily going down. It’s possible that the sun just went down and we just didn’t see it. We could be waiting hours for the sun to rise.”

Hunter’s eyes went from Kate’s face to Humphrey’s.

Humphrey coughed, cleared his throat. “That’s right,” he acknowledged. “Sunrise could be hours away. I wasn’t thinking when I spoke.”

“Great,” Hunter exclaimed. “What do we now?”

“We wait,” Kate answered. “It took me four days to get this close to my sisters. I am not going to lose their trail in the dark.”

“Right,” Humphrey agreed. “It could be hours before the sun comes up. We can take advantage of the time to rest up, ‘cause when the sun does come up, it’ll be a long day.”

Humphrey added, “I suggest we move away from the entrance. If any Raiders arrive, we don’t want to be found.”

“Let’s move west then,” Kate offered. “That’ll keep us out of Larson’s tracks.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Hunter agreed. “Wish we had a torch so we could see what we’re doing.”

“I have one in the backpack,” Kate answered. “But we’re not going to use it. As clear as the night is someone could see the light from kilometers away. I just hope no one was looking when we opened the tunnel door. That showed Larson he is being followed.”

“Larson wouldn’t be looking back,” Humphrey argued. “He’s not worried about anyone.”

Kate looked hard at Humphrey, “He knows you’re behind him,” she said.

“Yeah, but he’s not worried about me,” Humphrey answered.

Kate looked at Humphrey for a couple of seconds but did not respond to his comment. Finally she turned and headed west, away from the tunnel entrance.

* * *

The florescent lights in the dark passageway flickered to life. Luke saw the tracks he was following and moved forward, following them.