Planet Purgatory (7 page)

“I don’t know what you’re talking about—”

“Don’t be a jackass! I know it was you! You’ve put all of us in danger with your stupid stunt!”

“All I’ve done is open everyone’s eyes to the real threat! He wouldn’t have been happy with those zombies. And even if he was, it wouldn’t be long before he’s demanding something new.”

“You don’t know that!”

“He did it just now! You know I’m telling the truth. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”

My dad’s eyes widened in almost humorous surprise. “Stubborn? You’re calling
me
stubborn? There’s the pot calling the kettle black!”

I watched with concern as my dad doubled over, placing his hands on his knees.

“Oh, my God! We’re all gonna die!”

“No, we’re not! I’ve still got my plan. I’m going to find the
SYS
building and I’m going to come back with guns.”

“Enough to kill that thing? There’s not a gun anywhere powerful enough to protect us from that monster!”

“You don’t know that! I mean, what if
SYS
makes rocket launchers? Or grenades. Or, hell, maybe they got some special laser gun we can use.”

This actually made my dad laugh, and he placed his hands on his hips, walking in circles as he gazed into the sky. “Rocket launchers? Laser guns? Is that really how desperate this has become?”

“I know it sounds ridiculous, but it’s the only way.”

My dad pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his face. “You really think you can find it?”

“I’ve got no choice.”

We looked at each other, searching for something to say, until my dad grabbed me, kissing me on the cheek before sending me on my way. “Be careful,” he said. “Try not to attract attention, but if you do, shoot them. Right in the face. And pay attention to Rosie. She’ll take care of you.”

Suddenly I didn’t feel so sure about things.

“Go on! We don’t have a lot of time. Go find Rosie and get the hell out of here. I’ll take care of Mummy. You just go.”

So I did, downing a few swigs of chikka before making my way down the road to the old man’s wagon. I’d planned on ignoring him, but the old coot called out to me, and against my better judgment, I went to see what he wanted.

“Got any brew in there?” he asked, motioning to my knapsack.

“Yep.”

“Care to give me some?”

“Nope.”

“That ain’t very friendly,” he said, frowning. “Here’s a piece of advice: when someone asks fer something, it’s usually best to give it to them.”

I stood there, safe in my chikka haze.

“And I got some advice for you,” I said.

“And what’s that?”

“Leave.”

And with that I started up the road, with nothing but my knapsack, my gun, and my dog.

Leaving Harkness was, without a doubt, the scariest thing I’d ever undertaken. There was a reason people avoided traveling between settlements, and when they did, it was always in groups. You’d hear the strangest stories, of creatures hiding in the shadows, waiting to feast on some unlucky soul. I spent the first little while peering into the jumble of trees while Rosie trotted a protective circle, disappearing into the brush behind me, only to emerge a few dozen yards up the road. I didn’t know that was what she was doing at first, and I’d call out for her with my gun drawn, certain my voice was drawing the wrong kind of attention.

But I caught on to her protective ways, and I soon found myself predicting with surprising accuracy when she would reappear.

It was about a half-hour into my journey that I came upon a hut. I’d heard about these. Apparently the forest was littered with them. Most were empty, but some of them were not. Curious, I left the road to peer through an old clouded window. As far as I could tell, there was no one home, and reassured by Rosie’s curiosity, I opened the door, only to be greeted by a scream.

There was a lady in there, crouched on an old box spring mattress.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

I should have answered, but instead I found myself staring at the space before me. It was bizarre. Outside, the building appeared to be made up of discarded sheets of plywood and bits of lumber, yet inside, it was like stepping into someone’s bedroom. The walls were solid, like drywall, and painted a faded creamy purple, while a worn gray carpet was littered with old clothes.

“Who are you?” she repeated.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just curious to see if anyone was inside.”

I was still in shock at how “Earthlike” the place was, and without thinking, I entered, running my hand along the wall while Rosie introduced herself the only way Rosie can — by jumping on the bed and sniffing the cowering woman’s head, her stumpy tail wiggling at lightning speed. Rosie-dog liked her. The poor woman, though, was terrified, and I called Rosie back onto the floor while the woman remained rolled up in a ball.

“She doesn’t mean any harm. She’s just being friendly.”

The woman peeked out from beneath her arms, first at Rosie and then at my gun. “Who are you?”

“My name’s David, and this is my dog, Rosie. I was curious about your hut. I really didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Hut? But this is my bedroom.”

She looked so confused. Placing my knapsack on the floor, I reached into my shirt pocket and offered her a cigarette. “Do you smoke?”

I’d never seen anyone’s hands tremble so violently. It was so bad I had to light the cigarette for her, but the moment she took her first puff, she visibly relaxed, leaning against the wall while a plume of tobacco smoke rose to the ceiling.

“Thank you,” she said.

She was pretty. In fact, she reminded me of my first wife, with her brassy hair and full lips. So much so that when she told me her name was Jackie, I blinked.

“Is something wrong?”

“Sorry, that was my wife’s name. You look a lot like her. It caught me by surprise.”

“
Was
your wife’s name? Is she dead?”

“No, just divorced,” I said, forcing a smile.

I was never good at small talk, especially with the opposite sex, and I sat down on a folding chair while Jackie smoked her cigarette. She was new to this place, that much was obvious, and forgetting my shyness I began to probe, hoping to uncover the detail that would prove my theory about what this hellhole really was.

“How long have you been here?” I asked.

Jackie looked at me and slowly shook her head. “I don’t know …”

“What’s the last thing you remember? Besides being in this room. What were you doing?”

“I think I was driving home from work.”

“Do you remember anything unusual happening?”

“Unusual how?”

“I don’t know, maybe an accident?”

Jackie’s face darkened. “What are you getting at?”

“Nothing. Just asking questions. What about a spaceship? Do you remember anything about signing up to be a colonist on a different planet?”

“Is that what this is? I’m a colonist on a different planet?”

There was a glimmer of hope in her eyes, and after mulling it over, I fed her the same lies I was working so desperately hard to disprove.

“Yeah, that’s it. You’re a colonist. It’s a thirty-year journey to get here, and you’ve just emerged from suspended animation.”

I felt like a cad lying to her, yet at the same time, she looked so relieved, even joyful, jumping to stand on her bed with so much energy she nearly fell onto the floor.

“You mean I’m an astronaut? Wow, I never thought I’d do anything like that!”

She hopped onto the carpet, looking truly overjoyed until her smile was replaced with a frown.

“But what about Brad? We were supposed be married in the fall. Did he come, too?”

I watched as she wandered around the room, searching for memories I knew weren’t there.

“Why can’t I remember anything?”

“It’s the suspended animation. It happens to all of us.”

“Will it come back?”

“No.”

She continued walking around her room, cigarette hanging from her fingers, until she turned to face me. “Am I dreaming?”

“Now that’s a question I’ve asked myself many times. But no, you’re not dreaming.”

“Then how come I’ve still got my room? And my stuff? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“I told you, it’s the suspended animation. The first few days are always the strangest.”

I felt so bad for her. Fortunately, Rosie was there to act as a distraction, placing her massive head on Jackie’s lap the moment the woman sat back down on the bed.

Jackie grabbed both of Rosie’s ears, tugging them playfully. “I’ve never seen an animal like this? What is she? A mastiff?”

“I don’t know. But she keeps me safe, and that’s what counts. I gotta to say, I’m shocked by how much she’s taken to you. ”

“She knows I’m a dog person,” said Jackie with a grin. “I have two big rottweilers at home. Not as big as she is, but they’re a great pair. Brothers. I got them when they were eight weeks old …”

Her voice trailed off, no doubt wondering about their fate.

“Have you been outside yet?” I asked, getting up from my chair.

The expression on her face said it all, and I opened the door, revealing the gloom on the other side.

“I know you feel safer in here, but you need to make your way to Harkness.”

Jackie’s eyes widened. “What’s Harkness?”

“It’s a settlement. With people; settlers just like you, with food and water.”

Jackie pushed Rosie’s head off her lap to join me in the doorway. “Are you sure I can’t stay here?” she asked, peering at the trees.

“It’s too dangerous.”

Together we stepped out onto the road, Jackie staring at the rickety hut that was her bedroom. “H-how is that possible? That’s my room. From my house. That’s my room!”

“Try not to think about it. Here, are you hungry? Because I’ve got some food.”

I pulled a shiny green apple from my knapsack, which she gratefully accepted.

“I have some cheese, too, if you want. Now the settlement is only about a thirty-minute walk from here. You could probably make it in twenty if you hurried.”

Jackie’s voice trembled. “You’re not coming with me?”

I wanted to say no. I was on a mission, after all. But then I remembered what it was that brought me to Purgatory in the first place.

“Come on,” I said, pulling my knapsack around my shoulder.

And so Rosie, Jackie, and I departed for Harkness.

“God, this place is creepy,” said Jackie, arms wrapped protectively around her chest.

I wanted to reassure her, tell her it wasn’t as bad as it looked, but I couldn’t. Her presence alone made me anxious. She reminded me so much of my ex-wife — even the way she walked was like her — the thought of anything happening to her under my protection was making my head swim.

“I keep expecting the Headless Horseman to come galloping down the road.”

“Huh? What’s that?” I asked, gazing warily into the trees.

“I said, I keep expecting the Headless Horseman to appear. Did you ever watch that cartoon? Scared the daylights out of me when I was little.”

“Yeah, I know which one you’re talking about. Scared me, too.”

“I just hope we don’t end up like Ichabod Crane.”

“Yeah, well, old Ichabod never had a weapon like this one,” I said, patting my gun.

Thankfully, the journey back to Harkness was uneventful, and when we got close enough that I could see Bill’s wagon sitting in the middle of road, I stopped and pointed to the campfires burning brightly in the background.

“That’s Harkness right there,” I explained.

“You’re not coming with me?”

This time I shook my head. “I’m on a mission. But don’t worry, I’ll watch until you’re safely inside. Once you’re there, find Tag Eno. That’s my dad. Tell him David sent you. He’ll know what to do ”

“Tag Eno …”

“It’s short for Taggart. He’s a good man. He’ll take care of you. And whatever you do, don’t talk to the old man in the wagon.”

“Why?”

“Just avoid him. Don’t even look at him. Now, hurry. I have to go.”

Jackie took a deep breath and walked into Harkness, turning to look at me a couple of times before dissolving into the twilight. I knew my dad would keep her safe. He loved my first wife. In fact, he was more heartbroken over our divorce than I was. One look at this woman, and I was confident he would use all his wily Eno powers to keep her from being swept up by the maelstrom Bill’s appearance had created.

And so with the newest soul in Purgatory in Harkness, I started out once more for the mysterious
SYS
building.