The Last Woman
Silvia opened her eyes, her back and neck hurt like hell,
God what the hell happened she thought to her self? She had something heavy keeping her from turning over, and It was hot. A rough wet tongue licked her in
the face, and she could hear something whimpering, When she tried to focus her eyes she could see a red glow over to her left. the wind was blowing through a
large hole, and it was blowing hot, hot like the fires of hell.
She tried to sit up, Ahhh there was a large Boulder pinning her against the wall of the cave,
A Cave, I'm In A cave, she lay there trying to remember, The news saying that Iran and The United States were squaring off like two neighborhood bullies,
swearing to stop the other from using their nuclear weapon's. Then the word coming over television and Radio that the talks had failed, and Iran had
launched over 10,000 atomic warheads towards the United States, Russia, Israel, Africa, Australia, and Japan, and Then the United States retaliating with
Missiles of there own, hitting targets all over
the world, some hitting enemies, but most blindly hitting friendly countries and Allies.
It all came back to her now, packing food, and clothing, blankets and a first aid kit, calling Rowdy her Husky and getting in her jeep, she had to fight
traffic because all the roads out of town were congested and it crawled most of the way, she could hear gunshots and screams coming from the streets as the
population of Burbank fought there way into the stores and banks, friends and neighbors fighting each other, fighting for their lives. she needed bottled
water, but decided the 24 case she had in the back seat would have to do, and drove as fast as she could, not stopping for the hands that reached out and
tried to jump into her jeep at every intersection, It was a wild ride through the streets and onto the interstate, the traffic was bad but at least she could
go over 50 miles and hour,
Two hours later she took the Big bear turn off that headed up into the mountains, she knew a spot, a place that she had gone as a child with her father and
older brother to fish and camp, From high up in the mountains you could look out and see the haze that covered the cities hundreds of Miles below.. most of
her friends would beg her to go to the hot crowded beaches every day during summer vacation, but Silvia
craved the cool quite peace of the mountains, She looked in her rear view mirror and noticed a few cars and trucks had taken the same turnoff, and were
following her up the steep two lane Highway. some had turned off onto side dirt roads, heading to private places of there own..
Silvia headed up and up until she could see the opening through the trees, an opening just wide enough for her Jeep to get through, she stopped and listened,
and looked around, she only heard silence, no vehicles had followed her up that far. she turned off. she bounced along traveling up a logging road for about
5 miles.
she reached the clearing, and thank god the campsite sat untouched from when she had been here last year,
The site sat on a cliff with only a narrow path leading down about 100 feet down to the lake.
the air was fresh and clean and the sky bright blue, with beautiful fluffy clouds.
As Rowdy romped around stretching his legs, Silvia drove her jeep over next to the mountain side unloaded her supplies into the cave that she had used during
sudden thunder storms.
She had learned from her father that you set up your camp before you do anything else, a lump formed her throat as she thought of her parents and her
brother,she had been unable to reach either of them as she fled the city..but they had talked about this day, and her father had told her this would be a
place of refuge, for them all, and if possible they were all to meet here she knew that gun's and ammunition were buried in the cave, and she knew how to
use them, Rowdy came up to her and sat down looking at her restlessly, they both heard it at the same time, a whistling sound,she looked up and couldn't
believe her eyes, five missiles flew over head racing across the sky headed for Los Angeles,
Rowdy come!! She screamed, and headed into the dark cave, she went back as far as she could go, got behind a boulder as large as a car, Silvia and her dog
reached the space just as a rumble hit the mountain, it shook and shook
and the dust was so thick it chocked her, something fell and hit her in the head, and she sunk in to unconsciousness..........
Rowdy licked her face again, and she reached up and put her arms around his large neck, pull Rowdy. he pulled and it was her shirt that was caught, when she remembered the size of the boulder she was surprised she wasn't crushed, she felt the shirt rip and she pulled herself free. God she was thirsty, and it was so hot, she got up slowly, checking Rowdy and Herself in the process. and found they were both unscathed. and uninjured.
Not sure what to expect, she approached the entrance of the cave carefully, the heat was still almost unbearable, she looked out and got her first look at the what was to be her new home, most of the trees around the cave were still standing, but as she went out in to the scorching heat she saw that the sky was full of smoke and the view from the cliff showed the level of destruction below. Her Jeep had been blown off the cliff down 200 feet was floating in the lake a hollowed burned out shell, and fires raged in all four directions. and farther away on the horizon there was a large mushroom cloud hovering over what was once Los Angeles! and it was flat. nothing standing for miles around, I cant believe it , My God they did it, they actually did it, Then it started to rain she headed back in to the cave with Rowdy at her side his trusting eyes looking to her for orders of what to do next.. she went to the supplies that she had put in the cave only seconds before the deadly bombs and missiles had flown over head, she opened a bottle of water and took a large drink, then turning and filling Rowdy's mouth
his tongue lapping the water thirstily. she opened another bottle, when they both had there fill she sat back and hugged her friend, we have to conserve water baby, I don't know when, or if we will find fresh water anywhere.
The storm raged outside for five days, thunder and lightning constantly lighting up the cave, but it was starting to blow cooler air, Her and Rowdy slept, and ate cold canned food, and on the sixth morning she awoke to complete stillness,
She got up stiffly and looked out, The view had changed, the sky was gray, but the air was clean. when she looked down the cliff, the lake had turned into a torrid river, with trees and logs and mud rushing down the mountain side..her Jeep was long gone, perhaps miles down stream, but by a miracle of god her shelter and all above it was safe. everything was gone for hundreds and hundreds of miles below, and on the horizon.nothing moved, not a bird not even a cloud in the sky, just weak sunlight trying to filter its way through the absolute stillness, Silvia felt a tear slip down her cheek, this part of the mountain had been gods country it was full of deer, and eagles floated and soured through the Sky's, and you could hear the trout and cat fish jumping in the lake.. its all gone she thought, gone in an instant of insanity, she returned to the cave and gathered some dry twigs and started a small fire, she found the canned soup and her and Rowdy feasted on there first hot meal in over a week.
For the next ten days She kept her eyes on the river below, and each day it had become smaller and smaller until
at last it was only a few feet across, but it had left dead trees and debris and had picked up other cars and thrown them around like toys..pieces of the cabins that had stood for years along the mountain's and canyons floating down silently.
The next morning Silvia decided to explore, she packed a small knapsack, grabbed a bottle of water and her and Rowdy started down the path to the pile of trees and logs below, I'm so glad your with me pal.,she said talking to Rowdy, I can face the end of the world as long as your with me!! she started to laugh and then she stopped in her tracks, Rowdy looked up at her, Christ, the end of the world, is it?, was it ? If so, Why did I survive? am I the Only one? That's what we need to find out Rowdy, she continued down the path until she reached the bottom of the cliff.. she looked up. it was a wonder, but her little sanctuary was completely hidden from below,
We will spend our nights up there Rowdy, until we know for certain whats going on the rest of the mountain...
again the complete and utter stillness was what she noticed as she stepped over or went around the carcasses of dead animals, and debris. Rowdy no!!! she said as she saw him nosing around a pile of what looked like garbage, but horrified saw that it was a body, a body that had not been there longer then a few hours, it looks like it floated down stream guy, Don't touch it..she grabbed his collar and pulled him away, Rowdy growled deep in his throat and she took another look at the body. it was a man in his early twenties, the top of his head was gone, and he had been gutted like a fish, all of his internal organs were gone,
Well some kind of animal survived Rowdy, she said and a large one, to take down and half eat a healthy twenty year old man.
she continued down the mountain side always keeping her bearings, and knowing she may have to return to her cave at a moments notice..they traveled about a mile when they both heard it, A gun shot far away! it echoed through the quiet still air.
but it was definitely a gun shot, a rifle ,.I'm sure, she told Rowdy.. Shhhhhh, she told him as she came to a small rise, she got down and looked over the ridge. Two men were sitting with there backs to a pile of logs. Empty beer cans littered the ground around them, they were shooting at what she thought was and an empty space , but instead was a body stretched between the trees, tied with rope and just hanging there .They had set up a crude camp with a small tent and campfire, and trash littered around what looked to be an over turned camper and pickup truck. they were drunk, Silvia Touched Rowdy back, and they both slowly backed down the rise away from the scene,
They started back up the mountain, and when they got to the cave, Silvia started to shake.Is that all that is left? Murdering drunken men, she asked Rowdy? they sat in the cave even as the doorway got darker and darker, and night settled in. They had a cold camp not knowing what else was out there! just as she started to settle in and fall asleep, she heard the first of what was a terrified scream, them more screaming, gun shots and then silence, she spent the night waking every few minutes,
when the sun came up, her and Rowdy went out for their ablutions, and returned back to the cave,
They spent the next few days close to the cave, Silvia found the Binoculars she had packed, and kept a constant visual, checking the sky and the area below her cave, but after a few more days, she told Rowdy, we're getting low on water and supplies, we cant stay here . I'm going to try and cover the mouth of the cave with dead trees, She went into the cave and dug up the Rifle and a box of ammunition that was buried , leaving the hand gun and small shells,
and they started back down the path quietly and soon returned to the campsite of the two men..
What she found was both men dead and gutted with the tops of their heads ripped open, and the brains gone, just like the man in the river, Silvia said. holding her hand over her nose and mouth, No animal did this, she told Rowdy. she turned and
they went pass the campsite and down the next ridge, They worked there way slowly down the mountain, the air became thicker and there was a foul smell that she didn't like, And Rowdy was becoming more and spooked, stopping and smelling the air every few feet. I know I don't like it either she told him. looking back, and up, wondering if she would ever see her cave home again. We need to find shelter before it gets dark pal, I don't know what killed those men. But I sure as hell don't want to run into it in the dark.
They stopped to take a drink of water, and she heard Rowdy growl, and then a Click, and a Mans Voice, OK that's close enough, drop the rifle The voice said. She did as she was told afraid to turn around, Rowdy growled again,
You better tell the dog to back off, I don't want to have to shoot him, the voice said, No Rowdy Sit, she instructed him, and Rowdy lay down next to the Rifle , but his ears were flat against his head and he was still growling..
Silvia turned around slowly . a gun was pointed at her head, The man was tall and dressed in Green pants and shirt, he looked to be a ranger of some sort. maybe a forest ranger. He had a shadow of a beard starting on his face and his clothes were dirty and torn, but he was sober and he was alone, They stood and stared at each other, both sizing the other one up, wondering if either was a threat. Who are you ? The man spoke first . and why are you wondering around up here alone? My name is Silvia Reynolds , and I'm not alone up here! she said sarcastically. there are twenty or thirty of us here, and we just made it up before the bombs hit.. Twenty or Thirty of you he laughed. I doubt that . He looked up and the sky was starting to get darker and darker, we need to get out of the open, he said they will be out soon. What will be out, she asked ?
Im not sure what to call them he said, I haven't stopped to introduce my self...He turned and started up the hill. Silvia picked up her Rifle and started to go back the way she had come. but then she knew she would never find shelter before the sun went down. she followed the man until he came to an opening hidden by dead logs and trees in the side of the mountain, she snicked to her self, well out of one cave and into another. but this one was a lot larger and there was a stack of boxes and bottled water.
make yourself a home the voice said, Silvia also Noticed a shiny black off road 4 wheel Pickup truck , sitting in the middle of the cave. God damn you are prepared, she told him. I lost my Jeep when the floods came.. Ohhh, the one all Twenty or thirty people came in he laughed.. she had to smile, OK. so maybe there's not that many..there is just me and Rowdy she said! , Rowdy hearing his name wagged his tail ,but still kept his eyes on the stranger. Are You hungry the man asked him, he reached into a pan on the little open fire pit and brought out a piece of meat, her ya go fellow, Rowdy looked up at Silvia, with a look of longing in his big brown eyes, go ahead she said. The dog walked over and took the meat from the man..he circled twice and lie down and chewed the succulent meat with rapture,
My name is Mike, he said holding out his hand, Mike Smith I know that sounds Corney ,but its the truth, Im A ranger, well I was a Ranger he corrected him self, before the bombs fell, we keep this cave here in case of Forest fires, and we could live in it for years it goes back at least a mile, and is stocked for at least a year..The Truck is mine, I tried to get back to Los Angeles but never made it, and turned back.. Silvia told her story as Mike built a small fire and put on a pot of coffee, Shit I haven't had coffee for I don't know how long,, How long has it been since the bombs dropped she asked, almost a month he told her,
long enough for them to change,, he said looking over at his rifle leaning against the door to the cave.
For What to change? For who to change? change into what? she asked again...........
Mike handed Silvia A hot cup of the flagrant coffee, Oh Yeah, that's what I needed, Mike poured himself a cup and sat down Indian style next to the fire pit, Well, he started slowly, the God Damn Towel heads knew what they were doing, the first wave of bombs took out most of the population, but the second wave was the worse, they contained some kind of chemical's, any one unlucky enough to have survived the initial blast
was infected and turned them into some kind of mindless monster, Mmmmm, I ran across some of their victim's she said shuddering they had the tops of their heads ripped open and the brains were gone, and they had been gutted like a fish completely eviscerated, Yep that's what they do, Mike said throwing the last dregs of coffee on the ground, are you sure your not hungry he asked, No I'm just tired, she said getting up,
I'm taking the truck tomorrow and going out the back way down the mountain, taking fire roads down to the valley, and that will take me to the coast highway into Malibu. I have friends and family there, that should give us an Idea how LA is, I may not get far, I don't know how bad it will be, you and Rowdy can come with me, but like I said I don't know how far I'll get or how bad it will be..we're going , What about the cities. there are a million people in LA, they cant all be dead or like those monsters, she said thinking of her parents and brother, Well Like I said we don't know how bad it is, but if some survived the bombs or like us in a shelter, they may be OK, hopefully the storm cleared the air, if any one is alive they need us, we will find them and bring them back up here, like I said we can live in this cave for a long time, and the more there are of us, the easier it will be to clean out these mountains, I don't think there are many of them left up here, Something about the first blast of the bombs messed up their eyes and they only come out at night. I have found a lot of them in hidy holes and caves and killed them, and they have run out of fresh meat as it we're, having been up here when the bombs hit, and they have already taken care of any survivors that like us, were behind rock and thought they could come out..So get a good nights sleep, I want to leave at dawn, Silvia and Rowdy
curled up next to the fire, She slept, but her dreams were full of images, of monsters, and family..............
The sounds of pans, and the smell of coffee woke Silvia with a start, she jumped up and was on her feet
in a second, good morning, Mike said , Rowdy stretched and went out side, Good Morning, she said yawning,
How did you sleep he asked? Fine she lied, and followed Rowdy out side, she found a spot to empty her bladder, went back in.she hadn't slept at all, anxious about what the journey into the city would find.
Mike had thought of everything, a package of hand wipes sat by the coffee pot, Sausage and potatoes were sizzling in the frying pan. He had opened a can of meat and put it in a pie tin, and filled another one with water for Rowdy.Silvia was touched that the man had thought about her dog, he just went up a notch or two in her book.
After breakfast and clean up, Mike packed the truck with water, a first aid kit, both rifles and six boxes of ammo. he started up the powerful truck and pulled it out of the cave, Rowdy jumped in the back, Silvia helping Mike cover the entrance of his cave with logs, brush and dead trees. She looked back once as they pulled out and started down the fire road, bouncing on the ruts and holes. they had to stop every few yards to clear dead trees or logs form the road as they traveled down and down ten miles to the Highway, so far so good he said, I don't think a lot of people got out in time to get this far, there were just a few abandoned cars along side the shoulder.
Rowdy was standing in the back of the truck with his head up and his big pink tongue lolling out of his mouth, his tail wagging, excited to be one his way, not knowing or caring what lie ahead.
Mike was looking out the rear view window, that's a great dog you have there he said, yes he is Silvia answered ,I found him at the animal shelter I work at, I'm a vet,he was the only survivor of a bag full of puppies that someone had thrown off a bridge, he was only five weeks old, and he is my best friend, she told him about here self, her family and there trips into the mountains, Mike was listening to her, just letting her talk, but he was also taking stock of all that women in that neat little package, she had showed very little emotion as she talked about finding the bodies, and she showed her strong side as she told him of the race out of the city.She had short brown hair, she wore no make up but was still beautiful in the morning, with her clear skin dark brown eyes, and sweet little derriere in her tight jeans, she looked like a no nonsense type of women, and that's just the kind of women he liked.
He looked up and had to hit the brakes, as the First sign's of the bombs destruction lay in front of them.........
This must be the edge of the radius of the first few blasts Mike said, looking out the windshield, Silvia looked also, as far as the eye could see, burned out shells of trucks ,and cars, and buses littered the highway, a tangled pile, that looked like they had been thrown into a child's toy box, some were melted together, and
others were in the ditches all along the shoulder.well we cant get threw this mess, All these cars were trying to leave the city but got caught, Neither one mentioned that there were no bodies in any of the vehicles, Hang on to your britches Silvia, this is going to get rough,Mike said.putting it into 4 wheel drive, and going into the ditch and off Road, Hang on Rowdy, he yelled out the sliding back window, and the dog lay flat, as the Pickup bounced along into the burned out grass along side the highway.
As they got closer to the coast road, the going got slower as there were cliffs all along the sides of the canyons, and Mike had to back up and go around, sometimes for miles. they followed all the side and fire roads that Mike knew, being on the Fire. Dept with the forestry service he had fought the Malibu fires and new all the back-roads, soon they got to a spot that led them down on to the Pacific Coast Highway, what they could see on the once beautiful white sandy beaches, were million dollar homes stacked in to large piles of rubble,
two large cruse ships were laying on their sides looking like beached whales,and mounds of dead sea life everywhere.
He went around as many of the abandoned cars as possible. He looked at his watch its going to be dark in five hours, we need to go inland and find a place to spend the night.so again he went up into the burned out tree line,keeping the highway in site, they came to a small cabin, it had a few steel out building's that could serve as a place of safety. he pulled in behind one , the cabin had burned to the ground, and the sides of the steel sheds had been heat damaged but were still intact.Rowdy jumped down and ran around sniffing and then nonchalantly lifted his leg on the tire of mikes pick up. Gee Thanks Pal Mike said laughing..I gotta go too.he chuckled heading behind one of the sheds Silvia took her rifle and went into some brush.
Mike pryed the shed open, it had a few small farm machinery parts in it but would stand as place to sleep for the night. Mike passed out water, and drove the truck behind the outbuilding but keeping it in site.
in case they had to make a hasty retreat.. Rowdy lay down and went to sleep, and Mike and Silvia were dosing,The sky was starting to turn in to that dusty color just before the sun went down, when Mike sat up .Whats that he said? listning, I dont know Silvia said her throat going dry, Rowdy growled, and the hackles on the back of his neck stood out.................
.Silvia screamed at the top of her lungs, terrified, Mike grabbed his weapon and headed for the door, a large man who appeared to be a police officer pushed his way in, and headed for Silvia, She screamed again and Rowdy jumped the thing from behind, it fell on his face with Rowdy shaking and tearing at its leg, It yelled like a wounded animal, and continued to crawl and drag its way toward Silvia, another one came through the door slobbering and moaning, with empty dead eyes.
It was sniffing the air....
women!! it said, women!!
Mike shot him between the eyes, and turned in one step and shot the one on the floor in the back of the head. Rowdy started for the door of the shed, just as two men came through the door both holding sawed off shot guns. Mike started to aim the rifle.. .No, No, No, ! Wait, the man said, We're not one of them. Rowdy sat with his teeth barred watching, As Mike lowered his weapon. Fuck,!! he said I thought you were another one of those things, Silvia, also lowered hers, No, we have been tracking these two and thought we had them cornered until We heard the lady scream, These God Damn monsters seem to think if they can breed with a women that there kind will live on, Well if thats the only way to kill them, I'll be only to happy to oblige them, she said cocking her Rifle, Mike smiled and looked down at the two corpses, the poor mindless Mother fuckers, he said shaking his head, well we were going to lock them in the shed and burn them to death, but like I said we heard you scream..god they smell Silvia said, holding her nose, That's one of the things that give them away the man said. as all they do is eat and crap their pants, Well I need fresh air Mike said, as Silvia and Rowdy followed one of the men out the door.
The other found a gas can in the shed, poured it on the two dead bodies, stood at the door, and lit a match, and quickly shut the door.. they all got back and watched the shed burn, then a small explosion as the fire melted what was left of the shed................
The men introduced them selves,Mike Smith, he said holding out his hand, My names Hank, the Biggest and older of the two said, Hank Royal. I'm from Laguna Beach, I'm Jerry Royal, Hanks my dad, the men all shook hands, and My name is Silvia Reynolds I'm from Burbank, This is Rowdy she said, The dog gave notice with a low growl and sat down on his haunches, we have a camp up about a mile into the brush Hank said there are about ten of us, you are welcome to join us if you want, at least for the night, get a cup of coffee or a beer under your belt, and a hot meal and start at dawn, Wouldn't travel any father tonight if I were you.
With a look back at the burning shed mike and Silvia both agreed that they would go with The two men, Mike whistled at Rowdy and he jumped into the bed of the truck, and followed the men's SUV up the trail in the dark..
They stopped in a small clearing just at the top of the timber line, there were five or six assorted cars trucks and Vans in a group parked around a fire pit, all at come to attention and stood with Guns pointed at the pair as they did not recognize the Black Pickup, but lowered them when Hank gave the OK sign.
Rowdy jumped out of the truck and stood guard over Silvia, as again introductions were made.
As they sat around the fire, Silvia took a drink of warm beer and listened as the men talked about what it was like in the cities, You don't want to go into Los Angles ,one man said, there is nothing standing, not even the tallest of of the buildings made it ,just miles and miles of rubble, It took a direct hit from at least three of the bombs, and anyone in the surrounding towns that survived, is prey to the undead or trash that got out of the jails and prisons, I don't know which is worse, It was then that Silvia asked a question she had been afraid to ask.
What about the women and children she said softly, Hank looked over at her and lit a cigarette,the children were the first to die he said, there little immune systems just weren't strong enough to be a host to the virus, which is a blessing if you think of it, and the women,....all was silent as every eye turned to stare at Silvia, very few have been seen, my self your the first one we have seen for over a month, Not sure why, maybe its the same as the children, something in them, but they started dying from the virus the first day,
you may be the last women in this area alive, Silvia jumped as a log fell into the fire and it snapped and cracked, she looked at the men around the pit, Mike got a tighter grip on his rifle and moved over protectively towards her, and Rowdy sensing his movement growled............................
Mike jumped up, and then all the other men grabbed there weapons, and they all stood with guns pointed at each other,
Rowdy took a stance in front of Silvia, his ears were back, teeth showing, Silvia got behind Mike, she was scared , more scared then she had ever been
in her life, Hank stepped forward raised his rifle and shot into the air! Hey! now Just hold it! everyone!! he yelled,!! Look mike!!, he said don't
worry about Silvia , we all had wives and girlfriends, were not a gang raping murdering mob. I'm not saying that there not out there, we saw it in
the cities ,but we would not let that happen here, The way we figure it we are the last of the civilized world we all need each other to survive, I
know there are more of out there, we just have to find them.
Mike lowered his weapon, Silvia was sobbing quietly behind him, Rowdy was still at attention, Mike reached over and touched him on the head, Its all
right pal, it's all right,and the big dog sat down, but watched Mike with anticipation. Jesus Christ, Hank said, we all need to Idol down, everyone
laughed nervously. Silvia wasn't convinced, as the men sat back down, picked up there beer, She sat as close to Mike as she could. Rowdy laying at
her feet,
The talk continued late into the night, one by one the men wondered off to find sleeping bags or ,went to there vehicles to sleep, She took a blanket
out of the pickup, found a spot near the fire, and her and Rowdy fell into a restless sleep.
she woke up just before dawn, She was comfortable and warm, Mike was laying next to her, his arm thrown around her waist,
he was snoring quietly, his warm breath on the back of her neck, She started to stir, and he tightened his grip. Rowdy had wondered over to the edge of
the campsite and was sitting next to Hank,who had stood sentry all night. If Rowdy trusted Hank, then she wouldn't worry about him any more, he had
a natural instinct about danger, Mike's whispered in her ear, Damn you feel good, he kissed her on the back of the neck, I wish we were back in our
cave, he said, Silvia tried to raise up, she felt the pressure of his erection on her hip, and blushed, She wished she was back in the cave also, she
felt safe and protected,and the feeling of his strong arms around her, and the swell of his erection had opened up all kinds of emotions.
Mike started to shift his weight to turn her on her back when Rowdy bounced over and licked Mike in the face, ok, ok! pal, he laughed. Silvia. took
that opportunity to jump up, she grabbed her shoes and headed for the tree line not looking back......
On the fourth day they went down the cliffs in too there first view of Los Angles,The smell was almost unbearable and the freeways were completely impassable as was most of the side streets into the city, rubble ,bridges,and skyscrapers were still smoldering
stacked hundreds of feet in to the air, it had been almost two months since the day the bombs were dropped, and it was quiet, nothing moved, a city of over two million people completely obliterated, all of humanity as we new it stilled in an instant. nothing moving, at least nothing alive, as darkness came so came the night people, they came out of the shadows and rubble by the hundreds, but for the first time, Mike and Silvia saw that they were turning on each other, They had ran out of fresh prey, nothing else lived but there own rotting bodies mindless and hungry.
The group watched from the piles of cement and steel, slowly backing out from the way they had came in to the city, as the killing went on, the smell was so bad that they had gone unnoticed in the carnage as the night men went about the business of their own demise.
That was the way the days passed, killing as many of the ones that had escaped the fury, and they were now seeing more and more bodies of the night men, and each night less and less of the the horror that had once been loving fathers, sons, grandfathers, the cities officials, police, fire, and Government, of one of the most populated countries in the world. Hank his son Jerry, Mike, and Silvia and a group of twenty other haggard, and ragged men, made their way out of the city, it took two days.
The last night was spent on the beach, each taking turns going into the surf, to be alone, to cry, memories of family and friends that were gone forever, and to cleanse themselves of the stink and horror of what had happened to their world. and try to come to terms with what they knew was the beginning of a new life.
Rowdy had gone into the surf, and also came out shaking and barking. Silvia crying softly as she thought of her wonderful father, gentle Mother, and the brother that she had loved so much it had hurt,. she couldn't believe that they were gone and she would never see them again..
The next morning they climbed back into mountains, back to the camp, and back to the cars and trucks and the clean clear air, Hank made fresh coffee, dug out cans of food, pots and pans, Silvia and Mike helped cook, and after a much needed supper, they all sat around the fire smoking and talking, Hank spoke first. well i don't know about the rest of you, but I have seen enough to know I wont go into any more cities. Jerry and I are going to head north, try to get to the East coast. maybe by time we get there all of those rotting bastards will have killed them selves off.. and maybe, just maybe, we will find more survivors. we cant be the only ones left, who knows maybe some women did survive, if they did I want to find them,our gas wont last long, and we will need to find food , and ammo, and it will take years to cross the rocky Mountains and walk across the Midwest, but I don't want to stay here, the other men were talking among them selves, about where they wanted to go..
Mike looked at Silvia and they both knew where they wanted to go, back to their mountain, back to there cave. so the next morning they all said there goodbye's ,they shook hands and wished each other well, and headed off either alone or in small groups.
Mike, Silvia and Rowdy drove must of the day, they stopped once when rowdy started barking loudly, whining and trying to jump out of the pickup truck, mike pulled over, and rowdy jumped out of the truck, Silvia Screamed No! No! Rowdy come back!, come back !
but just then out came Rowdy followed by the most beautiful German shepherd Dog. and it was a female, they were Hopping and jumping at each other, both climbed into the back of the truck, Mike, and Silvia laughed, well I'll be damned, Mike said, that a boy Pal, Good for you, and shes a beauty, he smiled at Silvia and they started up through the valley, up and up through the fire roads until they came to there own cave, as they stood on the top of the mountain they looked down over the stillness, The sun was going down, and the sky was a brilliant, gold, they watched until it had gone down below the horizon, Rowdy and Shadow were settling down by the fire.
Mike turned and Took Silvia in his arms, Hmmmm, he said, The last women. Im sure glad your my women, He kissed her slowly, Silvia shivering with antisapation, and they turned and walked into the cave, Come on Eve, Mike said, we have a world to create..
" The beginning"
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