We gave up. They didn't have any collars that fit Woof. Instead I took a leash with the idea I would clip the end on the leash itself after putting it around Woofs neck. I showed Woof and Zane what I planned on doing. Charlene was chuckling in the background and telling Saggy Jowls "I gotta see this." Woof didn't like the idea. I knelt down next to him and held out the leash for him to sniff. He declined. I told him "Look big guy you got to do this. I got to give up my guns. I don't like it but its for the greater good." I shouldn't have said "Greater good." Woof was no dummy. He knew when someone said that you weren't going to like what they had planned. He backed away.
I tried a different line. "Remember when I found you? You were chained up? I let you go. That worked out okay? Right?" It hadn't for him but I was counting on him not remembering that part. I was wrong. Like I said -- Woof was no dummy. He backed away when I reached for him. I knee walked over to where he was and tried it again. Again he moved. I could hear Charlene and Saggy Jowls laughing. The entire thing was fast getting irritating. I tried Plan B. "Woof. Listen to me. If I got to chase you all around this lobby I am going to shoot your ass and toss you out the door. Now hold still." He moved and then barked at me. Damn. The idiot dog was calling my bluff.
I was saved by Charlene.
"Why don't you let the boy try. It's his dog."
"Since when?" I thought but she had a point. They were pretty tight. "Okay Zane. Your turn." I handed him the leash and stood up.
Zane walked over. He didn't need to bend over, as Woof, when he had his head up, was looking Zane in the eyes. I heard him whisper "It's okay. I won't let them hurt you." Then he slipped it around Woofs neck, hugged him, and told us "Okay. What's next?"
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 6a - by Nova
Saggy Jowls looked at me "You have a leash sir?"
"Ah no."
"Okie dokey." She disappeared from view for a handful of beats. I could hear her rummaging around underneath the counter. She popped back up with a copier paper box that she set on the counter top. "Take a look in there. You'd be amazed at what people have with them when they come here. We do are best to be prepared around here!" She smiled broadly. During all this I was aware of the lobby security team watching us.
I rummaged around. The first thing I pulled out was a red nylon horse halter. "You get horses in here?"
"Oh my! Not in here! Did you hear that Charlene! The man thought we got horses in here!"
"Tell him about the goat. He'll like that."
"I wasn't here for the goat." Saggy jowls glared at Charlene who looked up, stared at both of us, then turned the page and shut us both back out. I tuned Saggy out too. I held up a few collars, looked at Woof and Zane, and dropped them back into the box. The problem was size. Woof was not a small dog. Charlene, who decided to put down her magazine, came over to stand next to Jowls and looked over the counter at Woof.
"Damn. That dog is huge! He sure as hell better not take a dump in here."
"Ah no."
"Okie dokey." She disappeared from view for a handful of beats. I could hear her rummaging around underneath the counter. She popped back up with a copier paper box that she set on the counter top. "Take a look in there. You'd be amazed at what people have with them when they come here. We do are best to be prepared around here!" She smiled broadly. During all this I was aware of the lobby security team watching us.
I rummaged around. The first thing I pulled out was a red nylon horse halter. "You get horses in here?"
"Oh my! Not in here! Did you hear that Charlene! The man thought we got horses in here!"
"Tell him about the goat. He'll like that."
"I wasn't here for the goat." Saggy jowls glared at Charlene who looked up, stared at both of us, then turned the page and shut us both back out. I tuned Saggy out too. I held up a few collars, looked at Woof and Zane, and dropped them back into the box. The problem was size. Woof was not a small dog. Charlene, who decided to put down her magazine, came over to stand next to Jowls and looked over the counter at Woof.
"Damn. That dog is huge! He sure as hell better not take a dump in here."
Monday, November 29, 2010
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 6 - by Nova
Yet another converted light industrial building. The difference was the sign that said "Acclimation Visitor Parking." The arrow pointed to a lot that was maybe a quarter mile away from the lot in front of the building. Once upon a time that would have been considered a hike and they would have had golf carts running as shuttles. Not anymore.
I pulled the truck over to the far corner of the parking lot and looked. It was maybe a quarter full. Mostly trucks. Some cars with tags from all over the US. A school bus for a school district that was at least 100 miles away. I stared out the front window and said "Okay." I ran the calculations again in my head. Time wise and safety wise it was a winner. Money wise it made sense. I wasn't getting a bad feeling from the place. Yet I hesitated. It meant trusting the government. That had never worked out well in the past. Yet perhaps, just perhaps, I could make it work. I had before.
Zane and Woof were staring at me. "Okay guys. Lets go see what they have to offer."
Woof didn't say anything. Zane did though. "Remember what you said about Woof."
"Yeah" I know. "No Woof. No go. C'mon. Maybe they can give him a bath and brush his teeth." I doubted it. Woof would have to cooperate and that was not likely. I would hate to be called from the squirrel brain class because he had been caught dining on the groomer.
We wandered on over and I held open the main door so Zane and Woof could go through first. If there was going to be a reaction to Woof I wanted to be behind him so I could catch it.
It was a non-event.
The lobby had a circular desk behind which sat a couple of the camo clones. Both of them were black and thick built. I wondered how much weight they had dropped lately. One of them had the saggy jowl look of a woman who had lost a lot -- fast.
"Why look Charlene. The boy has a dog!" This was from saggy jowl.
Charlene was reading a magazine. She looked over at us and said "Get him on a leash." Then went back to reading her People magazine. It had to be an old one. Angela Jolie was one the cover and I wondered if she ate Brad first -- then the kids, or was it the other way around? My money would be on Brad first. She did have such a nurturing, earth mother aura.
I pulled the truck over to the far corner of the parking lot and looked. It was maybe a quarter full. Mostly trucks. Some cars with tags from all over the US. A school bus for a school district that was at least 100 miles away. I stared out the front window and said "Okay." I ran the calculations again in my head. Time wise and safety wise it was a winner. Money wise it made sense. I wasn't getting a bad feeling from the place. Yet I hesitated. It meant trusting the government. That had never worked out well in the past. Yet perhaps, just perhaps, I could make it work. I had before.
Zane and Woof were staring at me. "Okay guys. Lets go see what they have to offer."
Woof didn't say anything. Zane did though. "Remember what you said about Woof."
"Yeah" I know. "No Woof. No go. C'mon. Maybe they can give him a bath and brush his teeth." I doubted it. Woof would have to cooperate and that was not likely. I would hate to be called from the squirrel brain class because he had been caught dining on the groomer.
We wandered on over and I held open the main door so Zane and Woof could go through first. If there was going to be a reaction to Woof I wanted to be behind him so I could catch it.
It was a non-event.
The lobby had a circular desk behind which sat a couple of the camo clones. Both of them were black and thick built. I wondered how much weight they had dropped lately. One of them had the saggy jowl look of a woman who had lost a lot -- fast.
"Why look Charlene. The boy has a dog!" This was from saggy jowl.
Charlene was reading a magazine. She looked over at us and said "Get him on a leash." Then went back to reading her People magazine. It had to be an old one. Angela Jolie was one the cover and I wondered if she ate Brad first -- then the kids, or was it the other way around? My money would be on Brad first. She did have such a nurturing, earth mother aura.
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 5d - by Nova
"So what are you here for?" She asked me.
"We're going to get acclimated." I watched her face. Nothing but a faint smile. "Yeah. It's like being in high school again."
"How so?"
"Just a bunch of classes on stuff that if you didn't already know you would be dead. Like always wash your hands before eating. Never eat squirrel brains. That sort of stuff."
I pursed my lips and nodded my head gravely. "Yeah. I can see where that could be important."
She looked at me, trying to read me, she couldn't.
"You do know you will have to check the weapons?"
"I figured as much. Why?"
She shrugged and looked away. A couple was approaching. Before she went off to greet them she said "Because people have learned to kill each other for no reason at all."
I watched her walkaway. She had a great ass. Damn I miss Night. The physical need for her rolled through me with an intensity that literally made me want to howl. I shook myself. Damn. I thought I had already made it through this stage of life. Hell. I remembered going to the mall, limping around in a daze, and hoping it wasn't as obvious as it felt.
"You okay?"
Zane's voice sliced through my fever dream.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Let's get this over with. We got places to go." I added silently "And a woman to do."
"We're going to get acclimated." I watched her face. Nothing but a faint smile. "Yeah. It's like being in high school again."
"How so?"
"Just a bunch of classes on stuff that if you didn't already know you would be dead. Like always wash your hands before eating. Never eat squirrel brains. That sort of stuff."
I pursed my lips and nodded my head gravely. "Yeah. I can see where that could be important."
She looked at me, trying to read me, she couldn't.
"You do know you will have to check the weapons?"
"I figured as much. Why?"
She shrugged and looked away. A couple was approaching. Before she went off to greet them she said "Because people have learned to kill each other for no reason at all."
I watched her walkaway. She had a great ass. Damn I miss Night. The physical need for her rolled through me with an intensity that literally made me want to howl. I shook myself. Damn. I thought I had already made it through this stage of life. Hell. I remembered going to the mall, limping around in a daze, and hoping it wasn't as obvious as it felt.
"You okay?"
Zane's voice sliced through my fever dream.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Let's get this over with. We got places to go." I added silently "And a woman to do."
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 5c - by Nova
I walked over to where everyone stood and checked out the memorial. That was exactly what it was too. I had seen them before in town back before everything truly went to hell. Candles, a photo or three, some flowers or if it was a kid -- a stuffed animal. This one was a lot bigger and it didn't smell to good either. It was obvious why. Rain had swept in repeatedly and soaked the stuffed animals. More than a few items of clothing with blood stains were intermixed with the photos and toys. They added their own scent. It smelled like a combination of Goodwill store and the leftovers from a week old foreclosure eviction. If you added some furniture it would look like one too.
The woman in the official Fedland uniform whom I noticed lurking behind the group of people walked up to me and asked "Can I help you sir?" It was a creepy kind of voice. She sounded like she was an undertaker in church at a funeral and trying to sell coffins to the mourners.
"How did this happen here? I mean ...why here?"
"Because of the Citizen Location building here."
I saw Zane come out the front door and yelled "Zane!" and waved him over. I told her "I was only in there briefly. What's that all about?"
"It's a database really. People go in there an can search for the whereabouts of friends and family. They can also have photos and information posted about themselves so others can find them. It's like facebook but only for people who are missing, dead, or trying to reunite."
"And the government runs it?"
"Yes sir it does.
The woman in the official Fedland uniform whom I noticed lurking behind the group of people walked up to me and asked "Can I help you sir?" It was a creepy kind of voice. She sounded like she was an undertaker in church at a funeral and trying to sell coffins to the mourners.
"How did this happen here? I mean ...why here?"
"Because of the Citizen Location building here."
I saw Zane come out the front door and yelled "Zane!" and waved him over. I told her "I was only in there briefly. What's that all about?"
"It's a database really. People go in there an can search for the whereabouts of friends and family. They can also have photos and information posted about themselves so others can find them. It's like facebook but only for people who are missing, dead, or trying to reunite."
"And the government runs it?"
"Yes sir it does.
Friday, November 26, 2010
American Apocalypse IV - Chapter 5b - by Nova
The toll booth was really an information booth. Once again staffed by two people in woodlands camo utilities and the armband. I rolled up and was greeted with a smile and "How can I help you?"
"Wheres the nearest bathroom?"
"That would be at the Citizen Location building. That would be your first left as you continue on. Anything else sir?"
"The get a Zone pass building."
"That would be the last building off of Freedom Road. Here's a map and some information for you." The woman handed me a brochure and said "Anything else?"
"No ma'am. I'm set."
"Thank you and remember America is only as strong as its people!"
I pulled away shaking my head. This was weirdness on a scale and level that was completely different from what I was used to.
"She was nice." This was from Zane.
"Yeah. She was."
I made the turn and parked in a big and busy parking lot. My first thought was how the hell are they paying for the gas? Of course. They had Zone passes and got the special price. It occurred to me I should have come here first and drained some tanks. Screw paying a premium for regular.
"Can we hurry?"
"Sure Zane." I told Woof to stay and we hurried towards the main door. The lobby area had a row of tables manned with more woodland wearing auxiliaries with computers and in/out boxes. They were working computers too. I knew that because there were people sitting on the other side of the tables listening or talking. One couple was crying. The man holding his woman as she sobbed into his shoulder. A man at the next table over was grinning and saying loudly over and over "I knew it! I knew it!:
They had regular Army working security here too. They were geared up and had their serious faces on. I drew them like a magnet as soon as I cleared the doors. They weren't subtle about it either.
"Hold it right there sir."
I stopped and looked at them. "Yes?"
"Check the weapons or clear the area immediately."
I did the calculations. This was going to be dicey but I could do it. My body was already adjusting. Time was slowing down. Everything was sharp and focused. The soldier who had done the talking was just beginning to process the change in my body language when Zane said "I got to go!"
I froze, took a deep breath and shut it down. "No problem. Wheres the men's room?"
"Down the hall and to your right."
"Zane. I'll wait for you outside."
He was off like a kid on a mission. I watched him go and smiled at the two soldiers. They didn't smile back. I heard their safeties click off, shook my head, and walked back out the door.
Outside it was still threatening to rain. Off to my right was a covered picnic area. It had probably been built for the employees of the building I had just walked out of. Even from here I could tell what it was being used for now. A memorial. People had worn a path in the grass to it and I could see a group of four standing off to one side. I watched as a woman, she had been kneeling, slowly got back on her feet with the assistance of two of the males. She had placed a stuffed turtle on the edge. Yet another camo wearing woman was standing to one side of them. Close enough to be there but far away enough not to intrude.
"Wheres the nearest bathroom?"
"That would be at the Citizen Location building. That would be your first left as you continue on. Anything else sir?"
"The get a Zone pass building."
"That would be the last building off of Freedom Road. Here's a map and some information for you." The woman handed me a brochure and said "Anything else?"
"No ma'am. I'm set."
"Thank you and remember America is only as strong as its people!"
I pulled away shaking my head. This was weirdness on a scale and level that was completely different from what I was used to.
"She was nice." This was from Zane.
"Yeah. She was."
I made the turn and parked in a big and busy parking lot. My first thought was how the hell are they paying for the gas? Of course. They had Zone passes and got the special price. It occurred to me I should have come here first and drained some tanks. Screw paying a premium for regular.
"Can we hurry?"
"Sure Zane." I told Woof to stay and we hurried towards the main door. The lobby area had a row of tables manned with more woodland wearing auxiliaries with computers and in/out boxes. They were working computers too. I knew that because there were people sitting on the other side of the tables listening or talking. One couple was crying. The man holding his woman as she sobbed into his shoulder. A man at the next table over was grinning and saying loudly over and over "I knew it! I knew it!:
They had regular Army working security here too. They were geared up and had their serious faces on. I drew them like a magnet as soon as I cleared the doors. They weren't subtle about it either.
"Hold it right there sir."
I stopped and looked at them. "Yes?"
"Check the weapons or clear the area immediately."
I did the calculations. This was going to be dicey but I could do it. My body was already adjusting. Time was slowing down. Everything was sharp and focused. The soldier who had done the talking was just beginning to process the change in my body language when Zane said "I got to go!"
I froze, took a deep breath and shut it down. "No problem. Wheres the men's room?"
"Down the hall and to your right."
"Zane. I'll wait for you outside."
He was off like a kid on a mission. I watched him go and smiled at the two soldiers. They didn't smile back. I heard their safeties click off, shook my head, and walked back out the door.
Outside it was still threatening to rain. Off to my right was a covered picnic area. It had probably been built for the employees of the building I had just walked out of. Even from here I could tell what it was being used for now. A memorial. People had worn a path in the grass to it and I could see a group of four standing off to one side. I watched as a woman, she had been kneeling, slowly got back on her feet with the assistance of two of the males. She had placed a stuffed turtle on the edge. Yet another camo wearing woman was standing to one side of them. Close enough to be there but far away enough not to intrude.
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