Reset

Another barrier. Workhorses painted yellow with some sort of faded signs were on them. It wasn’t the first time he ran into a road barrier, and it would not be the last.

As he had done every time before, he put the buggy in gear, stepped out and walked towards the barrier that ran across the road. It looked easier than the others. There weren’t many cars there. In fact he had to stop and remember where he was, what city was nearby, the road barriers tended to block off exits and sections before any towns.

He walked to the barrier. There were only two to move.

‘Those have been there while,’ he thought. He visually assessed them.  They were overgrown and the weeds were entangled around them. He wasn’t thinking. It had become a habit. A new routine. It was close to the tenth time he had to stop.

Malcolm grabbed hold of the first horse then shoved it to the side and when he grabbed hold of the second one he felt the searing, burning, rip to the side of his forearm. He whipped back his hand, with a, “God damn it” and shake of his arm. Blood flowed from it, seething at the sliced.

Was it a nail? Maybe a shard of wood, he didn’t know. He couldn’t even see if there was a large splinter in his arm, the blood flowed so profusely.

It irritated him.

He returned to the buggy quickly, rinsed it with some water, and wrapped it in a cloth. He hurriedly went back to the road barriers and cleared them away. His arm was a secondary thought.

He didn’t need another obstacle, or another delay. He just wanted to keep moving.

TWENTY-SIX – Cold

Unlike Malcolm’s buggy, Nora and Jason had to heavily rely on the sun to keep their buggy going. Theirs didn’t have a dual battery system so they only had about four hours’ worth of driving power. That was, if they didn’t hit any heavy cloud coverage areas.

As it dribbled on the last of their power, dragging at a speed of twenty mph, they made it to the upscale neighborhood of Indian Hills, located just outside of Louisville, Kentucky.

They made it.

They pulled the buggy over to the side of the road carefully removing the battery, taking it with them so they could place it in the sunlight to recharge. Then they made their way on foot to the gated community.

Jason perked with excitement when he saw the gates closed, some of them vine covered, some bushes had grown up among it. But it wasn’t a lot of foliage. A large hand-painted, keep out, sign hung on the gate and there were signs that there was at one time an armed guard. A SUV was parked by the gate. It was black and expensive looking, a symbol of those who lived inside. The door to the SUV was open, the windows were broken, a rifle lay by it and everything was dusty.

“They tried to fend off the virus,” Jason said with enthusiasm. “They had guards.”

Nora only nodded. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t want to tell him that meant nothing. She didn’t want to squash his hopes.

The gate was a bust. They had to find another way in. Jason knew a back way. A wall did not encircle the entire property. On the outskirts of the community, all around it, was a forest planted by the developers to add a lush look and a natural privacy. It was better than a cold hard wall. On foot they made their way to the east side of the community. Jason told Nora they’d make their way up the Bowens Family backyard and to Main Street.

As if she knew who the Bowens were.

Nora couldn’t believe the homes.

They’re all the same, but different shades of white and brown. All of them modern all with long winding driveways. They must of each cost upwards of six figures, more than likely seven.

“There.” Jason pointed up the road. “That’s my home.” He stopped walking, put his hands on his knees, and bent over slightly, with his head cocked gazing outward.

“You okay?” Nora asked

“Just taking a moment.” Jason said. “I’m frightened.”

“You need to make yourself a promise right now.”

Jason stood upright. “What do you mean?”

“I mean… I mean you need to face the fact that everything just may not be alright.” Nora cringed when she said that, waiting for backlash.

“I am.”

“Are you?” Nora asked. “I don’t mean to sound cold, or callous, but I am getting prepared myself. You should, too.”

“Why would you think I’m not?”

“Not saying you aren’t prepared. I’m not saying that you aren’t ready. I’m just making sure, does it make sense?”

“No. It sounds pessimistic.”

“You’re right. You’re right.” Nora lifted her hands in a surrender move. She said no more. She didn’t say what she wanted to say. If she did, it would be to tell him, ‘Take a look around. Do you see anyone? Is anyone living here? Look at the grass.’

Didn’t Jason notice the grass?

It was high. Too high, four to five feet some areas and Nora was pretty certain those bushes weren’t planted by the owners of the home. They were new. They had grown in the world void of people.