Chapter 213: Who was to blame for the apocalypse.
Sunshine left Major Elio and Carson discussing how they would kill off Augustus Bellam. She overheard Elio suggesting that they should question him for a week and try other torture tactics. If nothing worked, they could dispose of him.
She was certain that they would inform her of the decision they had come to later. What she did not wish to do was spend all day listening to them debate about his affairs. All she needed were final results.
Hades followed her outside and he took her hand. "Will you be going for Sunday mass tomorrow?"
The smile which was just beginning to bud on her face died quickly. "Elio told me that he peaked at Father Nicodemus’s sermon and he plans to preach about mercy."
Hades snorted. "That is not unexpected, considering all that we have been through this week. The priest forgets that even God created heaven and hell. Heaven is reserved for the good and hell is meant for the bad."
Sunshine bumped her arm against his. She was very impressed by what he said that the smile on her face returned. "The next time he spouts nonsense about mercy for all, I will say this, exactly as you have said it. I would like to see him argue himself out of that."
"He is a priest; he has a response for everything." Hades grimaced because he could already see her losing the battle. "And what he doesn’t have the answer for, he will fill in with God is in control or God has a reason for everything. That is the answer he has been giving those that asked him about why the apocalypse had to happen."
Sunshine laughed. "I think scientists have an explanation to that question and it is to blame the capitalists."
"I am a capitalist." He said. He pushed her against the car and crossed his arms across his chest. "Are you saying that me and my kind are to blame?"
She shrugged. "I....err...I blame the aliens. The meteors fell from space after all."
He backed off.
"But...." she started.
He narrowed his eyes and growled.
She laughed and shrugged again. "Our government and its weather controlling project in outer space created the problem. Many of you billionaires contributed funds to the project because you wanted benefits. In the end...capitalism played a role."
Hades sighed and inclined forward, lowering his head to her shoulder. In a tired voice, he said to her, "Can we just talk about something stupid. My mind cannot process logical discussions right now?"
She raised her hand to the back of his hand and slowly run her hands through his hair. It had skipped her mind that he had been on patrol for two days and still running around the base during the day. He was not resting enough.
"I am going to pick the kids from their grandmother’s place later in the day. You should go home and get some sleep." She told him.
The two shared a light kiss and went their separate ways.
The pathway that led towards the gate of the second wall was mostly lonely. Ever since it became colder, most of the residents preferred to stay indoors when they were not working.
Unlike other people that were wrapped tight in heavy jackets, Sunshine wore only a t-shirt and nothing to keep her warm. She liked the cold, it was almost as though her body thrived in such weather, all her senses worked better.
Two figures emerged from the side lane and stopped her. She paused because it was Morris and Nala.
"Mrs. Quinn," Morris called, urgency in his voice. His shoulders were stiff, his eyes red rimmed from nights without rest.
He was another Elio, patrolling the base day and night with little rest.
"Morris you need to sleep; do you want to go crazy? There are other people that are good at watching the base." Sunshine told him.
Nodding his head, a smile appeared on Morris’ face. "After this, I promise." He paused. "Nala said something to me about you having some kind of technology that might help us see what has become of our people back at the stone village."
A tiny smile tugged on Sunshine’s lips; she could understand the desperation behind his words. For a heartbeat, she simply looked at him. "I do." She answered softly. "We can even drop a radio in the village, and you’ll be able to speak to them. As long as you are not sharing information about the inner workings of the base."
Morris exhaled heavily. "I would never do that. We have all had about the marauders and the one that infiltrated us. Security is very important, and we would never joke around with it.
All we want to know is how they are faring. If I wasn’t afraid of freezing to death in four hours out there, I’d go myself." He muttered the last words, his fists clenched.
The shame in his voice was impossible to miss. He reminded Sunshine of Nimo: another person who thought they were responsible for shouldering the burdens of everyone, especially their loved ones.
"There is nothing wrong with being afraid of the endless cold. No one can survive that cold if they are exposed to it for many hours. The people you left behind knew that it was dangerous and hoped you would be safe and protect the rest of the villagers that came with you. Your safety is for their benefit. Don’t beat yourself up." Sunshine told him.
She gestured that they follow her to a place where they could get help.
"What happened to the dead watcher by the way?" She asked him.
She had not seen it among the bodies of the eagles. Had they forgotten it in the snow?
"The others took it away before I could get to it." He answered.
Sunshine felt some regret. It was too bad that they would not be able to dissect and study the bird. Then again, maybe taking its body would have been seen as a provocation by the other watchers.
She always kept it in mind that you could provoke anything but not the watchers.
They soon arrived at the command center. Inside some soldiers on duty and Dwayne sat in front of the big screens, studying their surroundings beyond the wall. Dwayne was among the ones monitoring the forest and his concentration was intense.
"Anything on the marauders yet?" She asked him.
Dwayne shook his head. "I swear each time I think it’s them, an animal pops up. I am sure that they are out there hibernating. Waiting."
"So are we." Morris touched his dagger.
Sunshine nodded. "We’ll deal with them soon enough." She assured him. "For now, we need one of those upgraded drones which can withstand this weather."
Dwayne nodded and hurried from his chair. Within minutes he returned with the drone in his hands and handed it to Sunshine. "Here it is."
She gave it to a comms officer that carried it to the first wall and gave it to a soldier in the command center who opened a small square high up on the gate and notified them to start the flight via walkie-talkie.
Dwayne squeezed the control pad. With practiced fingers he initiated the launch sequence. The drone’s blades spun faster, until it rose up in the sky then it surged towards the stone village.
Sunshine’s eyes were fixed on the Iive feed on the screen. Nala leaned close, her knuckles pressed against her lips. Morris hovered silently from behind.
The images that appeared on the screen made Morris and Nala sad. Not a soul was moving outside which was understandable. The village almost looked lifeless.
The drones descended, settling at the center of the stone houses and released the radio.
Nala stepped forward, voice trembling as she spoke into the radio. "This is Nala....please can anyone here me? Father, are you there?"
At first there was no response, then doors cracked open. Figures came out of the houses; they saw the radio and hesitated.
Nala sighed in relief when she saw her father.
Morris almost smiled and then he remembered his father was dead.
"Father! Do not be scared. It is I, Nala, we are safe here. I just wanted....." She broke down into multiple sobs.
Nala’s father stepped forward, bent and lifted the radio with both hands. "My child.....we are safe too, but the cold is...." he paused, not wanting to worry her.
"Chief." Morris spoke. "The Quinns are ready to welcome you too, but you must leave now! It will be dangerous later."
The old man shook his head, although he thought they couldn’t see. "We will not leave our land; the mountain God will keep us safe."
Sunshine placed a gentle hand over Nala’s shoulder, then spoke through the radio. "Chief, this is Sunshine Quinn. I am going to send another drone out that is carrying some things that will help you.
It will bring seeds that will help fight the cold. Plant them in flowerpots or containers and let them freeze. Heat will come from them in two days. Please stay indoors as much as you can, the cold is getting worse. Through this radio, reach out to us, other than that make sure it’s switched off to save the battery. And make sure that the battery does not freeze."
A watcher flew across the screen and gripped the drone in its claws, flying off with it.