Alana spoke on it at last: “Why were we low on fuel anyway? I thought we had enough—”
Saburo winced and spoke quickly. “Because I had to get the fuck out of there, and then I came back, and I was riding around looking for you alright?”
“Alright” she said slowly, surprised at his passion.
“Sorry.” He muttered, looking down. “It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have wasted…” He glanced around again anxiously “Maybe we missed it? But then we should have been able to see the lights. Why does everything have to be so fucking difficult!?” he despaired.
Alana looked at him with surprise, not sure how to respond.
They proceeded in silence. An old can lay in the road – the bike wheel clattered into it. Saburo jumped back swearing, letting the bike crash to the ground. He walked away briskly, his hands tugging at his hair. Alana stared, bewildered.
He crouched down, far from the bike. Alana approached him after a while.
“You ok?” said Alana, quietly.
“I’m fine—” Saburo choked on his words.
“Is there something wrong with the bike?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“I keep – seeing them. They were right in front of me and then they were gone. Over and over and over.” He started hyperventilating, he put his chin to his chest and closed his eyes.
“It’s ok,” said Alana sympathetically.
“No. I have to…” Saburo trailed off.
Alana lifted the bike into position and pushed it for a while. Saburo followed, his head held down in disgrace.
He caught up to her and gently took over the handlebars – she released. He started pushing again.
“It’s a terrible thing – to be a coward,” he said. “I didn’t choose to be this way.”
“You’re just a little shook,” said Alana. “There’s no shame in that.”
“Cavaliers aren’t supposed to get shook.”
“That’s stupid,” she said blankly. “Everybody gets shook. Some people just aren’t brave enough to admit it.”
She looked at him and smiled sympathetically. He smiled back weakly and laughed through his nose a little, he shook his head and went back to pushing.
They parked at an old crumbling manor house, ferried the bike over to the stables. They ate and drank from the saddle bags and then silently explored the derelict rooms. These were damp and stank of rot. They decided to sleep on the flat roof of the stables. Saburo vaulted Alana to the top, and Alana gave a hand for Saburo to grasp as he pulled himself up. They settled in, sitting across from one another on the asphalt. They watched the holographic chevron.
“It’s moved slightly. I’m sure of it,” said Saburo.
“They’re still moving. They’re ok. We’ll catch up to them.”
In the morning, as they pushed their bike along, they came across a merchant truck splayed across the road. It lay silent and still. The valuables unstolen.
Alana watched through her scope as Saburo crept to the eerie scene. He saw bullet holes in the sides of the truck and there were dreadful bloodstains, but no bodies. Just spent shells on the floor. The truck would not start. They siphoned off fuel into their bike and left as soon as they could.
31
Alana gripped onto Saburo with one arm, the other held the holodisk. They drove through open plains, green and empty. Unblemished save for the occasional concrete road that still persisted, cutting through the grasslands. They saw sheep grazing in the distance, but no shepherds. A dirt road branched off from the concrete one, and this one lay more in line with the chevron on the holodisk.
“Take a left here!” yelled Alana, over the roar of the engine.
The bike struggled a little on the new terrain, bumping them and kicking up stones, but they grew used to it. Faintly in the distance they saw smoke rising. It was probably a town.
“Let’s check it out,” shouted Alana. Saburo revved the engine and sped up.
Little pieces of ash would float across them, these increased in size and number as they approached. Little by little a noxious fog enveloped them, till they could not see further than 10 metres. They entered the village unexpectedly. The gates had been smashed open. The walls, the hovels, the storage depots were mostly destroyed, those that remained, like everything else, were covered in a thick layer of grey dust. The forest that once surrounded the village was now much receded, leaving grey stumps, and in the distance it could be seen that healthy trees still burned.
It was a large village, driving carefully, they made their way to the centre. They dismounted. Alana took out her rifle, and Saburo his machine pistol. They wandered around, looking for signs of life. They kicked down a door that crumbled to pieces. The house was empty, possessions strewn about casually as if someone would soon return to them. When they exited-
“Drop your weapons, put your hands up.” Said a stranger, her voice muffled by a bandana around her mouth, her eyes covered in goggles. She wore the green poncho of the Ranger Kor, and bore their long rifle also.
“I’m a Ranger,” said Alana quietly.
“You’re dressed as one,” said the girl. “What legion?”
“Fourth Legion.”
“Fourth Legion are up North. What the hell are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Yeah I bet. Give me the short version.”
A man jogged through the fog, dressed similarly to the girl interrogating them. He took off his goggles and bandana, revealing a square, masculine face with big eyebrows and lively brown eyes. He was about the same age as Alana.
“Alana?” said the man.
“Rob?” said Alana with narrowed eyes.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he cried, then swung his rifle over his shoulder and hugged her, lifting her off her feet.
“Sorry,” muttered the girl under her breath. She too took off her goggles and bandana. She was practically a child, she was gaunt, with dark hair and eyes, and a shy look about her. “I’m Nadine,” she said, when Alana and Robert had finished hugging and laughing.
“Alana,” said Alana, nodding upwards. “And this is Saburo.”
Saburo had been watching the events play out with crossed arms. He gave a quick sarcastic salute at the sound of his name.
“How do you know each other?” asked Robert, looking over Saburo with suspicion.
“It’s – complicated,” said Alana. “He’s with the Cavaliers. He’s been helping me, he brought me here.”
“Why?” said Robert, his posture becoming more stiff and uncomfortable. “Aren’t you supposed to be far north, near the Lakes?”
Alana pinched the bridge of her nose and winced. “It’s very complicated.” She glanced at Nadine, then looked to Robert. “I’d prefer to explain it to you in private.”
Robert stared into her eyes and nodded. “Nadine,” he said. “Look after the people, tell them it’s safe to come out and gather their things.”
Alana looked to Saburo “Can you wait here?”
He shrugged.
“I’ll be 5 minutes,” Alana grabbed Robert’s arm and walked down the dirt road.
“There are people here?” asked Alana as they strolled away. Saburo and Nadine eyed each other suspiciously, until Nadine walked off into the fog.
“Yes,” said Robert. “A few survivors. Poor bastards. They got raided, by slavers. A bunch of mutants who call themselves the Immortals.”
“Are we in any danger?”
“No I don’t think so. According to the locals, the Immortals only raid at night… You know you’re not supposed to consort with gang members Alana.”