Abraham and the Apocalypse… pt 2 The Run For Survival

Almost like a mirage the veil of dust along the horizon shimmered in the late morning sunlight growing larger as it got closer. The waves of heat rising from the desert floor made it hard to see them at first, or how many, but soon their figures began to come into focus. There must be 30 or more moving fast in the distant valley below us. “What do we do Scotty, Scotty, what are we gonna do”? Abe asked with a shaky voice. I eased my hand over Abe’s mouth, “shhh, quiet, they’re a long way off but we don’t know how well they can hear and we can’t let them hear us” I whispered. “But they’re coming this way. I don’t want to be eaten Scotty, I’m scared”. “I’m a little scared too” I replied not wanting him to know how scared I really was, like that first day.

It has been several weeks since the big bright light. Neither Abe or myself know exactly how long ago it happened. We had only started keeping track of time with our own calendar a few days back, June 5th, last Monday, using our best guess as to the correct date. About the only thing we did know for certain was that everything around us had changed, all the people were gone.

There was no one in the town of Bend Oregon that day we returned from the nearby caves where we had been camping, the day of the big bright light. All the people were gone. There were automobiles left in disarray in the streets of down town Bend. Some of the cars appeared to be accidents, either involving another car or simply running into a street lamp, road sign, or other object. The cars were all empty, nothing had been cleaned up, and no one was around. There was no hustle and bustle along the sidewalks, no one going in or coming out of the businesses that lined the streets. The school playground was without children, even Mirror Pond, a vast park located in the center of town, always busy with picnics and on the water’s edge the retirees bragging to one another about who was the best fisherman was void of life. 20,000 people gone, the silence was defining.

As we continued to walk through town Abe whispered, “Where do you think everyone went?” “I don’t know Abe but this sure is a little creepy”. We went first to my house and as we walked up the driveway past mom’s car I reached over and touched the hood, cold. Mom has not been anywhere today I remember thinking. I also remember thinking, this is more than a little creepy, this is like living a very bad dream. The house was as empty of life like the town and so the same at Abe’s house when we arrived there.

Bringing me back with a tug on my sleeve Abe asked again, “Scotty, what are we gonna do”? Looking below the edge of the cliff where we now lay I whispered to Abe, “I don’t think they will be able to climb this shale, it was hard enough for us. I think they’re going to have to go around”. I was hoping I was right. “I don’t want to stay to find out. I want to get out of here. What do you think Scotty, can we go, can we go now”? Abe was right of course. Weather they could climb the shale or had to go around the face of this plateau the only thing certain was they were after us and would keep coming. “You’re right Abe”, I said. “let’s get out of here”.

We crawled backwards on our bellies away from the edge of the cliff being careful not to raise any dust and got to our feet. “We have at least an hour on them Abe but we’ve got to find a way to lose them, any ideas”. For several minutes as we continued to head east towards the Strawberry Mountains Abe was quiet, then he spoke. “We need a stream or a river Scotty. We could walk in the water and maybe they wouldn’t be able to smell us”. I was thinking the same thing as Scotty. When watching them from the cliff even at a half mile away or more it was still easy to see they walked on their legs as well as on all fours, like apes but more human than ape. They were also wearing clothes, maybe some sort of uniform although it was hard to tell at that distance. We were doing well staying out of sight but neither one of us has had a bath for a week or better. They were smelling us. Lifting their heads to the wind and back to the ground. We were being tracked, we were the prey.

We had been walking and jogging for hours trying to stay ahead of whatever it was behind us when I looked back at Abraham, “It’s getting late buddy”. “We’ve got to make that tree line before it gets dark and you’ve got to keep up. When we get to those trees maybe we can find a place to hide”. Abe was beat, we both were. We had been running from them all day and they were keeping up. “I’m tired Scotty and I can’t spit no more”. “I know you are; I am too but do you know why there are so many trees up ahead Abe? Water, there’s bound to be some water, there has to be some water and a place to hide”.

An hour later found Abe and myself resting in the shade of a large Tamarack. We had an hour, maybe two before we ran out of light. Looking back across the miles of dry, flat, ground we had just crossed we could see no signs of our pursuers. No distant forms moving our way. No flashes of sunlight reflecting off metal, and no dust. Surly we would still see dust rising in the distance, unless they had also stopped.

“What do you think Abe”? “Maybe they’re tired like us Scotty. Maybe they’re taking a nap and we can take a nap”. Maybe, I thought. “They’ve stopped, I think that’s for sure and for certain but we better keep moving. No telling when they will start up again. We still need water and a safe place to spend the night. There’s still some light left. What do you say we head on into the woods a little ways and see what we can find? How ‘bout it, you take the lead”.

It had the effect I thought it would, giving Abe the lead. He may be a little slow but he has the courage and the willingness of more than anyone I’ve ever known. “Which way Abe”? Already working his way in a north east direction up the mountain Abe replied over his shoulder, “This way Scotty, if they keep coming maybe they will think we went straight up the hill”. “Sounds like a good idea and the breeze will be at our backs. Let’s be mindful of leaving any tracks or traces we’ve come this way, on second thought let’s hold up a moment, I have an idea. We’re going to take us a bath”. Abe just looked at me, half grin, half bewilderment.

The smell of pine and cedar was in the air noticeable even above our own smell. Along with a pretty good assortment of trees we were surrounded by plants and grass. I walked over to a nearby pine and gathered up a handful of pine needles. Breaking them in half I started rubbing them into my tattered clothing. “Do what I’m doing Abe. The smell of the needles will help hide your nasty smell”. “Will this really work?” “It will help” I said. “Use the leaves from that cedar too, even rubbing some grass and dirt all over us will help”. Excited, Abe jumped right in letting out the small boy inside.

After a few minutes, “That should do the trick” I said looking over at Abe. ”I think you need a lot more pine needles Scotty, and leaves, and dirt” Abe replied with a laugh. “Very funny Abe” I said with a grin. “Stuff your pockets with some of them pine needles and let’s find a place to get some rest.

We had not gone far when, “Stop right there” the voice called out from in front of us and like bronze statues we froze. Other than our own this was the first voice we had heard since Abe’s mom had told us to be careful and have a nice time. “This 50 is old and aren’t that accurate but I’m close enough to put one ball through the both of ya’s”. The voice was deep and rough. I had no doubts that a wrong move now would be our last. I whispered over to Abe, don’t move and don’t say a word.

Read part one HERE!