“Additionally, there were other tanks filled with the toxin. That initial attack crippled humanity. They destroyed our satellites and jammed our radio signals. Our computers stopped working as each orb acted like an electro-magnetic pulse station. Together, they networked, increasing their capability and reducing us to using flags to communicate.
“The second phase was when the mother ship arrived. It altered our atmosphere and brought on the ice age. Along with the gas the orbs emitted, they did something to drastically shift the temperature of the planet.
“Those that weren’t killed by the gas were killed by the extreme weather. It took six months for the ice to take hold. During that time, the mother ship sent down thousands of raiders—ships that bundled humans together and took them up there, for whatever reason. Testing, experiments, food. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was hiding, staying live.
“That’s when you met Gregor?” Ben asked.
“A few years later, yeah. I stayed in North America, joining up with some military friends I knew from my days in the National Guard. We retreated to their army base with Pippa and formed a group of survivors.
“We were forced south where we found a cave system that we used as our new base of operations. We would go out and search for survivors, bringing them back and helping those that we could. One day, Gregor and half a dozen of his Armenian brethren turned up. Somehow, they’d travelled all the way from Europe.
“They brought tales of the thawing and the harvesters. Within a few years the thaw came to America, but Gregor was long gone before then. Gregor and I didn’t mix well. He had certain ideas I didn’t agree with. He wanted to join with the croatoans, co-exist with them.”
Maria shook her head with a look of disbelief. At least one of them was finally getting it. Ben however had remained impassive, listening, taking in as much as he could.
“I refused to be a part of that. Some of our group went with him while a few others stayed with me.”
“What happened to them?” Ethan said.
“Most of them died,” Charlie replied. “A few survived but left the group to seek shelter elsewhere. Many people headed for their hometowns, wanting to be some place familiar. There’s pockets of people all over the place, but over the years, most have come to distrust each other. You saw an example of that back in Ridgway.”
“So they’re doing all this just for the root?” Ethan said.
“No, not just the root. They also benefit from human resources. We’re cattle to them, remember? Where beasts of burden, a food source, even amusement. I don’t know what’s special about our planet, but they’ve always known, for thousands of years that it would come to this. I suppose, this is more their home than it is ours.”
“But we can’t just give it up to them,” Maria said.
Charlie smiled, liking this woman more and more. “Exactly. We won’t. Not without a fight. Co-existing is not an option. They know it; we know it. They just think they’ve already won.”
Pip gave a little bark as she dashed over and sat by Maria. The women stroked the dog as it panted excitedly. Denver followed behind with an army backpack. He placed it at Ben’s feet.
“Okay, Ben,” Denver said, “I’ve packed everything you need for a few days journey, though it’ll only take you a day to get to the farm, but I packed extra just in case there’s any problems and it takes a little longer. There’s also one of the alien pistols in case you need to defend yourself.”
Ben’s face lost its ruddy complexion and became pale as the reality seemed to set in. But he nodded his thanks. Standing up, he hauled the pack on this back.
“You sure you want to do this?” Ethan said.
“I’m sure,” Ben said. “Charlie’s tale is even more convincing. That they think they’ve already won means this is an opportunity I must take if I’m to play a role in our fight. I can’t stay out there, but from within, I can hopefully do my duty.”
“We’ll take you south around Ridgway,” Charlie said, “to avoid any confrontation there. From the edge of the forest it’s about half a day’s walk. Den, did you pack him the map and compass?”
“Yeah, it’s in the pack side pocket. Do you know how to use a compass?” Den asked Ben. The other nodded.
“We were trained in basic navigation and we had them installed on the harvester. We thought we were…. well, it doesn’t matter now. I should go now before I run out of time.”
Ethan and Maria took their turns in saying their goodbyes. Charlie was expecting a more emotional affair, but both of them were quite stoic and practical and weren’t as upset as he imagined them to be. Adapting already. He liked that. Gave him hope that they would become good allies and assets. Ben still gave him doubts, but the information he gave him about the shelter was a good test.
If Gregor’s people or the croatoans went there instead of coming back here, he would know Ben had stuck to the plan. Regardless, Charlie was prepared for either eventuality.
It took an hour to cut south around Ridgway. They came to the edge of the forest, through which they could make out the rising smoke of a distant burner. The farm.
“This is it, Ben. Be confident; stick with the plan and you’ll be fine,” Denver said.
Ben stepped into the forest before looking back. “I’ll miss all of you. Hopefully it won’t be long before we’ll meet again. And thanks, Charlie, Denver, for everything. I may not have shown my gratitude, but I can see now that setting us free from that lie was the right thing to do.”
He waved as he turned and disappeared into the forest.
“I can’t believe he’s actually gone,” Ethan said.
Maria stared ahead, quiet.
Charlie gave them a few minutes of respect and reflection before putting his hands on their shoulders. “We should go, we’ve got a plan to enact.”
“Where exactly are we going?” Maria said. “I get that you didn’t want to say in front of Ben, but if we’re to come with you, I’d like to know where it is we are going and why.”
“We’re going to Manhattan,” Charlie said. “As for why… this is the start of the fight back. Today marks the day we bring a war to the croatoans.”
Chapter 19
A LOW LEVEL mist hung around the damp forest floor outside camp. Gregor flinched after dew dripped from the canopy above, and splashed against the back of his neck. He peered down, searching the shrouded ground for one of his first rabbit traps, placed along a prominent run two weeks ago. Nothing.
He hoped for a sunny day, and a rabbit in a noose. Anything but to eat a silver tray of slop. Supplies were running out, a few cans of out of date spam, some cake mix and Layla’s revolting vegetables. It was time for a trip to an urban area, a town or city where survivors could be robbed.
Footsteps thudded across the wet ground in close proximity. Gregor darted behind a tree, crouched on one knee, peered around the trunk toward camp. Layla stumbled through a clearing with her hands on her head, around the back of his house to her trailer, slamming the door shut after entering. She’d have some explaining to do later.
Too many people seemed to be acting unilaterally nowadays. Igor would be the first to answer questions today.
As he approached his office, a croatoan fighter shot through the distant sky, blazing a light pink vapor trail. From this distance it looked like the outline of a cruising swallow. The hunter was searching the immediate area for a sighting of Jackson, his bastard and the traitors from the harvester.
Marek groaned, turning on the couch as Gregor entered his office.
“What time is it?” Marek said.
“Early in the morning. Get washed, we’ve got work to do.”