“So.” Anthony said, “Space is limited here. And we’re too young to do anything. The Captain will kill me if I do. He has told me as much.”
“Mika insisted upon it.” The Captain said, “It was her idea on how to solve the space issue.”
Darren told them an abbreviated version of their travels from the storage unit to meeting the Captain again.
“That burnt truck was you two?” The Captain said, “My scouts reported about that. Some big rumor of the Night Riders riding out of Tokyo and away.”
“Night Riders?” Darren asked.
“Yeh.” The Captain said, “When we abandoned the post, it was empty for eight hours. Reports say that it let out gangs on bikes and on foot. The Word is that a big gang on dirt bikes left first. They’ve been dubbed the Night Riders.”
“Color gangs,” Darren said.
“And Yakuza.” The Captain said, “And anyone that could get out.”
“Is that how you got out?” Anthony said.
“Yes.” Darren said, “We were trying to be stealthy.”
“Why were you heading out this way?” The Captain asked.
Yuki told them about her dad and his cabin in the woods.
“So your dad was a prepper.” The Captain said, “And you’re just trying to get there.”
“Yeh,” Yuki said yawning.
“How long ago did you two got some sleep?” The Captain said.
“Is it after midnight yet?” Darren asked.
“Way past.” The Captain said.
“Then about twenty-four hours ago,” Darren said.
“Then you two need to get some sleep.” The Captain said, “There’s a small side room off this one. You can use that. Anthony will grab a couple blankets for you two.”
Darren nodded.
“I’ll take the first watch,” Yuki said out of habit.
“Excuse me?” The Captain said, “We got the watch. You two sleep.”
“You mean that we both get to sleep at the same time?” Yuki said.
“Just no hanky-panky in the temple.” The Captain said.
“Thank you,” Yuki said.
Darren bowed to the Captain.
“Thank you for the hospitality and saving my life,” Darren said.
The Captain nodded and excused himself from the room.
Blankets in hand, Darren, and Yuki walked into the small side room. The room they were in was more like a closet than anything. But after the greater part of a month of not sleeping very well, the space was perfect.
Moments later, Darren and Yuki were sleeping underneath a blanket. Yuki snuggled up to Darren. He dreamed that he was being chased again. He tossed and turned in his fitful sleep.
Darren wasn’t sure how long he slept for, but Darren’s eyes shot open, and he couldn’t go back to sleep no matter how hard he tried.
He got up from the makeshift bed that he slept on with Yuki.
With Yuki still sleeping, Darren didn’t wake her as he put on his pants and a clean shirt. Darren grabbed his watch as left the small closet of a room.
In the small side room were three men and two women. They all sat around the small table. At the head of the table was the Captain.
Darren looked at his watch. It was six in the morning.
Maps and charts were scattered around the table. Two of the men wore some type of army fatigues, while one wore regular clothes. One of the women also wore army fatigues and the other wore street clothes. Darren noticed quickly that all of the people were middle-aged and that they were all Japanese.
“Ahh.” The Captain said at the head of the table in English, “You’re awake.”
“I prefer Japanese.” Darren said in Japanese, “And yes. I’ve gotten in the habit of not sleeping much before I get up to check on things.”
“The rewards of being in a leadership position. Am I right?” The Captain said.
“You can say that I guess.” Darren said, “If you excuse me, I didn’t mean to interrupt your meeting.”
Darren gave a small bow and walked towards the exit.
“Come and join us.” The Captain said, “We could use your input.”
Darren gave the Captain a skeptical look.
“You managed to skirt around the army and sneak past them.” The Captain said, “You got out of Tokyo.”
“So did you,” Darren said.
“I bluffed my way out.” The Captain said, “I used the lack of communication and organization to get out of the city with everyone here. You and your friend are the only people that have joined us since we left. You snuck through. I need your help.”
Chapter 39
An army officer, a middle-aged man of stocky build, motioned to an empty seat next to him.
Darren sat down next to him. He was nervous
“For all of you that haven’t been introduced yet, this is Darren Cunningham. He is from Canada.” The Captain said.
Darren nodded to the dozen people at the table.
“You know Lt Harrito.” The Captain said, “The rest you can introduce yourself later, we’re running out of time for this meeting. Where were we?”
“Hiki was whining, Captain.” Lt Harrito said.
Hiki was a middle-aged man who wore a business suit with a white shirt and a tie. The man looked fit and trim.
“The army will know that we’re here,” Hiki said.
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Lt Harrito said.
“They will come looking for their lost men.” Hiki said, “They’ll send the army out in force against us.”
“Are you an army man?” Lt Harrito said.
“Well. No.” Hiki said.
“You’re a politician.” Lt Harrito said, “What do you know of army tactics?”
“Harrito.” The Captain said, “Let the man speak.”
“Fine.” Lt Harrito said with a smile, “Speak. Tell us what you think we should do?”
“We need to flee.” Hiki said, “We need to pack up and go. This place is indefensible. We need to abandon it. There’s no hope here.”
Hiki paused for a moment.
“Is that it?” Lt Harrito said, and when there was no response from Hiki, Lt Harriot continued, “Where do we go?”
“Anywhere,” Hiki said.
“So you have no plan besides whining?” Lt Harrito said.
“I have a plan,” Hiki said as he stood up.
“This boy, Darren,” Lt Harrito said as he pointed at him, “Probably has a plan.”
“The Gaijin knows nothing,” Hiki said.
Darren smirked and laughed.
“I know more than you,” Darren said.
“Do you have a plan?” Captain Yusako asked.
“I have a plan for Yuki and me,” Darren said, “But not for an army of people.”
“There’s three hundred and forty-one in this camp.” Lt Harrito said, “Including you two.”
“Exactly,” Darren said.
“So what’s your plan?” Hiki said.
“None of your business,” Darren said.
“What’s your plan?” Lt Harrito said.
“Bug out to seclusion,” Darren said.
“That’s it.” Hiki said, “That doesn’t sound like…”
“Oh shut it,” Darren said.
“Excuse me,” Hiki said.
“The term bug out is familiar and valid to everyone that has thought about this situation.” Darren said, “We have a location that we’re headed to. We have prepped for it. We can survive seclusion for a long time. Can you?”
Hiki stood up, his face red.
“Sit down.” The Captain said.
Hiki glared at Darren and sat down.
“Darren,” The Captain said, “What do you think we should do?”
“This is a waste of my time.” Hiki said, “Stinky Gaijin.”
“Yes, I smell.” Darren said, “We haven’t washed in a while. The the last time it rained we were in the middle of a burnt city and couldn’t get to a safe place to shower. Unlike you and your survival shelter and your temple, out in the real world of chaos and death, little things like that will get you killed. You see, I’m not sure how much time you spent outside the survival shelter when you were in Tokyo, but I didn’t have a shelter. We hunkered down in a storage unit waiting for someone to show up. When we did leave that storage unit, friends died. I have seen more death in the last two weeks than most people have seen in a lifetime.”