Philip Simpson - Tribulation

He stood looking up at them for a moment, at a loss for the right words as usual. Olivia came to his rescue.

“Thank you, Sam,” she said. Something about the way she was looking at him told him she knew more than she was saying. “I know you risked your life to save us, and I owe you for that. I’m sure the others do too.” Mike and a few other faces he could see in the early morning light were smiling.

“Yep, thanks, buddy,” chirped Mike.

Sam nodded. Even if he had the words, he probably wouldn’t have replied. There was nothing to be said really. He saved them because it was his duty. His promise. For once, the people he rescued were thankful and that was a gratifying change. He didn’t want to dwell on the reception he would receive if they knew of his true nature. Even the fleeting thought soured the otherwise positive encounter. Mike threw him his pack and he turned away without another word. From what Adam was saying, it was doubtful whether he’d actually see these people again and he felt slightly sad at the thought. Even though he hadn’t got to know most of them very well, he would’ve liked to. Especially Mike and Olivia. For him, friends were in short supply.

“There’s disease treatment here as well,” he finally said awkwardly, just for something to say. He knew that all of them would be checked out as a matter of course but the words just blurted out. Some of them would probably not last much longer if not treated with antibiotics. Even in the last day or so, he’d noticed the disease taking a turn for the worst with a few of them — their fingers and noses starting to blacken. He was surprised that all of them didn’t have it. Clearly, some were more resistant than others. Either that, or immune like himself.

Adam was still waiting for him at the gates, jigging impatiently. He hustled Sam through and along a road broken up by a series of armed checkpoints. Sam knew from experience that most people coming through here would be checked for disease, too. This was one army base that was taking its security and the spread of contagion very seriously. There was no way he would’ve got through this checkpoint without Adam — especially armed as he was. The soldiers all looked at him curiously as he walked past and it was no wonder. He was, after all, a bit of an oddity. A tall, athletically-built youth, still with his hood on and armed to the teeth with swords.

Some of the soldiers saluted as they went past. At first, Sam failed to recognize the importance of this and then it occurred to him to ask.

“Are you an officer?” he said to Adam, turning slightly towards the older man as they walked.

Adam nodded. He pointed to his collar. “See this?” Sam could see a golden oak leaf on each collar. “I’m a Major now. When you first met me, I was only a Captain. I got promoted on account of everyone else being dead or elsewhere. Hence the saluting.”

“I didn’t know,” confessed Sam.

“That’s because you never asked.” The expression on Sam’s face must have become even blanker than usual because Adam slapped him lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t exactly volunteer information. I think the only thing I told you was that I was in the special forces. That bit was true. I didn’t mention that I was retired though.”

Sam nodded. All true of course. Adam wasn’t the sort of person who would ever lie to him. He was just a bit like him — not very communicative. That was probably why Sam liked him so much.

“So what happened?” asked Sam. “You know, at Black Ridge?”

Adam grimaced. “Long story. I’ll tell you later. Right now, I think someone wants to see you. Then rest, shower. I’ve got a meeting scheduled with you and my C. O at 0800 hours.” Judging from the light, Sam guessed it to be between five and six am, the dull light causing him to squint as his eyes were quite sensitive to light.

They were walking past a long barracks hall when Adam stopped abruptly. “I’ll leave you here. Go right on inside, and meet me later at the command center.”

Before Sam could ask any more questions, Adam turned his back on him and strolled off. Sam watched him retreat for a while and then shrugged. He was pretty sure why Adam had left him here.

The barrack was one of many identical structures that were ubiquitous on any Army base — long and low, its construction simple enough that a platoon of soldiers could probably set one up within hours. Sam could see several just in this general vicinity although this one was more familiar than the others.

Entering through the main door, he found himself inside the sleeping area. Cot after cot was laid out, all neatly made with a blanket at the end of each bed. Every single one of them was empty except for one. Sam almost didn’t notice at first and then a familiar mind tone intruded. He yanked his neck in that direction.

Sitting on the bed at the far end of the barracks was a figure that Sam knew at a glance was female. The curve of the hip and shoulder simply couldn’t belong to a man. The long dark hair he recognized, tied back behind her neck but still achingly familiar to Aimi’s. He knew without doubt that it wasn’t hers. It was Grace’s hair.

On suddenly slightly awkward legs, he made his way towards her. He’d not made the slightest noise so Sam was taken off guard when she suddenly turned towards him when he was only a bed’s length away from her.

“Hello, Sam. Welcome back,” Grace said, not quite managing to look him in the eye. Sam took her appearance in with a glance. She couldn’t be older than eighteen or nineteen, but she looked older than that — more weary and lined, with deep scars on her face. More ugly scars were evident on her exposed arms. But that was understandable. She’d been through far more than any other teenage girl could ever be expected to go through, emerging somewhat altered from what Sam remembered. She’d always been a little bitter and angry but this was something else. Something that Sam almost felt a kinship with.

“Hi, Grace.” Neither of them made a move, even though they hadn’t seen each other for months. Grace had once been slightly tactile towards him but those days were long gone. Sam didn’t mind too much. His personal space had already been violated once today.

There was a long, slightly uncomfortable pause. “So. How did it go? Did your rescue work out or did they get dragged off to Hell?”

Sam remained calm, not willing for this scene to get ugly. He wouldn’t allow her to bait him. “I got them,” he said. “Or most of them.”

“Oh,” she said, raising one arched eyebrow and smirking. “Lose a few in the process, did you? That must be hard. Like you’re not in enough trouble in Heaven. I don’t think they’ll ever let you in if you keep allowing people to be taken. It’s not much fun in Hell.” Her expression turned bitter. “I should know.”

Even though he’d saved her, she’d never let him forget that he’d not only allowed her to be taken in the first place, but he’d left her to rot in Hell for months after. It was not like he blamed her either. He did feel like he’d failed her somehow. He knew he’d done his best for her, but his best had not been good enough. That was why he didn’t allow her barbs to anger him. If he was going to get angry at someone, it should be himself.

“One of them died from the plague. Then I found us a truck. An Astaroth came out of the sky and grabbed one from the back.”

Grace nodded as if expecting nothing less. “Have you seen Adam yet?” she asked. Sam was surprised. He was sure that she’d milk his failure for a bit longer yet. It was positively diplomatic of her to change tact so quickly. Maybe she was having one of her rare good days.

“Yep. He met me at the gate. Probably saved my life. The guards are even more trigger happy than usual these days.”