G Hopf - Driver 8 - A Post-Apocalyptic Novel

“Yes, I assumed.”

“You have embarrassed me, I want you to know. Just yesterday I’m praising you as a model resident and today you’re acting like a wild woman and breaking all protocol.”

“I’m sorry, I just freaked out. This little girl, she…” Portia paused to get her thoughts straight. “She means the world to me. I can’t have a child and she lost her mother so….”

Interrupting her, he finished what he guessed was her thought. “So took on the motherly role for this child. I understand this quaint and nostalgic feeling but Portia, the children of The Collective don’t really have parents. Our family is bigger than that, it’s the community. In fact, I’ll be passing a law soon that will have all children given out to the best equipped residents of The Collective. Just because someone can produce a child doesn’t mean they’re the best suited to raise them. I have struggled with this for a very long time and was going to announce it yesterday but because of those three traitors I changed my mind. I’m planning on holding a gathering next week to announce this. Now this takes me to you. I’ve been watching you for some time. I think you could be a great overseer of a new infant, you hold all the qualities and your husband is a hero. This is primarily why I brought you forward. I wanted everyone to see this model resident then see you become the first resident to oversee the next newborn. It was a perfect plan, then today happened. You’ve put me in a difficult spot, you really have.”

It took everything for her not to throw up. She knew his mannerisms and tone and it sounded as if he was about to declare her death sentence at any moment. His calm demeanor fooled many to think he wouldn’t do something barbaric but then would shock them with the opposite.

“What should I do with you?” he asked.

“I could wear the Cloth of Dishonor,” she offered reluctantly. This was a punishment meant for minor infractions where the guilty would wear black and emblazoned on the chest and back was a large letter D. The residents of The Collective could openly mock and ridicule them. The punishment lasted for thirty calendar days and had the desired effect of reforming those who had committed the crimes. If it was just her, she’d not be too concerned, but what it would do to Kyle is what she worried about. Seeing her humiliated on a daily basis could push him to a breaking point.

“No, no, I couldn’t do that to Driver Eight’s wife. You see my dear, I have few options here. As the person responsible for enforcing the laws I should have you banished for what you did, but I fear the repercussions from the people would be too much. They love your husband, a lot. He’s become quite the celebrity here,” he said with a smile.

“Then what?”

“There is another way, it’s a bit, um, unorthodox.”

“Anything.”

“Do you mean that?”

“I don’t want to embarrass or dishonor Kyle. I’d also like to know if this could remain quiet. I don’t want him to know. He works so hard, he sacrifices so much for…us all,” she said, catching herself before she said, me .

“We might be able to make an arrangement.”

Fearing he could do any number of horrible things she pressed him for what this unorthodox scheme was. “What would you like me to do?”

“I’ll get back to you with that, but for now, just stay out of trouble,” he warned.

“Why?”

“Are you asking why I would treat you differently?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“I find you to be special. I know it flies counter to the teachings that we’re all equal. But I sense something great in you, Portia,” he answered and stood. He walked over to her and placed his hand gently on her shoulder. “Now go, I’ll call for you when I’ve made up my mind.”

“The girl? Is she gone? Banished?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Those are difficult decisions but they must be made. We can’t run the risk of having an outbreak. Do you remember fifteen years ago when that deadly virus ran through the town? I’m sure you do. We can’t risk that happening again.”

“I understand,” she said half lying.

“Now go,” he urged before stepping away and coughing loudly. The cough progressed to the point he needed to hold himself up.

She went to him, “Are you okay?”

He rebuffed her, “No, leave me. I have a bad chest cold. Leave. Now.”

Bravo One opened the door and marched in, a small bag in her left hand. She gave Portia a hard stare and barked, “You heard him, leave!”

Speechless she headed for the door.

“Oh, Portia, one more thing,” he said wiping his mouth with a tissue. “Your husband, have you heard from him?”

She stopped and replied, “No, I haven’t spoken to him.”

“He radioed in. Said he was outside of Grand Junction. I thought he might have contacted you.”

“No, he didn’t contact me,” she answered. Hearing Kyle was maybe a day and a half away filled her with joy. After everything that happened she wanted him home more than ever.

“Do me a favor, if he contacts you, I recommend not mentioning the incident at the infirmary. Don’t stress him. And, please let me know too.”

The request was odd. Why would he need to know if Kyle contacted her? She asked herself.

“Have a good day, we’ll be in touch,” he said.

After the incident with Barry, Kyle slept with one eye open. The story of being killed by Generates could be used for him just as easily if Barry saw fit to take him out. Prime was a little over a day’s drive away and he knew that time would seem like an eternity.

Curious as to the conditions outside, Kyle peeled back the edge of the sheeting on the front bay windows and peered out to find a gray overcast day, but no signs of any storm. The ground was covered in a thin layer of snow giving the rolling hills a serene and majestic looked but Kyle knew it could be deceiving as there was a high probability the ground was littered with radioactive material.

Barry emerged from the shadows behind him. In his hand he held a satellite phone.

“Where did you get that?” Kyle asked thinking it ironic that just the other day Tommy had mentioned sat phones.

“Do you have to ask? I’m the Number Two. Can I go outside? I need to make a call,” Barry said.

“You saw me trying to radio and you didn’t say you had a phone?”

“It wouldn’t have done any good, I need line of sight and the storm was raging. Seemed pointless to say anything.”

“In the large black container box I have a spare pair of rubber boots, I think they’re your size, put them on. Don’t touch anything else outside.”

Barry disappeared to go find the box.

Kyle went back to the room he’d slept and began packing. He heard the front door creak open and close. Dying to know what Barry was saying, he went back to the front window that overlooked the porch. He put his ear close and listened but couldn’t pick up on anything of significance.

Barry finished his call but didn’t come back inside right away, he stood on the porch and stared out towards the mountains beyond.

Deciding there was nothing to be gained from his eavesdropping, Kyle went back to packing. When he closed the lid on the last box, he noticed Barry hadn’t come back in. Wondering what was delaying him, Kyle went to the front door and opened it. There he found Barry still staring off. “What are you doing? I could’ve used your help.”

Barry turned around and handed him the phone. “I think you should call your wife.”

Kyle gave him an odd look and asked, “Why?”

“Trust me, call her,” Barry said putting the phone in his hands and walking inside.