Роберт Уилсон - Days Since... - Xavier - Day 853

Grant and Xavier’s faces met with disbelief. This just couldn’t be real. This is who was going to protect them? Xavier lifted his hand, but Grant swatted it away before Simon noticed. Grant raised his eyebrows to Xavier, signaling to him to let it go for now. Xavier faced forward.

“Take this water and tie ’em to your bags,” Simon said, as he tossed two jugs—one at each of their feet. “We need to get moving. Looks like those clouds are bringing rain.”

Xavier looked to the west as he bent down and collected the jugs from the ground. Sure enough, a pattern of gray clouds were hovering in the distance. He shook his head and wiped the jugs free from the dirt that stuck to the wet plastic. Grant reached out and took his from Xavier. The two of them ran the straps of their bags through the handles of each jug.

“Neither of you seem prepared. Why are you even here?” Simon asked.

“Doin’ what Haverty wants us to,” Grant said. “Nothin’ more than that.”

“Well, I’m here to do my job and nothing more than that.” He smirked and continued pacing back and forth, starting in on his lecture. “I’m not here to be your friend. I don’t care why you’re going. I’m just going to get you there.”

Off to a good start.

“You need to listen to what I say and pay attention to what I’m doing. I may not be able to get the words out, but if you see me duck…” Simon paused and eyeballed each of them. “Then you duck.

“I’ve been doing this for awhile now. Been on my own for even longer. This is an easy route, so don’t embarrass yourselves. But more importantly, don’t embarrass me.”

“You sure you wanna do this?” Grant asked.

“Questioning me?” Simon squared up to him, getting in his face.

Grant lifted his chin, staring straight into Simon’s eyes. He began speaking slowly, “You’re actin’ like this is some big inconvenience. We can do this without ya if that’s what ya want.”

“On your own?” He spun away from Grant and scoffed at the idea. “You two don’t know the first thing about this. Why the hell did you think it would be a good idea not to pack food and water? You’re lucky I’m coming with you two amateurs.” Simon laughed. “Alone? Ha!”

“We just packed what Haverty told us to,” Xavier said. “We don’t want any trou—”

“The baby speaks? Should I have socked away some diapers too?”

Grant threw his bag to the ground. “Look boy! I’m probably twice your age. You keep this up, and I’ll beat ya so hard…” Grant’s tremors began to get the best of him. He worked his fingers in and out of each other, rubbing his knuckles in an attempt to hide it.

Simon ran the back of his hand along the stubble on his chin and snickered. “You nervous or what old man?”

Leave him alone! “He’s got tremors!” Xavier immediately regretted saying it.

“They’re sending a man with a condition, huh? This keeps getting better.” Simon’s shoulders bounced as he chuckled. “Look, screw it. I’m not trying to argue with a kid and a geriatric.” Simon looked directly in Grant’s eyes. “Haverty commissioned me for this job. So… so let’s play nice. Get this done.”

“To hell with you!” Grant said. “We can do this on our own.” Grant stared at Simon and picked his bag from the ground

“Good! That’s what I wanted to hear! I want to hear that resolve, that determination. Haverty told me to get you guys fired up a bit before we head out. Nothing personal.” Simon rubbed his hands together. “What about you, kid?” Simon eyed him suspiciously. He seemed unconvinced of Xavier’s abilities, acting as if he expected Xavier to say no.

“I’m ready.” Xavier adjusted his book bag. He tightened the lid of the water jug and shifted it to the bottom of the strap. “What do you need from us?”

“First off, enjoy yourself. Not sure how long it’s been since you two have been outside the wall, but this’ll be easy. Second, I’ll lead. Stay back at least twenty yards. That’ll give me a chance to give you some kind of warning if something’s going on. Pay attention, here are the signals you’ll need to know…” Simon ran through some basic military hand signals with them. “Got it?”

They nodded.

“Don’t drink all your water right off the bat,” Simon continued. “Don’t be loud. If you’re going to talk, keep it low. I got some stuff for us to eat, so don’t worry about that. Any questions?”

The two of them just looked at Simon.

“Seriously, this is the time. Won’t be able to ask if we’re being shot at.”

“You think that will happen?” Xavier’s nervous words poured out. He hadn’t even had a chance to think them.

“No, but it’s always a possibility. Keep it in the back of your mind. As we’re walking, run scenarios through your head. Imagine what you’d do. I recommend finding cover and running through the woods. You two aren’t going to be able to fire back. Just hide until the shots stop, then run. It won’t be hard to find your way back here.”

“But do you think someone’s going to shoot at us?” Xavier pressed him.

“I told you it’s fine. I’ve been down this way many, many times. Nice scenic views. I only bring it up so you two have it in the back of your minds.”

Grant turned to Xavier and rested his hand on his shoulder. “It’s gonna be fine.”

“I know you two…” Simon looked around, rested his chin on his shoulder for a brief moment, and smirked. He ran his hands up and down his body, checking his gear, adjusting his equipment. His focus returned to Xavier and Grant. Something was clearly running through Simon’s mind, but what? His vacant stare began to move beyond them as his head curled to the right like a confused dog. A moment passed and then another. It became awkward.

“You okay?” Xavier asked.

Simon motioned for them to follow. “It’s time to go. Let’s do this thing.”

Grant nodded to Xavier and whispered, “We’ll be fine.” He gave his duffel bag a quick shake. “Alright?”

Xavier nodded, and the two of them left for the front gate, trailing Simon as they weaved through the large field of corn.

“We’re ready!” Simon shouted.

The large metal doors to the town began to rattle as the bundles of iron rebar squealed and scraped while being pulled through their brackets. Trees surrounding the area swayed as the birds, alarmed by the noise, took to the sky. The white tails of rabbits bounced back into the wood line.

Both Sentries pushed open the doors as Simon crouched down just inside the edge of the crops. Hidden within the stalks of corn with the sights of his rifle aligned perfectly through the middle of the opening in the wall, he prepared to move. Xavier observed him, taking mental notes as Simon moved fluidly from one position of cover to the next.

Simon advanced just outside of River’s Edge, taking a kneeling position with his rifle resting across the hood of a burned-out pickup truck. He motioned for Grant and Xavier to take cover next to him. They rushed forward, ultimately ducking behind two other vehicles wedged into the makeshift barricade that surrounded the city’s wall.

“Push the doors back,” Simon instructed. “We got you covered.”

The Sentries closed the gate while Simon maintained his watch over the grazing field. The Sentries replaced the rebar into the brackets—the scraping of metal briefly resumed, then stopped. The town was again secure.

Xavier’s old world lay before him. He looked out upon it, his feet planted where he had stood so many times before. If he chose not to turn around, everything appeared the same as before. If only I could go home. Actually, go home. His old world—the memories of leaving school, crossing the street to the worn path that split what was now the livestock’s grazing field.