Contents
Title Page
Part 1 - Preparing Chapter 1: Ashley
Chapter 2: Brad
Chapter 3: Ashley
Chapter 4: Tim
Chapter 5: Brad
Chapter 6: Ashley
Chapter 7: Tim
Chapter 8: Brad
Chapter 9: Ashley
Chapter 10: Tim
Chapter 11: Lisa
Chapter 12: Ashley
Chapter 13: Tim
Chapter 14: Lisa
Chapter 15: Corinna
Part 2 - Underway Chapter 16: Ashley
Chapter 17: Corinna
Chapter 18: Brad
Chapter 19: Lisa
Chapter 20: Robby
Chapter 21: Ashley
Chapter 22: Brad
Chapter 23: Mike
Chapter 24: Sariah
Chapter 25: Lisa
Chapter 26: Brad
Chapter 27: Robby
Chapter 28: Ashley
Chapter 29: Lisa
Chapter 30: Corinna
Chapter 31: Robby
Chapter 32: Ashley
Chapter 33: Brad
Chapter 34: Robby
Chapter 35: Lisa
Chapter 36: Corinna
Chapter 37: Brad
Chapter 38: Liam
Chapter 39: Ashley
Chapter 40: Robby
Chapter 41: Lisa
Chapter 42: Liam
Chapter 43: Brad
Chapter 44: Ashley
Part 3 - Split Chapter 45: Corinna
Chapter 46: Robby
Chapter 47: Tim
Chapter 48: Lisa
Chapter 49: Brad
Chapter 50: Liam
Chapter 51: Tim
Chapter 52: Robby
Chapter 53: Liam
Chapter 54: Brad
Chapter 55: Ashley
Chapter 56: Tim
Chapter 57: Liam
Chapter 58: Robby
Chapter 59: Brad
Chapter 60: Ashley
Chapter 61: Jackson
Chapter 62: Liam
Chapter 63: Brad
Chapter 64: Robby
Chapter 65: Lisa
Chapter 66: Liam
Chapter 67: Jackson
Chapter 68: Brad
Chapter 69: Ashley
Chapter 70: Liam
Chapter 71: Corinna
Chapter 72: Jackson
Chapter 73: Brad
Chapter 74: Robby
Chapter 75: Corinna
Chapter 76: Ashley
Part 4 - Discovery Chapter 77: Liam
Chapter 78: Brad
Chapter 79: Corinna
Chapter 80: Lisa
Chapter 81: Liam
Chapter 82: Brad
Chapter 83: Corinna
Chapter 84: Lisa
Chapter 85: Janelle
Chapter 86: Brad
Chapter 87: Corinna
Chapter 88: Lisa
Chapter 89: Brad
Chapter 90: Corinna
Part 5 - Return Chapter 91: Lisa
Chapter 92: Robby
Chapter 93: Brad
Chapter 94: Corinna
Chapter 95: Lisa
Chapter 96: Janelle
Chapter 97: Brad
Chapter 98: Lisa
Chapter 99: Janelle
Chapter 100: Robby
Chapter 101: Brad
Chapter 102: Lisa
Chapter 103: Robby
Chapter 104: Lisa
Chapter 105: Robby
Chapter 106: Ashley
Chapter 107: Robby
Chapter 108: Lisa
Chapter 109: Ashley
Chapter 110: Robby
Chapter 111: Lisa
Chapter 112: Robby
Chapter 113: Ashley
Chapter 114: Lisa
Chapter 115: Ashley
Chapter 116: Robby
Chapter 117: Ashley
Chapter 118: Robby
Chapter 119: Tim
Chapter 120: Brad
Chapter 121: Lisa
Chapter 122: Ashley
Epilogue Chapter 123: Janelle
SUCCINCT
BY
IKE HAMILL
WWW.IKEHAMILL.COM
Dedication:
For Earl—can’t wait until you’re back on your feet.
Special Thanks:
Thanks to Lynne, as always, for her edits.
Cover by BelleDesign [BelleDesign.org]
Copyright © 2019 Ike Hamill
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events have been fabricated only to entertain. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of Ike Hamill.
This book is part of a series.
Extinct
Black Friday
Instinct
Distinct
Part One:
Preparing
Chapter 1: Ashley
“We are not alone,” Ashley said.
They had given her their attention, for the moment, but that was all. They weren’t giving her statement one tiny bit of credibility. Ashley took a deep breath and looked out over the sea of narrowed eyes and crossed arms. They still saw her as a kid.
“In this solar system, I mean,” she continued. Her voice was growing more and more shaky with each word. Soon, she wouldn’t even believe herself.
“You all see what’s happening to the moon, right? Well that’s just one symptom. The same thing is happening to Mars and Jupiter. I’m guessing that, given time, we’re going to see all the same things on the other planets.”
Romie, standing right up front, shrugged and turned up her hands. She expressed with that gesture what the whole room seemed to be feeling—so what?
“We can’t let it happen,” Ashley said.
“Ash,” a voice came from the speaker. It was her father’s voice. Robby said, “We’re not letting anything happen. It’s like saying we’re letting the sun rise. Is there something to be done?”
“Maybe,” Ashley said. “But if I could go beyond the Outpost, just with a small team…”
The protests started at the back of the room and quickly grew. Soon, everyone was shouting. Some of them were trying to quiet the group so she could finish her proposal, but most were yelling at her to step down and yield her time.
Romie turned, raised her hands, and shut them all up with a yell.
“You let her finish,” Romie said. “She has two more minutes to make her case.”
Ashley took another breath and tried to start again. Even with two more hours, she wouldn’t be able to sway any of them. They had their minds made up.
“What did you expect, Ash?” Lisa asked. “You know the consensus.”
Ashley shook her head and sighed.
“You all lived through enormous threats that nearly ended the human race multiple times. I don’t understand why it’s so difficult to convince you all that something terrible is happening.”
Lisa smiled and squeezed Ashley’s shoulder. They were side by side on Ashley’s bed, in the same positions that they had been countless times. It was always this way. The world knocked her down, and Lisa helped her pick herself back up.
“Something terrible is always happening, Ash. Something terrible and something wonderful. You have to deal with what’s right in front of you. You have to make priorities and take care of the big stuff first.”
“This is the big stuff,” Ashley said.
Lisa nodded. “Maybe. Maybe it’s something that we’re not going to be really confronted with for another thousand years.”
“Exactly,” Ashley said. “Which is precisely why I want to go
research beyond the Outpost. There are answers out there. I need to find them.”
Lisa was smiling and nodding again.
Ashley’s temper flared for a moment and then quickly burned itself out. She couldn’t be mad at Lisa. She could never really be mad at Lisa.
“Can you send Romie up? I want to yell at someone,” Ashley said.
Lisa nodded even harder.
Ashley laughed.
Ashley reviewed every item in her backpack again. She didn’t want to carry anything that she could easily find on the road. After some deliberation, she removed the small stack of photos and put them back on her desk. They were too precious to take on her trip. If they got wet or crumpled, she would never forgive herself.
When she heard steps coming down the hall, she closed the pack and shoved it under her bed with her foot.
“Oh,” she said, looking up. “Hey, Jim.”
Her younger brother tilted his chin up at her and leaned against the doorframe.
“You’re taking off again,” he said.
“No,” she said, raising her eyebrows and shaking her head a little. “What gives you…”
“Come on,” he said. “Tell me the truth.”
He was way too smart for thirteen years old. Their sister was even smarter—probably smarter than both of them put together—but she didn’t pick up on social cues like Jim did.
“Don’t tell, okay?”
“Have I ever?”
“No,” she said, with a sigh. “You’ve always had my back.”
“Just tell me what route you’re taking,” he said. “And how long you’re going to be gone.”
“Yeah. I don’t know, Jim,” she said. She smoothed back her hair. “I honestly don’t. I’m not trying to be sneaky or anything. I…”
They both turned at the sound of Romie climbing the steps. She made a grunting sound every time she took a stair.
“Take the lift, Romie,” Jim called to her. “Why are you torturing yourself?”
“Stuff a sock in it, boy. I can still climb the stairs if I want to.”
Jim and Ashley exchanged a glance. It was no use trying to convince Romie of anything. While they waited for her to finish her ascension, Jim went over to the desk and started flipping through the stack of photos. He paused on one and smiled. Ashley knew which photo was his favorite. It was their dad and old Gordie. The dog had lived practically forever, but Ashley could barely remember him. In the photo the dog had a white muzzle and giant smile as he leaned back against their father’s leg.
Jim flipped to another photo before Romie came to the doorway.
“Lisa said you’re disappointed,” Romie said. She leaned against the doorframe, just where Jim had been a moment before. Her statement had been pointed at Ashley, but Romie’s narrowed eyes studied Jim. Romie was always convinced that Jim was up to something. She was usually right.
“You were talking to people who lost everything, Ash,” Romie said.
“I know. You told me.”
“I told you, but I’m not sure you’re hearing me. Do you remember the first time your dad showed you a movie?”
Ashley shook her head. They watched movies every week. She couldn’t remember the first one.
“You ran from the room,” Romie said. “There were too many people in the picture and you freaked right out.”
Ashley shrugged.
“You guys don’t know what it’s like for us. We still remember a world that was packed with people. We couldn’t walk down the street without seeing a hundred people we didn’t know.”
Jim looked up from his stack of photos. It was a rare moment when Jim was actually impressed by something that Romie said.
“When we lost all that, it changed us. I’m not sure we will ever understand the world the way you do, and you’ll never understand our perspective. That’s why we created our community guidelines.”
Ashley nodded. Romie was at least half right.
“Aunt Romie, I get that you guys went through a lot,” Ashley started.
“No,” Romie said. “I’m sorry, but you don’t. We’re speaking the same language, but it’s like two blind people discussing the colors of the rainbow. We don’t have any idea if the same things are in our brains.”
Ashley shook her head and tried to not roll her eyes.
“Keep doing your observations,” Romie said. “Keep observing, documenting, and wait a few months before you bring it up again. People understand that something is happening. If it’s really a threat, they’ll believe you. We all want the same thing.”
Ashley kept her mouth shut. Her decision was made. It was useless to try to make Romie understand. And if she couldn’t make Romie, one of the people who had raised her, understand then nobody would.
“You’re still disappointed,” Romie said.
Ashley nodded. “You were supposed to come up so I could yell at you. It’s not fair for you to be reasonable and rational.”
Romie flashed a quick smile.
“You guys come down in twenty. We’re having company for dinner.”
Ashley didn’t bother to ask who it was. Romie would never answer—she loved surprises and secrets. Besides, Jim would know. He always knew whatever Romie was trying to keep secret.
Ashley looked down at her hands and Jim kept flipping through the pictures while they waited for Romie to move down the hall. She was taking the bridge over to the north house, where the lift was. At least they didn’t have to worry about her getting down the stairs in one piece.
“Who is coming to dinner?” Ashley asked her brother.
“You’re missing the real question,” Jim said. “Why is someone coming to dinner.”
Ashley sighed. Jim was in one of his moods.
Chapter 2: Brad
“It’s perfect,” Brad said. He found a chair and sat down.
“It’s far from perfect,” Mike said. “I have a list of things that should have been done differently. We don’t need to heat up the second stage. Sariah’s tests show that it doesn’t help the yield one bit and it’s a big waste of power.”
Brad turned up his hands and looked to the sky. It was a joke that they shared. All the power for the refinery came from solar panels, and there was no shortage of sunshine. Their refinery could process ten times more fuel with the solar energy that they collected. The bottleneck wasn’t that—it was the pumps and tanks.
“Yeah, I know,” Mike said. “I would turn off the heaters, but the viscosity would gum up everything if we did, and then…”
Brad put up a hand to stop him. They had already been down this path.
“Next time. Document everything, and the next people to build one of these rigs will fix the problem, right?”
Mike nodded. After a second, he broke into a smile. “You know, there might not be a next time.”
Brad sat up a little straighter. He sensed that Mike was about to spill whatever secret project had been going on behind the scenes. Mike loved surprises.
“You know Merle?”
“Which one?” Brad asked. There were at least two kids named Merle that he knew of.
“Amy Lynne’s kid,” Mike said.
Brad nodded.
“He loves to poke around old military bases, looking for shit to blow up.”
“Yes,” Brad said. “I’ve heard of that. He almost caused a riot here in Donnelly.”
“Exactly,” Mike said. “Fortunately, that didn’t slow him down.”
Mike moved toward the door and waved for Brad to follow.
With his cane, Brad was a bit slower. Mike held the door and waited. As they walked down the metal stairs on the outside of the building, Mike continued his explanation.
“He was deep in some bunker, over in New Hampshire, when he found a series of tunnels that he says were booby trapped.”
Brad shook his head. He felt an ache, deep in his chest. It didn’
t matter how hard they tried to teach the kids that the world was a dangerous place—the children in this new world were simply reckless. They couldn’t seem to comprehend how precious they were and important to the survival of the species.
“I know,” Mike said, reading Brad’s silence, “but Darwin is still with us, you know? Anyway, the kid made it to this big underground chamber where he found an apocalypse shelter.”
“In New Hampshire?” Brad asked. Brad had been to Greenbriar, Raven Rock, Crystal Spring, and, of course, Donnelly, but none of those bunkers had survived the tornadoes. The storms had centered on any place where the symbolic language had been documented.
“Yeah. Untouched,” Mike said. “There was no Intelligence Office there, just supplies.”
They reached the bottom of the stairs. Mike took out a big keyring and opened a metal door on the ground floor of the building. He reached in and flipped the switch.
“Merle brought us back some presents from there.”
Brad looked at the barrels. Some of the plastic barrels were familiar. They had found caches of fuel here and there in National Guard bases and municipal warehouses. Sealed and treated, the fuel had kept a lot longer than stuff in people’s tanks.
“What’s so special about it?”
“Everything,” Mike said. “It’s better than anything we’re making fresh. But that’s not the amazing part.”
“Oh?”
“The amazing part is that Merle found a very large quantity of the additive that makes this fuel so good.”
Mike pointed to a bunch of blue barrels that were stacked in the corner of the room.
“According to the instructions, ten milliliters of that green stuff will protect fifty liters of refined fuel for an indefinite period of time.”
“Come on,” Brad said. “Fuel degrades. Even if you stop the bacteria and the…”
Mike put up his hands. “The proof is in the product. It has been up there for decades and I’m telling you that it’s still better than anything we’re able to refine today.”
“Wow,” Brad said. “And you have enough of it to…”
“To treat all the fuel we refine here so that Tim could fly his plane for the rest of his life without shutting it off.”