Blaze of Glory

Buckley wiped at it, then turned to Gert and MacHenry. 'Come on you two, time to get a move on.'

'Just give us a few,' MacHenry yelled back. 'The girl’s feet here are hurting and she needs a little-Holy Mother of God!'

MacHenry, who’d been squatting down in order to help Gert unlace her boots, fell backwards as he struggled to escape the pool of blood that spilled free. There was no question why her feet were hurting her for in the expanding pool of blood were at least twenty of the nasty little creatures wriggling like mobile rice.

Gert screamed, her voice shattering octaves as it rose in both pitch and volume. MacHenry recovered from his fear quickly and tore off his flannel shirt, leaving only a white T-shirt beneath. His baritone NO NO NO underscored her soprano as he wiped viciously at the wounds.

Little Rashad stared hard at the scene. His small eyes wide with yet another death.

Sissy sat on the far curb, shielding Nikki from the sight.

'Here we go, Grandma. Hang on.' Buckley lurched to his feet. Grasping Little Rashad’s hand, he tugged him over to where Sissy had gone to comfort Nikki. They all stared at the ground, trying hard to ignore the screams from the couple in the middle of the street. There was nothing they could do other than giving the couple their intimacy.

'Think good thoughts, boy,' Buckley said, scruffing the boy's head. 'Think good thoughts.'

The screams and shouts of NO faded after a few more moments. Ignoring the possibility of infection, MacHenry embraced Gert, holding her head to his chest. He stroked her cheek as he murmured solemn promises to her.

'Got that horn ready, kid?' Buckley asked.

'Always.' Little Rashad pulled it from where it hung on the rope. He reflexively cleared the spit from the spit valve.

Nikki stared wide eyed. 'What’s he gonna do?'

'Just watch,' Sissy replied. 'It’s magic.'

'What do you think you’re gonna play?' Nikki asked.

'Rocky.'

Buckley nodded as if he'd known all along. 'You like that song, huh?'

'Nobody thought Rocky had a chance.'

'Man fought a good fight with that other guy,' Sissy said.

'I saw that on TV,' Nikki said. 'What was his name?'

'Apollo Creed,' Little Rashad said.

'Yeah. Apollo Creed,' Buckley murmured. 'Carl Weather's played him in the movie. Saw him in Action Jackson, too.'

'Wasn't he in Star Wars?' Sissy asked.

'No. That was the other black guy,' Buckley grinned. 'Billy Dee Williams. You know, that fight between Apollo Creed and Rocky was probably the best fight anyone had ever seen. From the opening bell to the end, I was on the edge of my seat.'

'In the end, didn't Rocky lose?' Nikki asked.

Buckley, Sissy and Little Rashad glared at the young girl, whose impertinent need to be accurate had shattered the morale they were trying to construct.

'He did,' Little Rashad said. 'But he kicked the other guy's ass in the sequel.'

CHAPTER 29

From far off, a bellowing sound creased the silence. There’d been no sounds of traffic or airplanes for several days now, and that total lack of background noise accentuated the new sound, gathering it up and propelling it forward as if the world had never heard the sound before. Like a fog horn, the sound surrounded them, direction and distance unknown.

Nikki stood and searched the night sky. 'What was that?'

Little Rashad joined her, but stared towards where they knew the ocean to be, instead. 'A boat maybe?'

'Like a ship. One of those big ships with swimming pools?' Nikki asked.

Sissy turned to Buckley. 'They could be checking to see if anyone’s alive. Wouldn’t that be nice?'

Grandma Riggs began singing the strains to The Love Boat.

Love Boat, soon will be making another run.

The Love Boat, promises something for everyone.

'Are we really talking of a they?' Buckley said more to himself than anyone else. 'Like there are other’s alive?'

'I think so,' Sissy nodded.

'My God,' Buckley said, wiping a maggie clear of his brow.

The sound of a fog horn split the air again.

'You know? It does sound like a cruise ship,' Buckley said.

At those words, Little Rashad and Nikki high fived, then turned and threw their arms around Sissy. Sissy grinned silly happiness at Buckley and Grandma Riggs. MacHenry approached, and Sissy turned to him as well, but when she saw his face, her smile faltered, then dropped completely.

MacHenry gazed sorrowfully with red, bleary eyes at the happy group.

'How’s Gert?' Buckley asked, stepping forward.

'I salted her wounds.' The words came out as a sigh.

'Like in the bible,' Grandma Riggs said. 'Lot’s wife transformed into a pillar of salt when she turned to look upon the angel’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.'

'If she was salt, we wouldn’t have this problem.'

Buckley nodded towards the ocean. 'Salt does seems to be the answer.'

'Doctor told me to lay off,' MacHenry deadpanned. 'Said it would kill me.'

Gert limped up behind MacHenry, thankful to have his shoulders to hang her arms and take her weight. She caressed MacHenry’s cheek. To Buckley she said, 'Can we get a move on?' She tried to smile and almost managed it.

'Maybe we’re not the only ones still alive,' Buckley said. 'Are you okay, girl?'

'Don’t matter,' she said through gritted teeth. 'Just untie Grandma from that silly old chair. We’re changing plans and I’m driving.'

Little Rashad perked up. 'Driving?'

'What?' Sissy looked from Buckley to Gert to MacHenry.

'Yep. I've decided, we're-'

'Come on, Baby. We can-'

Gert pushed away from MacHenry, almost falling. She found her balance by holding out both of her arms. 'Stop it. We both know it’s something I have to do, Travis. If we’re going to make it, we have to move faster.'

'I won’t let you die,' MacHenry whispered hoarsely.

'What can you do?'

MacHenry opened his mouth as if to speak, but couldn't find the words. Frustration and emasculation loosed silent tears. 'I… nothing.'

'Listen honey, Gert said softly. 'If that’s a boat, it won’t wait forever.'

MacHenry stepped towards her, but halted as she stumbled away from him. The determination in her eyes was no match for his desperation.

'In fact,' she added, pointing to the boy, 'Why don’t you pick out a ride for us, Rashad?'

'Anyone I want?'

'Anyone you want,' Gert said.

The boy’s face brightened. He grasped Nikki’s hand and began wading through the morass of abandoned vehicles.

'Preferably one with the keys still inside,' Gert added.