The Wasteland Saga

The Boy sighed heavily.

Only the young can carry so much weight. And if I could, I would lift it off him and tell him everything will be okay. Life is more than just a bad day, even if today is that day.

“Everyone I ever loved is dead,” said the Boy. “And… everywhere I go, their memory follows me. It tortures me.”

A small breeze crossed the top of the hill, bending the grass, softly whistling through some opened breech in one of the scrap metal cannons.

“I don’t think the ones who loved you would have ever wanted that,” said the Old Man. “When my wife died she said, ‘Don’t think about me anymore.’ I asked, ‘How could I not?’ She said, ‘I don’t know how, but I know this life is too hard and I don’t want to be a burden anymore.’”

Silence.

“She was never a burden,” mumbled the Old Man to himself. “I told her…”

And that, my friend, is why the voice that asks ‘Can you let go?’ is so familiar. You told her that. You told her she wasn’t a burden and that when she died you would be miserable. So she stayed. She hung on as the cancer ate her up. And one day…

In our shed.

She asked me.

“Can you let go?”

I had forgotten about that.

I said… I could now. But only because she was in so much pain and so tired from trying to hang on for me.

She smiled.

And then she was gone.

The Boy watched the Old Man wipe a tear from his eye.

“I must… I should be getting on the road now. You will take her to Tucson, right?”

“Yes.”

“Keep a tight hold on her when I leave. She’s stronger than you think.”

“I will.”

“And tell her I love her. Always.”

“That is obvious to everyone.”

They started down the hill.

“The people that were rescued,” said the Boy. “They said their leader, a man named Ted, was taken on ahead of them a week ago. They wanted us to look for him if we go north.”

“How could we possibly find him?”

“They said he wears glasses and has a thick mustache. And that he shaves his head.”

“I’ll… it seems doubtful, but I’ll try.”

The Boy simply nodded.

In an hour it will be hotter.

The worst of the day’s heat is still to come.

I must hurry now.

He turned to the Boy.

“I’ll make you a deal,” said the Old Man suddenly.

The Boy cocked his head, not sure what to make of the Old Man’s unexpected smile.

“I’ll make you a deal. We’ll trade.”

“Trade what?”

“Words. You take mine and I’ll take yours.”

“How?”

“I don’t know how, other than that we just decide to. I want to take everything with me. I think that would be wonderful.”

Her smile.

Her friendship.

“I think I’ll need it wherever I am going. And you, can you let go?”

“I don’t know.”

“When we found you in the desert, you kept asking who you were. I don’t think you wanted to be you anymore. So you can let go now. You should, because you’ve carried too much for too long. Yes. That’s my answer. And I’m letting go too. But I will take everything with me. Am I just a crazy old man for wanting that? For trading words with you? Am I crazy?”

“No. You’re very brave.”

“I’m afraid too.”

“Sergeant Presley said that’s part of being brave.”

Chapter 49

“Oh, Poppa, her name is Pepper. Like what we had for the whole trip. I don’t know why, I just thought it would be a perfect name for her because when you think about it, Pepper is kind of a funny word, like donkey. Isn’t it, Poppa?”

“It is.”

I feel numb.

I don’t want to do this. I don’t want things to end this way.

Remember what the Boy said, my friend.

You take everything with you.

“Are you okay, Poppa?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“Do you want to come watch me ride Pepper now?”

More than anything I have ever wanted to do in my whole life. And I don’t even like horses, they’re dangerous.

“You must be careful with horses.”

“Oh, I will, Poppa. The careful-est.”

“You can call me Grandpa now. Like you used to.”

“No, I like Poppa now. It’s fun. Poppa.” She giggled.

That. I’ll steal that giggle and take it with me. I will steal everything there is that is worth anything in this life and I will take it with me. You are mine, giggle.

They arrived at the tank and the Old Man said, “Wait here,” and climbed up onto the tank. He leaned down into the hatch.

You will go with her now, my friend Santiago.

Teach her.

Teach her that life cannot defeat you. Only we can defeat ourselves.

He held out the book to her.

“Read this.”

“Now, Poppa?”

“No. Later when…”

Don’t say, When you want to remember me. Then she’ll know. She’ll cling to you and she’ll want to go with you. She won’t let you go on alone if you say that.

No, Poppa. I need you.

“…later. It’s my favorite book.”

“The Old Man and the Sea, Poppa. What’s it about?”

Easy words caught in the Old Man’s throat as hot tears began to fill his eyes. He jerked his head away as if