Rising: Parables From The Apocalypse - Dystopian Fiction (5 page)

World War III?

The regent lay sleeping in her room until her aide knocked gently on her door, then more adamantly.  Finally she woke and said, “What is it, who’s there?”

“It’s Rabban, Regent.  May I come in?”

“One moment,” the regent said as she stood and put a robe on.  She woke, and walked into the outer dressing room to have a seat.  “What’s the matter so pressing that you needed to wake me up for it?  I was actually having a pleasant enough dream where I wasn’t constantly worrying about zombies infiltrating my home.  Instead it would appear that’s what my advisers are for.”

“I’m very sorry, Regent, but you have a call from King William.”

“King William … of England?”

“Yes, Regent.  That King William.”

“Well, what the hell does he want with me?”

“I don’t know, Regent.  He wouldn’t say.”

“Very well.  Put him on the video screen in my office.  I’ll be right in.”

After a quick change of clothes, the regent sat herself at her desk chair and faced a smiling King William of England. 

“Good morning, Your Majesty.  It’s a pleasure to meet you.  You’ll have to excuse my somewhat ruffled appearance.  It’s a bit early here.”

“No need to apologize, Regent.  I’m that one that should apologize for the timing of the call, but it was suggested to me that sooner would be better than later.  I would also like to say that this is not an official government call from England.  It’s meant more to be a sharing of information between two influential persons.”

“I see, Your Majesty.  Although, I must admit to being more than a little confused.  We’ve never had a sharing of information opportunity before, so I’m not really sure how to respond at the moment.”

“Allow me to explain.  I am not the prime minister of England.  You will have to take what I say as simply advice from the king.  It’s not official government policy of England.”

“You have my attention so far.”

“There have been some concerns amongst the prime minister’s advisers that there is little support for the proposed zombie export agreement amongst your people.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t really comment on that at the moment.  The workings of our inner government are privy only to myself and my advisers.”

“Yes, Regent, I understand how your computer government works.  We have inner workings of our own that are also private.  Let me phrase my comments this way however.  The prime minister believes that there will be considerable resistance from your people to the zombie trade.  I just wanted you to be aware of our views on that matter.  As you know, even though our country was not directly affected during your wars with the zombie population, we still suffered.  The years preceding your wars the US and England were strong allies.  While that was mutually beneficial at the time, it didn’t make England very popular on this side of the pond.  However, as long as the US was active on the world stage, there was little the rest of Europe could do about our relationship.  During the wars and your country’s absence from the world stage, our economy has suffered greatly.  As a result we’ve had to more carefully consider the will of Europe and to some degree the Asian countries.”

“I do sympathize with you, King William, and appreciate you sharing that information.  But you must understand, the government here is now very different from what existed in the past.  This current government assumes no responsibility for what took place prior to the wars.  As difficult as they may have been for your country’s political and financial standing, I assure you having citizens dying in the streets was far more alarming.”

“Of course, Regent.  I did not mean to minimize your country’s hardships.  I was simply trying to preface the current situation with some context.”

“I understand, and what exactly is the current situation in your country?”

“The current situation is one of cautious optimism.  We do have a pulse on what the people want, although not as sophisticated as yours.  The people are tired of an economic spiral that has been prevalent for the past twenty plus years.  They are tired, but also optimistic when they see what your country has been able to achieve in a very short time.  To be honest, they want that same recovery, and our prime minister wants it for them.  There is a growing consensus that this zombie trade is the best opportunity for an upturn we have.  Possibly the last one many will see in their lifetimes.”

“I appreciate their support for this, and hope in the future that we will be able to help in a manner that is beneficial to both our countries.”

King William paused for a moment to clear his throat.  “Allow me to be very direct for just a moment.  I hope that you don’t take this in other than the spirit it is intended.  It is not my intention to offer moral support to you or your country regarding this matter.  My intention is to inform you that if this trade agreement doesn’t take place, then those in power in this country will take whatever measures necessary to give England the same advantages the Americas have.  The manner in which they choose to do that has not been shared with me, but I suspect it would be rather one-sided.”

The regent sat back in her chair, rubbing both her tired eyes, and paused for just a brief moment.  “You’ll have to excuse my directness now, Your Majesty, as my mind may not be functioning one hundred percent at this hour, but did England just threaten war against the Americas?”

King William shifted uncomfortably.  “As I said before, Regent, I’m not the prime minister of England, and I have no desire to declare war on any country.  My only intention was to offer you a little kingly advice.  Nothing more.  Once again, I must apologize for the hour, I just thought you should know before anyone else.  Good day, Regent.”

The video call ended, and the regent was left alone.  “Well,” she said aloud.  “Why do I have a feeling that this already bad day is about to get a whole lot worse?”

Nightmare Voices

Leekasha’s sleep had been restless ever since her meeting with Patzy.  She tossed and turned most nights with nightmares.  Often she woke and paced the halls around her quarters to calm herself.  Try as she might, she couldn’t remember what the nightmares were about.  She began to wonder if there were even any nightmares at all.  Maybe there was something physically wrong with her?  Tonight was apparently going to be another one of those nights.  All her sheets were thrown off, and her pillows were on the ground.  Her mind tried to race away from the disturbing images.  Images of zombies burning in incinerators.  Images of Christa being locked in a vault somewhere.  Images of Patzy in her tanks with the surround liquid boiling.  The worst scene of all was her in the middle of a city surrounded by thousands of zombies all screaming at her.  Not just in her head, but physically screaming at her.  The screaming grew so loud it felt like her eardrums would pop.  It got louder and louder, until finally Leekasha woke up screaming in a cold sweat.

She pulled her knees up into her chest and rocked back and forth.  She was sure the noise must have woken half the people on her floor.  She sat there rocking and waiting for the knock at the door.  Five minutes passed, then ten.  No one came. 
How could they not have heard that?  Someone will come, I’m sure.  They wouldn’t just leave me here all alone. 
Another ten minutes passed but still no knock at the door.  Leekasha stopped rocking and got out of her bed.  She opened her door and looked outside.  The halls were empty, the lights dimmed for night time.  She went back to her room.  The clock by her bed said 2:17.  Then, she heard voices.  She went back to the door and looked down the hall again.  Still, no one was there.  She poured herself a cup of water from the tap, and sat in her soft chair. Then, the voices got a little louder.  She strained to hear where they came from, but it seemed to be all around her.

“It’s time,” the voice said.  “My time long gone.  Time for new. Must try outside.  Time outside go.”

Leekasha whispered, “Get out of my head.  Leave me alone.”

“Nowhere to go,” the voice answered.  “They’re coming for us.  Us all.  They’re coming. Go now.”

“Patzy?” said Leekasha, pulling her feet up into the chair.  “Patzy, is that you in my head?”

“Yes … is it?  Yes … it is says it.”

Leekasha dropped her water and rested her face in her hands.  “You’ve been in my dreams … my nightmares.  Why would you do that?  Why would you torture me like that?”

“Just thoughts … not torture.  Sharing thoughts … nothing much.”

“Are you kidding?” Leekasha hissed back. “You’ve been in my head since we met.  Keeping me awake most nights and making me think I’m crazy.  You need to stop.  I have enough to worry about these days.  I don’t need you rummaging around through my brain while I’m sleeping.”

“Not rummage … not crazy … thoughts just.  Coming redcoats coming.”

“Redcoats? You mean the British?  That’s ridiculous.  Why would they come here?”

“Come for you … me … her … him … us … all … come.”

“I don’t understand you.  You’re not making sense.  Even less sense than the last time we talked.  Just get out of my head and let me sleep.”

“Soon gone head clear … soon gone.”

“Not soon enough for me.”

“Missed I … go … out … side … screaming … stopping … go.”

“Jesus, why can’t you speak in full sentences?  It’s the middle of the night, I haven’t had a decent sleep in days, and you’re speaking in fragments.  Full sentences would be helpful here.  Maybe I could understand what you wanted.  Maybe I could help.  Then maybe you’d leave me alone and I could get a good night’s sleep.  I bet you don’t torture Christa like this.  Why me?”

No one answered.  Five minutes passed and still silence.  All Leekasha could hear was the hum of the ventilation system.

Breakfast Planning

Christa and Leekasha sat silently eating breakfast the next morning in the cafeteria.  It wasn’t unusual for one of them to be quiet.  Part of why they grew to enjoy each other’s company was not just that they had a shared zombie lineage, but that one always seemed to be up when the other was down.  They had a knack for knowing when the other was down and what to say or do to lift the spirits of the other.  This morning was different.  Neither one of them had much to say to the other.  General Chambers walked by their table and said,

“You two look like you haven’t slept in a week.  Maybe you should both go back to bed.”

Leekasha looked over at Christa and said, “He’s right.  You do look like hell.  What’s your problem?”

Christa put down her fork and pushed her food away.  “I’m fine.  I got plenty of sleep.  I’m just worried, that’s all.”

“Worried about what?”

“I can’t hear her anymore.  The voices.  Patzy.  I used to hear her in my head all the time, now she’s gone silent.”

“You’re kidding me, right?  Are you messing with me?”
Christa looked up. “What do you mean?  Messing with you how?”
“That crazy old bitch has been keeping me awake for nights.  I’ve been having nightmares all week.  She woke me again last night and kept talking to me even when I was awake.”

“Oh, thank goodness. I was so worried.  I tried to go see her, but there’s been personnel all over that floor lately.   I thought they had done something to her.”

“Geez, I wish they would do something to her.  Then maybe she’d stop freaking me out.  You want her in your head?  Doesn’t that drive you crazy?”

“Maybe at first.”  Christa smiled.  “I got used to it.  Once I knew who it was and why she was there I didn’t mind.  She just wants to help.  She’s lonely.  She’s sort of like that grandma in the old folks’ home that never gets any visitors.  She’s just happy to have someone to talk to, or talk at.  She wants to help.  That’s all.”

Leekasha took a few bites of her food.  “Well, she’s got a strange way of showing it.”

“You just need to listen better.  Stop being afraid of her, and just listen.”

Leekasha took a drink to wash down her food.  “You know how I mentioned the other day that I knew some secrets?  I think it’s Patzy that’s been telling me them in my sleep.  I couldn’t quite remember the dreams I had with her, and I thought at first they were just random ideas bouncing around me brain.  Now though, I think it was her all along.  Is she crazy?  Can we trust what she tells us?”
Christa nodded her head yes.  “It took me a while, she rambles and babbles a lot.  Much of it doesn’t mean anything.  But if you listen long enough, you start to put things together.  She’s been in touch with me for years.  Ever since they did tests on me here when I was just a kid.  It’s like as soon as you get within range of her, she gets a connection and doesn’t let go.  That’s why it’s been so strange that I haven’t heard from her for days.  She’s been like my mentor, always there to keep me going.  Not hearing from her for days seemed wrong.  Maybe she sees something more in you.  Maybe she doesn’t have the energy for both of us.”

Leekasha looked into Christa’s eyes.  “I’m sorry, really.  I didn’t mean to steal your Obi-Wan from you.”

Christa laughed.  “Don’t worry about it.  You didn’t do it on purpose.”

“I listened in on Montgomery the other day.  I know we’re not supposed to get into their heads.  I know they’re watching us all the time, but I needed to know. She’s been lying to you all this time.  She’s not developing a drug to target just the violent zombies.  She’s been developing a stronger version of Pacize.  That’s why you couldn’t hear those zombies the other day at the maintenance shed.  They’ve totally blocked you out.  They probably want to block me out as well, just haven’t figured out how to do it yet.”

Christa sat back in her chair.  “Damn, those sons of bitches.  I should have known better.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, you were trying to do the right thing.  You just picked the wrong people to trust.”

“Exactly why I’m so stupid.  I should have learned my lesson years ago.  I thought they had changed.  They haven’t.”

“We have bigger problems though, I think.  Part of what Patzy said to me last night ...  She said ‘redcoats coming.’  What does that mean, like the British are coming or something?”   

Christa leaned forward, closer to Leekasha.  “There’s been rumbling in the news about England and their economic problems.  Ever since Scotland separated from the UK, their collective economy has been a mess.  They’re desperate.  There was even talk years ago about military action to bring Scotland back in.  This zombie trade export is big news all over Europe, and some are afraid it won’t happen.  Europeans think the people here don’t want it.  Some have called for international law to enforce it.  To make having zombies a basic human right, and force the Americas to export them, no matter what Kongod says.  It could get ugly.”

Leekasha nodded in understanding. “She spoke to me when I was awake for the first time.  I think maybe she was getting desperate.  She wanted me to go outside.  Do you really think the world will try to take the zombies by force?”

“Things got hard over there when the wars broke out.  In a global economy, when one big player goes down everyone is affected.  They haven’t recovered over there the way we have.  They haven’t had the benefit of free zombie labor.  If they’re desperate enough, who knows what they’ll do.”

“It would be kind of ironic, wouldn’t it?”

Christa raised her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

“The zombie outbreak started the war here, and it raged on for fifteen years.  Nobody wanted to be here, and everyone that could got the hell out.  Now, the rest of the world wants their own zombie outbreak, and they’ll fight to get it.  Doesn’t make much sense.”

“
Yeah.  Humans can be pretty damn stupid.”