CHAPTER 27

The Road Ahead

Christie thought it was amazing to see the world of the Can Heads through the eyes of this man who corralled shopping carts for a living.

His storytelling slow, the man still wrestling with how the world changed.

“Then the store… it would only open certain hours. And they had guards, with guns, and a big fence. Fences everywhere! But in the small house I stayed in, it seemed quiet.”

Christie could imagine this hamlet nestled away, with locals on guard, protected for a while from the mayhem that surrounded the cities.

“But then people started disappearing—they just disappeared—and then other people came! They started fighting each other, regular people, but fighting each other. I didn’t understand that. They weren’t Can Heads… didn’t look like Can Heads.”

He paused. Then, “And they took people…”

He shook his head then, catching his mistake. “No, not people. The kids. They took kids, Mrs.… Christie.”

She nodded.

And what Christie hoped had been an isolated phenomenon, what they had seen at that camp, in the mountains, was not.

We don’t just have Can Heads to worry about now.

Christie stood up, and turned to Simon.

“You can get a few hours’ sleep before we get going—I’m on watch now.”

At the same time Ben stood up, nodding.

“And I… I better go. Things can get strange out here… when night ends, and day comes.”

But she saw Simon didn’t move.

He only said, “Mom.”

And she knew what he was thinking.

We can’t just let this guy go out there as if nothing happened.

Not after what he did.

But then, how much food did they have? Could they really—what?—bring him with them?

Ben was already moving to the front door.

And again Simon hadn’t moved and only repeated, “Mom.”

And she nodded.

There were times, even these days, when one simply had to do the right thing.

“Ben—”

The man stopped. He held his old parka, torn in spots, in his right hand. In his left, a deep maroon beanie.

Amazing that he had been able to live on his own.

“Ben, how about you come with us?”

At first, the only expression on the man’s face was surprise… or maybe confusion.

“What? I don’t—”

Christie walked to him, Simon at her heels.

“We’re going someplace… Michigan. It’s another state. Still days from here. Supposedly people living there. Going to try to grow food, to protect themselves.”

Ben nodded. Christie was not at all sure he understood what she was saying.

“You should come with us. There’s nothing for you here.”

Ben was silent. She didn’t know if the offer was simply overwhelming… or if Ben was just trying to understand what it meant.

A safe place. Food to be grown.

Michigan.

Did that mean anything to him?

Then Christie saw him gulp.

“What do you say, Ben?”

Simon went to him.

“You gotta come with us.”

The man looked down at her son.

And she spotted a glistening in his eyes.

All the months he had spent out here, alone, surviving somehow. Now being invited to join her family.

Even though Christie couldn’t be sure how all this would turn out.

Talk about one day at a time.

Again, “What do you say, Ben?”

And he nodded. Then, simply, “I’d like that.”

Then his face brightened, the decision made, offer accepted. “And I have some food I found. I can bring that! Even pretzels!” he said, his grin widening.

“Great,” Christie said. “Why don’t you lie down for a bit, then? We’ll leave in the morning. Get some rest.”

She hefted the gun. “I’ll be watching out for everyone.”

And despite the fact the man had saved her son, Christie realized that they knew nothing about him, save what he said about his life here.

And now… he was with them.

Still, despite a flicker of concern, it seemed like the right decision.

“Okay,” Ben said, following her command.

Simon looked up and smiled.

“I’ll go get some sleep too,” Simon said heading to the stairs.

And in a few moments, Christie was alone, kitchen lights on, with a quiet house—save for what was maybe the loudest snore she ever heard rumbling from the living room.

*

Christie had waited an additional hour after dawn. Bit more sleep for Kate, for them all.

The hours she was awake had seemed interminable, watching the dark sky lighten, going so slowly as if sunrise might never arrive.

Until a brilliant sun cut through trees to the east, the sun still low in the sky but the light wonderful.

Then it was time to get going.

And Kate, shuffling downstairs, ready for a day of driving, didn’t hide her concern over the new member of their party.

“Mom, what are you thinking? We don’t have much food. And who knows what’s ahead, and you ask a guy… that big to join us?”

Christie shook her head.

“A bit more quietly, please. He does have ears, you know.”

But Ben was talking to Simon in the living room and Christie guessed that he really couldn’t hear them.

“And what do you know about him?”

Christie shook her head. “Not much. But he was there last night, when your brother needed him.”

That seemed to stop Kate.

Being there… such an important idea.

Kate had been there for all of them. They wouldn’t be here, alive, if not for her.

And Christie had said that they make all decisions together.

Kate shook her head.

“I bet he eats a lot.”

Christie smiled. “Looks that way. But says he has some food he’s been hiding, things he found after everyone left.”

Then to nudge Kate toward some acceptance, “Simon wanted it. I think… that’s important.”

Another nod from Kate. Not on board, but finally accepting the new passenger.

“He seems quite sweet,” Christie said. “Innocent, despite all the things he must have seen.”

“Sure,” Kate said.

Christie half-expected a whatever.

Instead…

“We all set to go?”

“I heated some soup. Have some.”

“I’m okay now,” Kate said. “Guess… bring what’s leftover with us. We’re going to need everything.”

Christie nodded. She didn’t like it when even a tiny bit of a wall went up between her and her daughter.

She so needed Kate to get through this.

Then Kate—the driver, really the person in charge now—walked out to the living room.

“Simon…” then, hesitant, “Ben… you guys all set to go?”

Christie stayed in the kitchen, watching, as Ben turned.

“Y-yes,” he said. “Maybe we can pick up my food on the way?”

“Sure,” Kate said. “We can always use more food.”

And if there was an edge to Kate’s comment, she was sure Ben didn’t pick up on it.

Then Kate turned to her. “Time to get going.”

And they all started moving to the front door, to what looked like a glorious morning, leaving this warm house that was just another place they passed, on their way to whatever was ahead.