Evolution

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Like a pebble in a tin can, the thought of venturing out in the daylight rattled in my mind. It and only it dominated my concentration. Since this morning, I have paced back and forth across the plush grass growing in the living room. I would stop only long enough to stare out the window and shiver. Just beyond the border of the property, several bloodthirsty creatures stalked the innocent. Bloodshed stained the ground as a horrible scream came from a damned soul caught unprepared.

I sometimes wished I was no longer human, lacking the compassion we feel. I wish I could bring forth all of the animal instincts that reside in us, and think of him as nothing more than nurishment, just another creature that fell to the great circle of life. My humanity won’t hear of it. That was a neighbor, that was a father, and that was a husband. For all I know, he was also a hero battling creatures for my very survival. He was a good man and deserves better than to have his final resting place in the deep recesses of a pods bowels.

I bring my pacing to a halt and rapidly find myself on the couch, floored by a nightmarish realization. All of mankind is fucked. Every single one of us could be that man, devoured by the very thing we used to eat. a hard knock and a ironic twist of fate on the food-chain. I could feel the anger rise dragging bravery with it. The idea of our venture had taken on a new appeal. Would I sit quietly and wait for them to find me. Fuck no! I will go out fighting, I will be that hero. My new fate is as a savior to all mankind, a hero, proudly spitting in the face of mother nature. Man-kind will survive, Even if it kills me.

My thoughts were interrupted as Alex handed me a plate of eggs. The smell was wonderful, a needed change. Several weeks of jerky sticks wrecked my appetite, but I would give it my all. Alex smiled and handed a glass of water to me.

“It’s not much, but we haven’t been on a raid in a while.”

“It’s perfect, thank you!”

She winked at me and sat down, digging her fork into the fluffy eggs.

As I finished the wonderful meal I placed the plate into the sink, nice and gently and ran some hot soapy water. As my momma taught me, A woman cooks the man cleans the dishes. This concept seemed to strike Alex funny. Rather, the concept of cleaning at all.

“We are leaving her for good no need to worry about clean up silly!” She said chuckling. All I could do is blush. The idea of being in company of other humans was still new to me. Its been so long that I guess I grew socially unconscience of many normal traits.

I watched as Boomers smiling face came bopping right beside me and his body starting bouncing up and down, up and down. I could his little satisfactory grunts coming from his lips and his large feet made wetting sounds.

“What in the world is he doing?” I asked with an almost obsessive curiosity

“I told him he could smash the tomatoes today before we left” Alex said almost uninterested. I guess in her world a large muscular man getting so much joy out of something as simple as jumping on tomatoes was an everyday occurance. To me...Gosh I just laughed.

I seen a crooked smile and a pause come from Boomer. He just stared at me

“What is he doing? Why is he looking at me like that?” I asked

Before she could anwser I felt the impact of a half decayed tomato on the side of my face, pulp and juice sprayed in the air and tiny seeds littered the kitchen. I saw Alex double over in laughter and then her eyes widen in suprise when she got nailed with a foreign tomato missle herself. Boomer clapped and finished off the rest of the tomatos with his feet before we could retailate. I must admit...Boomer really is a genius. In this war he definately was the victor.

We sat at the table soaked with juices catching our breath from a round of racious laughter when the time caught our attention. Half past ten in the morning. Only hours before the hottest part of the day and  we were yet to pack.

Alex changed clothing and laid out a list of items needed for our voyage. As for me...well I reckon I dont mind wearing tomato juice on my shirt. I will just spray off down the road. 

I could hear the rustling of bags and the sounds of zippers as they systematically packed . The cabinets were emptied and the backpacks filled with some of the most unusual items. Rope? Duct tape? I seemed to go through inventory in my mind and come up with the most bizarre scenerios for uses of Alex’s equipment. In my minds eye I could see Alex dressed in military fatigues, black eyeliner used as war paint and rope and duct tape at the ready. Suddenly, a podradile drops from its pod....mid- air Alex slams it to a tree and ties it there. Duct tape already being placed over its mouth. It struggles to be free but even its roar is muffled to a dull helpless meow. Alex sticks her fingers on her nose and wiggles them to and fro..mocking...”Here kitty kitty, aww whats a matter kitty cant bite us?”

I shake the vision away and struggle hard to keep from embarrassing myself, tiny chuckles still escape from my throat. Alex stops momentarily eyeing me suspiciously. I see Boomer come charging back into the kitchen with his backpack strapped to himself. Dangling from the outside pockets are a spoon, a fork, and a bell. The backpack itself had several bumper stickers attached to it and a pair of fuzzy dice.

As if to say “TADA!” Boomer spins and waits for approval.  Right on cue Alex motions him to turn and empties the contents onto the table.

“No. No. No. and No!” she says as she pushes selected items aside. What did I say about bringing electronics Boomer? There is no electricity. I see Boomers face turn into a scowl as his arm sloshes the electronics to the side and rips the backpack from his sisters hand and slowly slumps away.

Alex shakes her head and looks me in the eyes.

“He knows better hes just being difficult”

With that sentiment she zips her own bag and flings it non-chalantly over her shoulder.

“we are losing daylight lets go!”