Ill Wind Part 30

"Why?"

"I didn't ask you that, doctor. Are you as good as Lockwood?"

Nedermyer lifted his chin. "If I'm given the authority and the manpower, I can do it."

"All right. I want you to shave off that beard and make yourself presentable." He turned to Sergeant Morris. "It took you a week to get down there?"

"Yes, sir."

On horseback, thought Bayclock. That meant about three weeks on a forced march. Could he afford it? With superior weaponry and training, an armed expedition to White Sands would require relatively few men, and the payoff would be enormous, both in the technology they would liberate and in reinforcing the general's authority.

He spoke to his executive officer with a heavy voice. "Get Colonels David and Nachimya in here. White Sands doesn't seem to appreciate the fact that they're still under martial law."

He cracked his knuckles again. "They're about to have their a.s.sets confiscated."

Chapter 60.

The train journey gave purpose to Todd's life again.

Once the locomotive got up its full head of steam, Todd helped the Gambotti brothers and Rex O'Keefe toss split wood into the furnace. Dax and Roberto Gambotti hoa.r.s.ely sang old songs while Rex sat behind them, supervising the stoking. Waving smoke from his eyes and sipping on a coffee cup filled with chardonnay, Rex expounded on the virtues of the wine they carried with them: merlot, cabernet, reisling. Todd had never been much of a wine drinker himself.

The big coffee-colored man who called himself Casey Jones didn't move from the engineer's cab, as if he had sworn to keep vigil over their journey. Covered with soot and sweating from both the work and the heat, Todd exhilarated in the constant physical effort, helping the Steam Roller Steam Roller chug ahead. chug ahead.

The tracks unreeled in front of them across California's brown Central Valley. To their left, a low line of hills grew larger hour after hour as the valley widened, and the tracks swung east to flank the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Every ten or twenty miles they had to stop to clear debris from the track; they pushed wood, cars, and once the carca.s.s of a Piper Cub aircraft off the metal rails. Even out in the unpopulated areas, people came running after the train. Once they heard gunshots. Casey Jones wanted to make it the rest of the way to Los Angeles, though, and pushed on without further delays.

The locomotive's top speed was only 30 miles per hour. The monotonous landscape crawled along, but they made progress. It felt good to be moving. Todd stripped off his s.h.i.+rt and tied it to a post by the locomotive's open window. Gusts of summer air felt cool on his skin.

He preferred to work with Casey Jones, as the others were too quick to make light of their situation. It was though they used their wit to deny what had happened to the world around them.

On the first night, Todd and Casey labored in silence, trying to outdo each other in their prowess for manual labor. Todd had to chuckle as he thought of how Iris would react to their posturing: "Figures," she would have said with scorn, "the fall of civilization, and you macho men are still competing against each other!" Sometimes he imagined her standing next to him; in his daydream they journeyed across the worled, trying to make up for the devastation they had helped to unleash upon the world.

He felt a pang from missing her, and he felt guilty as he tried to ignore it . . . because he was enjoying himself.

His companion was reticent, preoccupied to the point of gloominess. He seemed to wear a shroud of his own guilt. Todd tried to draw him into conversation as they stood side by side in the crowded engineer cab.

"Who are you?" Todd said. He had to shout over the roar of the furnace and the clatter of the train.

"I already told you."

"Right. What is your real name?"

"None of your d.a.m.n business!"

Todd brought more wood.

The train chugged along, hour after hour. Todd and Casey changed to working in s.h.i.+fts with the Gambotti brothers and Rex O'Keefe. As he rested, Casey Jones refused to engage in conversation. Todd sat in the dining car munching tomatoes and peeling the outer leaves of cabbages. d.a.m.n rabbit food d.a.m.n rabbit food, he thought. He longed for a thick cut of juicy steak, or even a McDonald's hamburger, but he didn't have much choice.

The train tracks led to Fresno and then Bakersfield, cities surrounded by sufficient agriculture that the population could feed themselves, though they had no great amounts of food to spare. Casey stopped the train only briefly to exchange news with the gathered crowds. Todd stood back and watched as they flocked to see the Steam Roller Steam Roller puff into the city, a black-and-scarlet icon of lost technology. puff into the city, a black-and-scarlet icon of lost technology.

On the second day, a spur of the Southern Pacific railroad hooked west from Bakersfield, taking them toward the Los Angeles metropolis. Casey slowed, allowing Todd and Roberto Gambotti to drop to the ground and run ahead to strain at the lever that switched the track. At first Todd was afraid the switch was frozen, but after laying into the mechanism, the two men slowly muscled the track section about.

Though the boxcars were piled high with fruits and vegetables, Todd didn't know what that amount of food would do for LA. How many millions of people lived in the huge dying city? But Casey insisted they continue, fixated. Todd didn't try to talk him out of it. He just wanted to get to JPL.

The men rotated duty during the night. The train moved through the darkness with a hypnotic, monotonous clacking. Twice they hit something on the track, but both times it was too small to even slow their pace.

In darkness, Todd stood by the closed door of the roaring boiler. He could feel waves of heat mixed with counterpoints of cool air gusting through the windows. The moon hung overhead, s.h.i.+ning down like a milky spotlight illuminating the silvery tracks ahead.

Exhausted from the day's labor, Todd wrapped his knuckles around the open window. He stared into the oncoming night, and thought of Iris.

Steam Roller chugged westward, belching steam as it approached the hills around Los Angeles. chugged westward, belching steam as it approached the hills around Los Angeles.

From a distance, the city looked frozen into a snapshot. The cl.u.s.ters of buildings grew thicker on the sharp hillsides. Squinting through the locomotive's soot-smeared front windows, Todd could see crowds emerging from houses to stand in the streets. They squinted toward the railroad tracks as the steam engine puffed clouds into the sky. Some people ran up to the tracks and threw rocks at them, others tried to follow.

Casey Jones, standing at the engineer's station, reveled in their reception. He hung his dark, meaty arm out the window and waved. Some waved back; many just stared. A few stones ricocheted off the metal casing. Rex O'Keefe raised his wine-filled mug in a toast at the crowd.

Uncertainty gnawed at Todd. They had barely reached the fringes of the sprawling city, yet already they saw vastly more people than had arrived to greet the train in Bakersfield. What if the mob surrounded them and rocked the train off its rails?

The dining car was stuffed with crates of food and produce, but even that much wouldn't last a day here. It wouldn't feed a fraction of these people, and every face held a ghost of hunger behind the eyes. Did Casey really think they could just stop the train, distribute the food in an orderly manner, and wait for the grateful men and women to bring them items for trade?

"Okay, Casey Jones," Todd shouted into the din of the pumping locomotive, "what's your plan?"

But the engineer just grinned at him and continued looking out at the people. Rex O'Keefe and the Gambotti brothers sat on top of the pa.s.senger car and watched as they drank their wine.

In the stillness of a city without traffic, the sound of Steam Roller Steam Roller carried for miles. People lined up on the embankment to watch the train roll by, but Casey continued, pus.h.i.+ng ahead until the outlying residential areas dwindled again, and they approached a dirtier industrial section of the city. Going still slower, the train pushed aside debris and wrecks of old cars piled up on the tracks. carried for miles. People lined up on the embankment to watch the train roll by, but Casey continued, pus.h.i.+ng ahead until the outlying residential areas dwindled again, and they approached a dirtier industrial section of the city. Going still slower, the train pushed aside debris and wrecks of old cars piled up on the tracks.

Todd looked up. The sky was crystal blue and clear. He could see for miles. "I'll bet the air of Los Angeles hasn't been this clean in over a century!" he said. "I guess the petroplague can't be all that bad."

Near Pasadena they pa.s.sed ugly abandoned gravel quarries with mounds of crushed rock and dirt eroding away. Tall metal chutes and rock conveyors stood like pieces from a giant erector set beside hulking dump trucks. The San Gabriel mountains rose sharp and monolithic behind them, grayish with summer.

Steam Roller approached a cl.u.s.ter of warehouses, sheet-metal factories, and industrial-park buildings about the size of airplane hangers-many of which stood black and gutted from recent fires. Delivery spurs split from the main railway line like spiderwebs between the large buildings. approached a cl.u.s.ter of warehouses, sheet-metal factories, and industrial-park buildings about the size of airplane hangers-many of which stood black and gutted from recent fires. Delivery spurs split from the main railway line like spiderwebs between the large buildings.

Casey slowed the locomotive as they started into the warehouse complex. Todd saw tongues of brownish-black smoke curling into the air ahead. It make him uneasy; things seemed too quiet . . . .

They rounded a curve and saw three wrecked cars on the railroad tracks. Beneath the hulks blazed a bonfire of sc.r.a.p wood.

"Whoa boy!" Todd screamed. He reached to pull the emergency brake but grabbed the pull cord for the steam whistle instead, which let out a shriek loud enough to rattle the empty buildings.

Casey Jones bellowed and hauled back on the emergency brake lever. The driving wheels of the locomotive locked. Sparks flew from the metal rails as the Steam Roller Steam Roller tried to swallow its momentum in only a few feet. Rex O'Keefe yelped from the rear. tried to swallow its momentum in only a few feet. Rex O'Keefe yelped from the rear.

Todd lost his balance and slammed into the hot front plate of the boiler. He felt his skin sizzle, and he scrambled backward, wincing with pain.

Casey squeezed his eyes shut as if in silent prayer as he threw his weight behind the brake. The wheels made a groaning sound. The boxcars behind the train crunched as they tried to stop, but the locomotive slammed like a cannonball into the wrecked automobiles.

One of the hulks, a red Volvo, was tossed into the air and fell back on its roof. The other two cars tangled in the Steam Roller's Steam Roller's cowcatcher. One rode up to smash the front window of the engineer's cab. Chunks of burning wood scattered in all directions like embers caught in a draft. cowcatcher. One rode up to smash the front window of the engineer's cab. Chunks of burning wood scattered in all directions like embers caught in a draft.

The boiler hissed as Casey Jones swung down from the engineer's cab and worked his way through the wreckage to see what damage the automobiles had done.

Todd hand throbbed from where he had burned it on the furnace door. He shook his hand, then sucked on the dirty ball of his left thumb where the burn was worst.

The large industrial park was silent, even more so than the rest of the world. A few seagulls spiraled over two of the largest warehouses- An arrow clattered against the window of the engineer's compartment right next to Todd's head.

"What?" He turned and saw four men dressed in dark jackets and torn jeans. They emerged from the abandoned boxcars scattered around the railyard. One clambered to the top of a old Soo Line boxcar to get a better shot.

They fired with makes.h.i.+ft bows using steel-tipped arrows. Another arrow struck the side of the locomotive. For an instant Todd was too confused to move, unable to believe he was standing in a 19th century steam train being shot at by arrows . . . in downtown LA!

Casey Jones seemed unaware of the danger as he strode toward the train. Todd shouted, "Casey!" as one of the arrows struck Casey in the back, sticking into his shoulder blade. Casey reached behind him to swat the arrow away. The sharp tip had sliced his skin, but it didn't sink deep. Blood began to flow down his back.

Other gang members sprinted from the warehouses on their left, all charging toward the trapped train. Todd looked at the controls. The steam was still up, simmering in the boiler.

In the engineer cab, Todd pulled back on the gear-s.h.i.+ft lever, heaving with both arms to s.h.i.+ft the locomotive into full reverse, his hands afire with pain. The four driving wheels spun as the connecting rod rammed back and forth to build momentum in the stopped four-car train.

The locomotive shuddered. Steam poured out of the stack, mixed with black smoke. The train jerked as it fell back a few inches along the tracks. The two auto hulks tangled in the cowcatcher groaned and sc.r.a.ped. Roberto Gambotti yelped as he fell from the train.

Roberto's brother yelled angrily to Todd. "Hey, you a.s.shole! See what you did?" He jumped out to help.

The gang members ran closer. The Steam Roller Steam Roller's driving wheels spun slowly, laboriously. The train inched backward. Todd could see other attackers with knives, metal pipes, spears. He ignored his burned hand and yelled. "Casey, get your b.u.t.t in here!"

The big man clambered back into the engineer's compartment, but they could both see that the locomotive would never gain speed fast enough to take them to safety. "Quick-in the back."

Todd gingerly opened the back of the engineer's cab and slid through to the dining car. Gang members reached the train and began swarming over it, smas.h.i.+ng windows with their clubs. Up front, others scrambled onto the moving locomotive. The gang members reached the rear cars.

Todd opened a window on the opposite side of the dining car. He looked at the bleeding wound on Casey's back. "Is it bad?"

"I'm okay," said Casey, but the words seemed to require an effort.

"Go!" said Todd. He pushed Casey toward the window. "We're sitting ducks here."

Casey clambered out and fell to his knees from the moving train; Todd landed beside him, but kept his balance. He spotted Rex O'Keefe running back along the tracks, coffee cup still dangling from his fingers. They started to follow Rex, but were cut off as three gang members jumped from the train.

Todd looked around and made a split-second decision. "Here, this way." Todd and Casey turned and ran toward the nearest warehouse.

The warehouse stood like a barge made out of aluminum siding, scrawled with unintelligible graffiti. Todd reached the nearest door. It was locked, but rattled loosely in the frame. Todd hit it with his shoulder. Casey Jones joined him for a second blow, and the frame bent enough for the door to pop open. Casey left a splattered red smear of blood on the metal door.

They ducked inside. Todd shoved the door shut, looking around in the dimness for something to barricade it. They stood in a forest of metal shelves, crates of car parts, and pieces of equipment under sc.r.a.ps of canvas. Catwalks hung overhead, connecting the tops of the towering shelves. Three automobile engine blocks hung on chains suspended from high pulleys.

Near the door, Casey Jones found several round oil drums. "Here-help me out." Some were filled with sc.u.mmy water, others with a caked sludge. Casey wrestled one of the heavy drums in front of the door. Todd grimaced as he helped him move a second. Shaking his still-smarting hand, he heard the first gang member strike the barricaded door. The metal smacked into the oil drum, and he heard an "oomph!" from the other side.

Todd spun around to grab another barrel. The drum was lighter than he expected, and it toppled over, spilling its contents on the concrete floor with a sound like hard plastic cups. Todd gingerly picked one up, then dropped it.

It was a human skull. The barrel was full of them.

The next drum was stuffed with bones; all the meat had been sliced off.

"I don't think the food on the train is going to distract them very long," Todd said, forcing his words through a dry throat. "It doesn't look like they're vegetarians."

Todd and Casey ran into the prison-like labyrinth of the warehouse. Light slid through the broken panes of skylights above, s.h.i.+ning down in blunted spears. Dust drifted in tiny glowing speckles through the light.

A shaft of sunlight poured in as the gang members forced open the door. The attackers split up and stalked through the warehouse. They banged their steel pipes on the metal shelves. One laughed in the shadows.

"This doesn't give me a darned good feeling," Todd muttered.

Casey Jones looked around and grabbed one of the heavy engine blocks dangling from the chains. "Over here," he whispered.

Todd joined him. They grasped the engine block and pulled backward, one step at a time as they lifted it up on its arc. They could hear one of the gang members approach as he rhythmically struck the metal shelves.

"Come out, you motherf.u.c.kers!" the gang member said. The banging got louder. He stepped around the corner of the metal shelves.

Todd and Casey shoved the engine block in unison.

The block crashed into the man, driving him back against the shelves. Crates fell off the upper levels and tumbled around him like an avalanche. He cried out, and the other attackers stopped their taunting and came running. The bank of shelves tipped over just enough to smash into the next line of shelves.

Todd and Casey ran. At the back corner of the warehouse they saw stairs leading to the network of catwalks overhead. They couldn't see how many gang members had followed them inside.

"Go on," Casey said, then pushed Todd up the stairs. The steps creaked, rattling as they b.u.mped against supports on the wall. The gang members heard them and came running.

Todd reached the catwalk and started across the open s.p.a.ce. The catwalk throbbed with other footsteps. Halfway across, Todd turned as a lean opponent strode across the metal grille toward them, holding a long switchblade. "Casey-behind you!"

Casey turned and waded toward the oncoming gang member as if he meant to take part in a barroom brawl. The attacker grinned and slashed with the switchblade.

With remarkable speed for his burly frame, Casey Jones grabbed the man's forearm and slammed it onto the rail. Thin wrist bones snapped like balsa wood.

Even as the gang member screeched in pain, Casey grabbed him by the seat of the pants and lifted him over the edge, tossing him headfirst to the concrete floor. The attacker didn't even cry out as he fell. The only sound he made was like a melon struck with a baseball bat when he hit the floor.

Todd reached the roof door before another gang member managed to reach the top of the stairs. Sunlight spilled in as he opened the door; Todd and Casey ran out onto the roof.

Another warehouse b.u.t.ted up against this one with only a six-foot gap between the two rooftops. Todd cleared the distance easily, jumping across and landing with an explosion of noise as his cowboy boots crashed into the corrugated metal roof. Casey Jones landed beside him, falling to his knees. He panted.

Todd looked behind them. "Once we get ahead of them, we can disappear into the city."

Casey Jones didn't answer. Instead, he turned to stare at his train, which had reached the far end of the industrial park before someone stopped its backward acceleration. The Steam Roller's Steam Roller's furnace burst. The entire engine compartment spat flames out the windows, curling up to lick the smokestack. He could see people swarming on the train, grabbing crates of food from the dining car, tearing the neat black-and-red sides to pieces. furnace burst. The entire engine compartment spat flames out the windows, curling up to lick the smokestack. He could see people swarming on the train, grabbing crates of food from the dining car, tearing the neat black-and-red sides to pieces.

"My train," Casey Jones said dully. "My train."

Todd gripped his arm. Blood still flowed from the wound on Casey's shoulder; Todd's own hands felt raw. "Come on, we can't do anything to help it."

"What are we going to do now?" Casey asked. "Where do we go?"

Todd secured the cowboy hat on his head as they started to run. "We make our way to Pasadena. Let's find the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. We've got a job to do there."