Mars Michaels... Longstown... Part one: Stackmill Road.

 

~We are not defined by what we possess, but by the things that we do.~

September 21st, 2217.

You could smell the smoke some three miles away, it was the time of year when the nights were starting to get much colder, and there were still people that would burn whatever they could lay their hands to just to keep warm. So there was no telling what the smell was, even as he rounded the top of the hill just before twilight he could see the glow of fire pits- but the smell was still somewhat indistinguishable. The closer he got, the more he found it carried the aroma of charred flesh of some type. As he drew closer, he could see that there were six, six figures, dark, hulking figures, all in a small circle screaming, pawing and slapping at something on the ground. The smell began to burn his nostrils and he recognized it as burnt human flesh, and there in the middle of the circle was a small human figure cowering in a fetal position. He dropped his pack calmly and didn’t break stride as he knelt down to pick up the wooden club almost in passing. The first one saw him and made a grunting noise like an animal, and turned toward him in a threatening manner. He came at him like a wild dog and Mars struck him down at the knees with the club, and as he fell, in one fluid motion he landed it across the back of his neck. 

 

The others turned towards him, but he didn’t sway, he just kept coming, dividing them, picking them off one at at time, wielding the wooden club like a roman gladiator. Viciously attacking them as they had the person on the ground. When there was only one left, he turned and tried to run away but slipped and fell. Mars stood over him, staring down, a cold menacing stare it was, the kind that made you want to crawl inside a deep dark hole and plead for your life. He was shaking, holding his hands up trembling in fear then, and for a brief second Mars thought that he’d heard him whimpering like a frightened child. The light reflected off of him as his face was now in full view. He was bald, big, fat, ugly, he wore a black leather jacket with skulls plastered all over it. A real tougher, or so he thought. He lifted the club and pointed it in the direction of the two fires.

“Who were they?” He asked. 

The skinhead turned and looked at the fires.

“Just people.” He answered softly.

“And what exactly did those ‘People’ do to deserve what you did to them?”

He began shaking again, as his attention darted nervously back and forth between Mars and the burning bodies.

“They-had stuff with them. We thought they were carrying food. So we- took it.”

“And when you set them on fire. Were they still alive, or were they already dead?”

“They were Chinese. I think.” he shrugged. “What difference does it make?” 

Mars looked away. He could feel the rage beginning to build inside of him. He raised the club and swung it violently across his skull, killing him instantly.

He stared down at the twitching corpse.

“You got off easier than they did, you son-of-a-bitch.”

He turned and walked back to where he’d seen them all standing over whoever had been cowering helplessly inside their little circle.

It was very dark, but still, the moon afforded him enough light to realize where he was, shells of burnt out cars and trucks-some overturned, grown over with milk weeds, tall wild grass and snakes, various piles of useless garbage, junked out refrigerators and stoves. He retrieved his pack and returned to where the skinheads had trapped their last victim, he could see where they had crawled away. He knelt down and looked under the rusted out junk auto. And he could see them hiding, still fearful. He sat down slowly in the dirt and crossed his legs in front of him.

“You know, I killed myself a rabbit not more than two hours ago right up over that hill, cleared myself a sweet little spot by that brook over there, nice little camp site. Even collected wood for a proper campfire. Now I promise you, that if you come with me, I won’t let anyone else hurt you. And we can come back here at first light and bury those other people that those terrible men killed. C’mon out of there now, there’s probably snakes and what not under there. And you may be sitting in their bed.”

Slowly a small hand came out from beneath the car, and then another, and then he could see their face, they were but a child, perhaps little more than ten years old. Chinese, female. 

 

He felt his heart sink when he realized that more than likely the two burnt bodies were her parents. She was trembling, crying softly. He tried to smile to put her at ease, but it was as hard for him as for her. He held his hand out, and in a warm, soft southern drawl he spoke to her again.

“My name is Mars child, and I am your friend.”

Though she could walk, she was quite weary, and so he carried her to the campsite, and made her a bed out of his long black leather coat beside the campfire. No one stole his rabbit, so he cleaned it but decided to save it for when his young guest awoke the next morning. He rolled his pack up and lie it on the ground next to the fire, and watched over her, and slowly her whimpering subsided as she drifted off to sleep.

“Still think you don’t have a purpose, Mars?”

Although he couldn’t make out a face, he distinctly heard the voice from across the campfire. He stared up at the star lit sky. Trying not to acknowledge it.

“What is it like up there?”

“Up where Mars?” 

 

He slowly shook his head as he stared into the fire, his eyes never once seeking to see the source of the voice.

“Well, isn’t that where you are from?” He nodded up at the stars. “From up there?”

“I’ve never been to the stars. So no- I’m not from there.”

“You know. I lay here sometimes. Looking up at those beautiful stars, and I often wonder what it would be like to just sit up there, and look down on this whole mess that we’ve been left with down here. I sometimes wonder how it would feel, to look upon what's left of this world. Without-bearing the burden of concern. Or compassion. Of Conscience. Without passing judgment.” 

“You feel bad for what you were forced to do tonight.”

“ Nobody in their right mind wants to have to take another life. But then again, there are such people on this earth- or rather what's left of it, that simply need killing. I am however saddened by what that child has had to endure. And so, I suppose, this is the part where you tell me that she needs me.”

“No Mars. This is the part where I tell you that you need each other.” 

 

The following morning she awoke to the smell of freshly cooked rabbit licking at her nostrils, pushing aside the unpleasantness of the previous night's dream, her belly began to rumble with hunger pains. She sat up just in time to see him come walking back into camp, carrying three canteens of fresh water. He knelt down by the pack and removed a plate along with a clean fork and placed a piece of rabbit on it and handed it to her. Along with a small glass of water. She hesitated briefly and then took the rabbit and water. It was consumed within seconds. He began putting things in order back in the pack, she watched him curiously as she ate. He stopped to look at her.

“I do not believe that I caught your name, little one.” He said.

She didn’t answer.

“Well, you can tell me when ever you are ready. I suppose it will come in due time.” He smiled and walked over and sat down beside her on the ground.

 

There was a brief silence as he studied her to try to figure out her frame of mind, she wasn’t crying, she wasn’t smiling, she was just staring blank faced into the fire.

“You know- I don’t know what your customs are. And I certainly wouldn’t want to offend. But I woke up earlier and went over and dug two graves for those people that you were with. I buried them beneath that tree over there on the other side of the brook. I suppose I was trying to spare you the unpleasantness of seeing their remains. Would you like to see them before we have to leave?” He asked her.

She nodded yes.

“All right then.” 

He finished packing the backpack while she went to the brook to wash her face and hands. Once finished, he walked her over to the grave site and gave her a little space to say goodbye. She turned and looked up at him curiously.

“Yes little one. What is it?” He asked.

 

He walked up beside her and knelt down inspecting both graves, she looked away and then back at him and then returned her attention to the two graves.

“Which one is my aunt, and which one is my uncle?” She asked. 

“Well darlin.” he said, “I believe that the one on the left is female, so that would be your aunt I suppose.”

Now he gave her a puzzled look.

“They weren’t your parents, little one?” 

She shook her head no.

“My daddy’s dead. I don’t know where my mother is. Some men took her away about ten days ago. My aunt and uncle and me have been trying to find her. So I could give her thing back to her. She asked me to keep it for her until she came back.”

“What thing may I ask?”

 

She reached inside of her tatered coat and removed a small silk bag. She smiled and held it up for him to see.

“May I see what is inside?”

She nodded and handed him the small delicate bag, and when he opened it she could see a flicker of light in his eyes as he smiled broadly. Inside of the bag was a small bamboo flute.

“Why- That is absolutely beautiful. And you are going to find your momma to return this to her?” He asked.

She again nodded.

“My mother told me that it’s special, because it belonged to HER mother, and I should take good care of it for her.” She said.

“Well, I must say, that from the looks of things, you are doing a spectacular job.” 

He handed the small silk sack back to her and stood. 

“I realize that you don’t know me little one, but I promise you this, I know strength when I see it, and I know that you will keep your promise to your momma. And if you should need any help I’ll be right there with you. Is that alright with you?” He asked. 

He walked her up to the side of a hill and helped her pick some fresh flowers to place on the graves of her aunt and uncle before they decided to leave for the nearest town. On fresh legs- he was surprised at how well she kept up with him as they walked down Stackmill road.

“Now darlin, if you start to get tired you just tell me to stop and we can rest awhile, before we continue on our way. I have it on good authority that there is a small township just south of here called: Longstown, supposedly they’ve have been doing some rebuilding there. I suppose we should go there first.” He said.

As they walked along he felt something soft and warm wrap itself around his palm, and he looked down to see her small hand clutching at his. She gently tugged at him. He stopped and knelt down in front of her.

“Yes darlin what is it?” He smiled.

“Chi”

“What?”

"My name is Chi.”

“That is a very pretty name Miss Chi, is there anything else?”

She looked up at him.

“Now that those men killed my aunt and uncle, I was thinking if my mother isn’t at the next town, do you think you could help me until I find her?” She asked.

“Miss Chi. It would be my honor to assist you.” He smiled at her broadly.

Together they continued on the way talking and walking on the road to Longstown.” 

 

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