Zen's War: Captivity
Chapter 19: A Motley Crew

“Why don’t we try using reason instead of faith? Better yet, let’s use our faith in reason,” Zen suggested.

“Now you’re just talking crazy. You think you have all the answers, don’t you? That’s what’s wrong with this world. Everyone has lost their faith in God. That’s what brought about the apocalypse in the first place. Haven’t any of you learned from the mistakes of the past?” the Colonel said, defending his belief in God’s power.

“I’m so sick of hearing that same old argument. Did you ever think that World War III was a result of human action, and not the retribution of some vengeful God? As I remember wasn’t it those that preached the word of God that instigated it, and nearly led humanity to its demise?” Zen responded, as a self proclaimed agnostic.

Colonel Krakowski sat there on the torn leather couch and shook his head with a look of utter disappointment. “There’s no point in even arguing with you; obviously you’re already lost. The devil is probably already keeping a place warm for you in hell.”

“Enough of this. You two just sit here arguing, while Sahara’s out there. How can you two be so selfish?”Aurora asked as her eyes began to mist with tears.

“You’re right. God wouldn’t be too happy with me for being so selfish. I wasn’t being so righteous, was I? I’m sorry about that ma’am. I hope you can forgive me, or at the very least that God can,” the Colonel said out of guilt, while memories of his daughter filled his mind.

“Forget it. I forgive you; as for your God, well that I can’t answer. Either way it’s time to formulate a plan. We sure as hell aren’t going to find her in this bomb shelter,” Aurora commented.

“What do you suggest?” The Colonel asked.

“It’s possible that slave traders kidnapped her, and at this very moment are attempting to bring her to Confederate American territory to sell her into slavery,” Pablo suddenly suggested, having said nothing for hours. “I know some men at the trading post who might have some inside information. Usually slave traders stop there on their way east. Maybe they’ve seen your daughter with them.”

“I thought slavery was illegal in Mexican territory. I mean wouldn’t the Permanentes arrest them, if they even thought they were transporting slaves?” Hector asked, out of nowhere.

“Of course it is, but you know how easily the Permanentes can be bribed. The Confederate American territory has a shit load of oil, and the Mexican Revolutionary Front is desperate for it,” Derek responded, always having all the answers.

“I guess that is our best option,” Zen said sardonically, finding it difficult to be optimistic.

“The trading post is about two miles due south in the center of the old University. If we hurry we might be able to make it there by sundown. If not, we run the risk of being barbecued by the Nocturnes,” the Colonel said, in a dismal tone.

They all agreed that Pablo’s idea made the most sense. They would travel to the trading post to see if they had seen any illegal slave traders. Derek cited what supplies they would need. The most obvious supply they would need was water. Colonel Krakowski had collected gallons of rainwater in large reservoirs below the ground in the field behind the house. Though the Sonoran desert received very little rain fall over all, during the months of July and August the monsoons brought quite a substantial amount. Food was the second highest priority. The Colonel had stockpiled a large amount of nonperishable food, such as Boston baked beans and beef jerky. There were also around two dozen boxes of shotgun bullets. The Colonel had his own camouflaged backpack. He grabbed five boxes and placed them in his backpack. After Hector and Derek had filled their backpacks, both with three cans of baked beans and two handfuls of the beef jerky the group was nearly ready to depart. These supplies were kept in a makeshift pantry, which was behind a large steel door and. The door had a combination lock that held a latch closed. After they had collected their nonperishable food items, the Colonel quickly shut the door and closed the lock.

“Is there another way out of here, besides the way we entered this bomb shelter?” Zen asked the colonel, trying to find the most suitable exit.

Having just closed the pantry, Colonel Krakowski turned around to face Zen. “Actually, there’s an escape route through that door across the room,” he answered, pointing to a similar steel door to that of the pantry.

“Where does it lead?”Zen responded.

“About a mile or two south, north, east and west. There’s a long corridor that leads to a chamber that branches off into four adjoining tunnels. Each of them lead in a different direction,” the Colonel answered.

“The trading post is about two miles south of here. How close will the tunnel leading south bring us to the trading post?”Zen asked.

“I’d say around half a mile, if that.”

“Is it safe?”Aurora asked.

“Of course it’s safe,” Colonel Krakowski replied sounding somewhat overconfident.

“Aren’t we going to need some kind of light source?”Derek asked.

“That’s not a problem. I have two kerosene lanterns we can carry. The only problem is that I’m running low on kerosene. I probably have enough to get us about half way there. That’s the best I can do. Otherwise, even if we can’t see, there’s no way that we can get lost. Each tunnel leads one way, with only one exit each.”

“Why didn’t you think to mention the lanterns earlier?”Zen asked, annoyed that he hadn’t thought to mention it.

“I guess it just kind of slipped my mind,” the Colonel admitted. “That’s alright, I’ll just go and get them right now.”

With that, he returned to the room behind the steel door, collected the two lanterns and a can of kerosene. “Here are the two lanterns,” he said, then placed the two lanterns and the can of kerosene on the small table in the center of the room.

The two lanterns already had some kerosene in them, so there was no need to fill them with anymore. After Colonel Krakowski lit the wicks of both with a Zippo lighter, Hector and Derek both picked one of the lanterns up off the table. Then with the Colonel in the lead, the rest of the group followed. They came to the steel door on the opposing wall from the steel door of the pantry. A similar chain with a combination lock was on this door as well. After he had turned the combination lock to the appropriate numbers, he removed the chain and swung the door open revealing the darkness beyond.

“Abandon all hope, ye who enter here,” the Colonel said, in a futile at humor.

“Was that supposed to be funny?”Derek asked mockingly.

“Supposed to be,” he answered.

The Colonel remained in the lead of this motley crew as they followed him through the doorway.

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