Tales of Earth That Was – Those Left Behind Chapter 2

The convoy was a thick river of ants, a comfort to the barren landscape under their tiny feet. Their walk however, was just a somnambulant shifting of legs. They were in no hurry it seemed.

“Alright folks, we may not much like what those arrogant cots and their totalitarian regime did to us back there but we gotta deal ‘cause there ain’t no other choice.” Jasper, only surviving leader of the resistance had told them earlier at Spaceport 1. “We got shelter and food to last us ‘bout half a month tops. When the time comes, we pack whatever the hell we can and move out to New Mexico City. There, we have one heck of an increase to our survival chance. Those domes won’t last for long and we need somethin’ permanent. If all goes well, we’ll get by just fine. Now Them fancy Alliance ‘scientists’ say we ain’t got more ‘an about a month anyways. I say: fuck those lilie white coats. I say: we can outlast ‘em all!

Thunderous applause.

Cholo had always wondered how someone with such a poor usage of the English language and someone so hideously disfigured had ever risen as high up as Jasper. One thing he could not deny however, was Jasper’s very extraordinary ability to give hope to anyone; even a hopeless bunch such as this.

Cholo stood near the edge of the newly mobilized group, sheltering the weaker folks from the cold. A few dozen hovercraft dotted the borders, carrying the portable bio-domes and what supplies they had left. After they had moved out, he and Jo had been split up in the large crowd. It was easy to become lost amongst a thousand people. Although he regretted losing her for the time being, he had other things to worry about. Things like getting these people back into the city and just what the hell would happen once they got there. They were trekking back to New Mexico City, civilization. According to Jasper, the plan was to create permanent housing units from whatever hadn’t been buried underneath the snow. That’s if there was anything left unburied. This was highly unlikely, Cholo concluded given the weather patterns of late. He didn’t dare think would they would do about food. The supplies from the domes could only last so long.

He tried to think about other problems but there was something else endlessly gnawing into his brain: The Alliance. He uttered a series of curses under his breath. Those fung-mei bastards will burn in a special circle of hell.” Very special indeed. He half-jokingly thought to himself. For the first time in days, Cholo Ferreira allowed himself to smile.