The Colony

The Colony

“I write to you and your brothers a defeated man. This illness has taken much from our family already and it stands to take more. I know you maybe too young to understand what is happening. I am writing you now to tell you about myself. It seems fate has stepped in. I am not going to be there for your moments. All the moments a father looks forward to seeing in his son’s life. I can only imagine seeing in love for the first time. Your first broke heart. I am sorry won’t be there to tell you to keep your head up and there will be someone else. “

Robert sits slightly in his chair only read a few sentences but, his hands begin to tremble. Tears begin to form as he closes his eyes. They run streaming down his cheek. An empty hole had been there since his father’s funeral. It started growing again, deeper, and deeper until it hit the pit of his gut like the bottom of his soul. He felt hollow. Pressure builds up from above like he wanted to stand and run away but could not. It Pushed his shoulders and head down. Until he sighed, lean forward in his chair and began to weep. With his forehead on my palms quietly crying, suffering alone. He had never forgotten him. He had never forgotten how his death changed everything. Even as young man he knew. “This is it. This is when it all changes. There was a path for me it no longer exists. A life I will never see. One I was meant to have but lost. I lost more than my father in that moment. I lost the life I should have had with him.” Robert thought.

The door swung open, “Robert! I need your help.” It was Markon Robert’s older brother. He was named after Roberts father, Mark Konnolly with a K. Mom believed it was bad luck to name the first-born son after the father. Mom was from southeast Asia. This was a common belief there. So Roberts father got creative and named him after the first three letters of his first name and last name Mar and Kon. The person to be named Markon Konnoly was born and soon after the name was as well. “Come one Robert.”

“I need to get mom’s locket.” Robert announced and picked up the gold heart shaped locket from the table.

Markon paused and said, “yea we can’t lose mom’s locket.” A mournful look of remembrance crossed his face. “Put away Dad’s letter too. We have to keep that stuff safe.”

“I know. I only read it when I miss him.” Robert replies, Markon paused and for the second time had the same mournful look of remembrance on his face looking at his younger brother.

“Look Robert, you need to toughen up if you are going to make it in this world.” Life is not going to be easy. Now put your mask on.” Robert taps the filters on his mask. “Are the filters still good.” Robert nods as he put his mask on. The pair walked through narrow alley ways between shacks made of wooden planks cut from local timber. They were once yellow brown but have faded grey from rain and winter. The path was well worn many people cut between the houses to get mess hall were most of the meals in the colony are served. In the middle of the yard the original camp stood. The one Markon, Anthony and Robert build years ago. When the colony grew, they tore it down and placed a pile a rocks in its place. Then placed a large rock in the middle of it and named it Monument Rock. It was about 6 feet tall 3 feet wide on the bottom and came to a slow pointed top. It looked like an acorn. Anthony was already at Monument Rock waiting for us. A group of colonists gathered around him as Robert and Markon approached. More and more colonist gathered.

Anthony raised his voice, “listen people we need to stop attacking each other. If you are depressed talk to someone. We need everyone to follow the rules. If you don’t, we need you to leave the colony. If do not leave and continue to cause trouble we will take care of the issue. “ grumbles from the crowd.

An anonymous voice from the crowd yells, “Forcing us to leave is killing us!?

What does Markon think about all this?” Anthony looks over to his brother.

Markon approaches Anthony as he says, “They want to hear from you fearless leader.”

Markon address the crowd, “Anthony is right we need to follow the rules. If you are caught doing harm to yourself or someone else you will be punished. You will be arrested.” Anthony glares at Markon subconsciously sending the message are you crazy. Markon glances at Anthony slightly shrugs like, I know shit happens, blinks, and if it happens I will of course back you up. Making eye contact with Anthony. Markon, Anthony, and Robert this is called bro code. “If you get arrested you will get a trial. If they are found guilty then you are given a choice leave or die.” The Crowd grumbles. Markon continues, “There are not many of us left. Every life is valuable. We need to work together to build a better future. We can bring humanity back as long as keep fighting. Are we clear? Ok Now, I need volunteers to drag the bodies and burn them. If we let them rot in the houses and on the streets, they will become diseased. We will get sick..” He pauses about 6 people raise their hands. “I need at least 10 if we don’t have enough I will select people from the group. If you are selected follow Anthony he will get you outfitted with PPE.

Simple questions. - 420 days before monument rock

The colony has many work groups. Farm groups, tailor groups, medical groups, and hunting groups. A group showed up at the gates and wanted to join the colony. Markon sat down with them They were hunters living outside the walls. They were impressed by what we build. With such a large camp there must be lots of hungry people. They offered to hunt for us and supply food. What they did not know was the colony had an extensive library of old-world knowledge which included farming. The colony was farming potatoes, corn, berries, and honeybees. They also domesticated Hares and rabbits for meat. Rations and carful planning lead to better harvest and larger and larger farming operations every season.

Markon, “I have a few questions. How many do you have in your group? How can you prove to us you are not lying about your hunting skills? Why do you want to join us? Tell me something you are looking forward to, something you regret doing and why. If there was something you can change, what would it be?

Keene looks down thoughtfully, “Well there is a lot. Those are some big questions.”

Markon, “would it be better if you wrote them down your answers?”

“Yea.” Keene answers.

Markon, “Is Keene your real name?”

Keene, “No it is my last name my first is Adam.”

Keene’s group is allowed to join the colony. They presented the colony a feast of wild boar and mutated Elk. Keene,” The 5th leg really slowed the elk down we were able to catch it and stab it with our knifes and spears to take it down. 2 more knocked each other down trying to get away and we got those too.”

The final hunt

There were some large animals we were able to capture and domesticate. Goats and sheep were poisonous because they would eat anything even radioactive waste. They normally die soon after. But, we were able to capture some slightly radiated Goats, breed them and raise the babies radiation free. Finally having red meat was a treat. There are some animals too dangerous to domesticate. We hunted those. Sometimes those animals would wonder too close to camp. Then we take care of them. We have guns but ran out of bullets years ago. Gunpowder is in short supply. We make some good Bows and arrows from natural materials. We carve the Broadheads out of animal bones.

One day a mutated bear we started calling Yogi. A kid saw a sign about campfires. The bears name was Yogi. English is his second language. It stuck. His family got attacked by Yogi. The kids father tried to chase the bear away but got killed. Then mom grabbed the child and ran away. After she saw her husband die. She gets mauled in the back by Yogi. Then it dragged her away leaving the kid laying on the ground. Who knows if it was shock or survival instincts? He stayed quite unit it was clear. Then crawled away. He walked all the way here to the colony and told the guards this incredibly sad story. Markon met this boy. Right away he called Keene and his group.

The group had grown since they joined the colony. They also began to relax. Life in the colony was easier than outside. Food was not a constant struggle. Keene had bulked up some and fattened up some as well. He has also picked a wife and a girlfriend. The end of the world really makes people embrace life’s pleasures. Hearts shaped carvings would go up on a tents/ shacks entrance with “D, V, or B’s” written on them. No strings attached a colonist just wanted company. The end of the world’s version of tinder instead of swiping. People walk around tents and shacks looking for Wooden hearts. Keene kissed his wife and girlfriend goodbye. He took his trusted oak spear. It had a steel tip forged from old car metal. It was wide and came to an impressive point. The oak shaft has seen some use over the years. There were some splinters and cracks appeared, but he polished, sanded and, wrapped most of the flaws away. It was his favorite weapon. He also took a bow and quiver of arrows.

They tracked the Bear for 2 days. The tall grass laid down where it had slept. Mighty claw marks left on the side of trees marking its territory told Keene they were in the right place. The Bones of it’s past meals littered the ground. Bones crushed by might jaws. Flesh ripped from them. Nicks and scratches exposed white tones underneath. “It looks like it added human to its list of meals.” Keene announces to the group pointing to a pile of cracked human skulls. “I think it has a taste for fatty brain matter.” Keene’s second in command Charlie nods in agreement. “I think it drags its kills here to storage them for later. We should set an ambush here.” the group ties blocks of wood the trees twisting them making them tight. Then pinning then with a small hole and wooden peg. They use the blocks to climb the trees and wait. They also leave a pile of goat fat corn bread and rabbit in the middle of their kill area. Keene hopes the bear will check if it has anything left still uneaten. Or he will drag a corpse see the pile of food and head for it.

An hour after sunset a chopping sound breaks the silence. Mighty jaws and dragging a fresh kill. Keene does not see the moon. It has not risen. Yogi is early. The group is virtual darkness. Keene wished the bear would have given him another hour maybe two. This is a dangerous situation. Keene thinks to himself, then quickly fires off a series of hand signals. The signal tells everyone, “Get ready, no one dies we got this on me. “ TO BE CONTINUED