The Long Dark Road: Xy, #2

By Gary M. Roberts

After escaping enslavement, Ray Butler and his friends must now search for a safe place to survive in a world of chaos. As the survivors of a worldwide event that killed off ninety-five percent of the male population, the men now hunted at every turn as a highly prized endangered species. Teaming up with new friends and old, they fight the elements and capture at every turn, as they travel the long dark road to freedom.

This fast-paced sequel to the Xy Syndrome proves to be as exciting than the first, keeping the reader on the edge throughout. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Country Writes Publishing
• Release date: Jan 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9781540152107

Gary M. Roberts

Gary M. Roberts is best known for his fiction novels and short stories.  He has been published in several magazines, most notably, Modern Maturity.  His is an Army veteran and retired police officer with the Savannah Police Department, Savannah, Georgia.  He has a PhD in Theology and a Masters in Education.  He has taught both high school and college courses and was awarded a Top Teacher Award and letters of accommodation for his teaching. Currently, Gary’s ongoing project is a series of books under the title, The Xy Syndrome.  Gary and his wife Carol, who also writes, live on a small farm in southeast Georgia with their fur babies and horses..

Book preview

Country Writes Publishing Company

Dedicated to my children,

Teresa, Mark, Crystal, Jessica

and Sarah.

May you all continuously strive to

make your life count for something bigger.

Copyright © 2018 Gary M. Roberts

All rights reserved.

Country Writes Publishing

https://countrywrites.com

Chapter 1

Judge Martin was awakened by a loud boom that echoed through her lavish courthouse apartment.  At first, she thought it was simply thunder from the storm that had been raging for the last hour, but then she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps coming down the hall.  The boom had been the large outer doors being hurriedly slammed shut.

Turning on a bedside lamp, she climbed from the bed and slipped on a robe that was draped across a nearby chair. She was about to go out and see what was going on when there was a knock at her room door.

What is it? she yelled, actually trying to sound annoyed.

The door creaked open and one of her aides stepped inside.  Judge, there has been an incident at the holding facility. The aide, although a large woman was a husky smoker’s voice, sounded timid as though afraid to speak.

What kind of incident? Catherine Martin was now raising her voice. Her eyes squinted to see the woman in the dim light as if to judge her by her features.

There’s been an escape attempt, ma’am.

An escape attempt – how? Did anyone get out?

The aide took a step back into the doorway.  Yes, ma’am.  The doctor and the police chief have escaped.  But we stopped one of the others! she added quickly.

The judge’s face suddenly turned red. Then it wasn’t an attempt, was it! she yelled.  Drawing the belt of her robe tight, she started for the door.

Who did you stop... I want him brought to me! 

The aide lowered her head, I’m sorry, Judge, but it was the old man, Jake Perry.  I’m afraid he died in the attempt.

Catherine Martin stopped short.  Died?  What about the boy, Jason?

Oh, he’s fine.  He didn’t even try to escape.

The judge thought for a moment, then asked, How did Perry die? 

He was shot, ma’am, the aide said, still staring at the floor.

Shot! Catherine Martin screamed the word making the aide jump.  Who shot him?!

I don’t know, Judge.  It was dark and I wasn’t there when it happened.

Where were you? the Judge demanded.

I was securing Jason’s room door.

Realizing the woman had actually done the right thing at the time, this calmed the judge for a moment.

Okay, done is done.  What we have to do is get a search party out and find those who have escaped.

We are already organizing for the search now.

Good, Catherine Martin nodded.  Also, find my sister.

She’s already being held, Judge. She may have helped in the escape.

That wouldn’t surprise me at all, the judge confided.  But that’s okay.  She’s going to get an opportunity to redeem herself.  Tell her I want the boy, Jason, fixed so he won’t ever try an escape. Tell her I want him hobbled.

The aide gave a questioning look.  Hobbled?

That’s what I said, hobbled! Crippled!  Hobbling him won’t interfere with our needs, will it?

No, ma’am, I – I guess not.

Good!  Have my sister take off one of his feet.  She’s a nurse... she knows how to do it without killing him. Should have done it with all of them!"

Judge, I don’t think Robin will do that.

She will.  You tell her to hobble him or she won’t see her daughter again, the judge warned with a glare.

In less than an hour, the judge had everyone awake and in the cafeteria of the holding facility.  A chair had been placed behind one of the long lunch tables for Catherine Martin to sit in, but she was too worked up to sit. She had not said anything up until this point, simply glaring at the crowd before her. Finally, she asked for the facility administrator she appointed. 

Where is Diane?

Her question was at first met with silence, then Catherine’s sister spoke up, She is in the infirmary unconscious.  She took a bad blow to the head.

Seeing her sister, the judge pointed a finger at her and mouthed the words, come here. Robin stepped forward, her face expressionless.

Where did they go? the judge said, almost in a whisper.

I have no idea.

Catherine Martin nodded.  But you knew they were going to escape?

No, Robin answered honestly with a shake of her head.

The judge hesitated for a minute and then said flatly, but you did help them.

Robin looked into her older sister’s eyes, Yes, I helped them. You can’t keep people locked up like they are animals.

The judge lowered her eyes and shook her head slowly. 

I thought you understood what I was doing here.  Without us protecting them we could be without any men at all.  I thought you understood this?  You agreed to help the doctor look after the men... what happened?

Nothing happened.  I didn’t agree with it then and I don’t agree with it now.  I only did it because the doctor needed help.

Fine, the judge said, turning away from her.  She started to walk off but then turned back.  Well, now you are going to help me.

And how is that?

The judge leaned in closer so only Robin could hear.

You are going to help me by hobbling the boy, Jason.  I don’t want him trying to escape.

Robin opened her mouth, but no words came out at first.  Even for her sister, this was lunacy.  Finally, she found her words, Are you crazy!  I will do no such thing!

Not even for your daughter?

Robin’s emotions were running wild.  She swallowed hard and shook her head.  She could not believe what her sister was asking of her.

I can’t, Cat. her eyes beginning to fill with tears and her lip quivering slightly.

Fine, the judge said flatly.  She then motioned to one of her guards holding a shotgun to step closer. 

Jason, come here. She called the young man, almost cooing. He had been standing in the back of the room with a girl no more than sixteen.  Slowly he made his way up to the front.

I didn’t have anything to do with this, Judge, he said almost pleading.  I didn’t even know they were going to do it!

I know, Jason, the judge said with a slight smile.  I just don’t want you to get any ideas about leaving. 

I won’t, Judge.  I promise, he pleaded, trying to sound as sincere as possible.  I – I like it here.

I know you do, Jason... but there is always that chance.

Catherine Martin extended her hand, and the guard released her shotgun to her without question.

I just have to be sure.

Dropping the barrel down, she placed it almost point blank on his right ankle and fired. The buckshot tore through his leg, almost severing his foot, save for a little skin and cartilage.

When the most of the screaming had died down, the judge looked at her sister and calmly said to her, I believe you have a patient to care for.  Please give him the best of care. After all, he is an endangered species.

Chapter 2

Becky had given Ray Butler one of her own horses that she knew would be easy for a beginner to ride.  Old Beu, a gelding brown Arabian mix, was gentle natured and seemed to sense when a beginner was on his back, taking extra care to make the ride smooth.  Although in his 20’s now, Beu was still a fast horse and could keep up with the younger horses easily.

John Greenwood led the way. He had no problem manipulating his horse through the trees, giving him just general guidance and letting the horse find his own path.  John knew the area including the woods; having grown up in Maybelle, he had trekked them all his life.

Behind John was his wife, staying as close as possible in the single file.  With the rain and darkness, it would be easy to become separated from the group. Following her was Ray with Becky bringing up the rear.

It took them a little longer than expected to make their way through the woods, given the darkness and rain, and Becky’s grandmother was growing increasingly worried.  She waited in the wagon with her great-grandson, Garrison, and tried her best to keep him calm.  The make-shift covering over the playpen in the back of the wagon was keeping the rain off the toddler, but the sound of the rain was amplified as it pounded on the plastic tarp. Sarah Reynolds kept one hand on Garrison while sitting on the bench seat of the wagon.  The small plastic tarp she was using like a poncho helped, but she was still wet from the rain.  The only comfort she had was the early September night was still warm.

Finally, after seemed like a lifetime of waiting, the first horse carrying John Greenwood broke through the wood line.  He was then followed by the others who gathered around the small wagon.

Is Garrison okay? Becky called out as soon as she saw the wagon.

He’s fine, her grandmother assured her.  Are all of you okay?

Becky shook her head, Jake didn’t make it.  I don’t know if he is alive or not.

Ray quickly turned to John Greenwood, Are we going back for him?

No, we can’t, John said.  His face told his regret. We would never make it out again.  Jake knows...

Carol instinctively eased her horse up beside her husband in support of him.

We’ve got to keep moving, John said finally.

Which way? Becky asked, confirming his decision.

John raised up in his saddle and glanced around.  I think we should keep to the back roads, avoiding the highway as much as possible.  Make it hard for them to follow.

But where?  Becky’s question was one they had not considered.  Where would they go?

For now, John suggested, let’s just put some distance between us and Maybelle.

Taking to the muddy backroads they headed in a northerly direction with John leading the way.  The road was wide enough for two cars to pass, but just barely, allowing room for the group to ride side-by-side in pairs.  John and his wife led with the wagon behind them and Ray and Becky at the back.

They kept a slow, but steady pace throughout the night, stopping only briefly to rest and care for Garrison and the horses. Near dawn, the rain had stopped and clouds were moving out, making the landscape ahead more visible.  When they had traveled about twenty miles or so, John began looking for a place to camp. Within a couple of miles more, he located a large old barn that was well off the road and could fit the wagon and their entire group.

The barn was drafty and the roof leaked in several places, leaving puddles from the rain, but there was plenty of room to rest.  John and Carol took the first watch, allowing Ray, Becky and her grandmother to sleep. Three hours later, Ray and Becky took watch.  It was early afternoon when they finally had a chance to all sit down and make plans.

Should we try for Savannah or maybe Atlanta? Becky suggested.

John shook his head. From what I heard over the police radio before it went out, Savannah was a disaster area.  Besides, given the way things are, I suspect we would find the same in big cities as we did in Maybelle, only on a much larger scale.

What then? Ray asked.  An island?

Or deep in the swamp? Becky suggested.

John shook his head. Too many natural dangers in the swamp... worst being mosquitoes.

Mountains, Becky’s grandmother spoke up.  We should go to the mountains.

John smiled, obviously pleased with the notion. That would be the logical place!  Plenty of resources and easier to defend.

Defend? Carol gave him a questioning look.

We will be hunted, Ray answered.  Like John said, the response to us will be the same no matter where we go.  People will try to capture us.

You mean, women. Carol corrected.

Ray shrugged.  They are the population now.  From what I understand, there are so few men left, women will be fighting over those who survived.

Okay, John confirmed. We will head for the Blue Ridge.  My guess is it will take us a couple of months to get there using the backroads.

Catherine Martin called one of her trusted deputies to her office. When the woman entered, the judge was staring out a window at the town that was now hers. The woman stood silent until the judge acknowledged her.

I have a job for you, Jackie. You are now my chief of security.

Yes, ma’am.

I want you to gather six of the best fighters and bring back Greenwood and that doctor. Tell them they will be rewarded if they agree.

Yes, ma’am. What reward should I offer?

Catherine smiled slightly. Offer them each a night every month with the man of their choosing. That should entice them.

Jackie raised her eyebrows. Yes, it should, she agreed, turning to leave.

Oh, and Jackie.

She stopped and turned back to the judge.

Tell them it will be a night in the finest room we have and with room service – for life! The only condition is they are to bring the men back, no matter what it takes.

Jackie nodded and left to find the right women for the job.

After the sun was well up and they could see clearly, John and Ray decided to check a farmhouse close by.  A driveway of sorts, that looked seldom used, led from the barn to the house. The men decided to walk the distance to better keep out of sight.  On both sides of the driveway were fields that had grown over and offered some cover.

What do you want us to do while you are gone? Carol asked her husband.

Just have everything packed and ready in case we have to leave quick.

Carol nodded.

Her husband and Ray were scarcely gone when Carol began packing up and loading the wagon.  Once it was loaded and Garrison was in his playpen, there was nothing to do but wait.

John and Ray each took a gun before leaving, John armed himself with a 30-06 Springfield and slipped a 9mm pistol in his front pocket.  Ray grabbed a pump shotgun, leaving the women with