The Third Adam

By William Malic

After the Apocalypse humans remain but are soulless and infertile. Some escape the purge of lawlessness that envelopes the human race and threatens its extinction. Adam is different. He wonders the world in search of his destiny with a band of unlikely animal companions. Is he the hope of mankind? Fighting deranged beasts, evil assassins and otherworldly monsters he searches for security and love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9781365888380

Book preview

The Third Adam

The Third Adam

The Apostle Paul tells us in his first letter to the church in Corinth, The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:45-49).

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This is a work of fiction.  The characters are not intended to represent any past, living of future person.  Nor is this novel a reflection of any religious belief.

Chapter 1 --The End

Adam, weary and despondent, sat down to catch his breath.  His labor had been hard and filled him with emotional strife.  He had just buried his last known living relative; his mother.  For all his life he had known but a few people.  His father had passed a few years before and the other members of the small group of humans he had lived with since birth had expired quietly one by one.  For all he knew they were the last of humanity, now there was only one person remaining; Adam.

Their journey began at the end.  That is what he had been taught.  The end had come and a few isolated survivors gathered for support to wait out their fate.  Except for Adam there had not been any new births.  He grew to maturity in a peaceful place, far from the rest of the world; a world he only knew about from tales told by his elders.  They had been isolated, yet the small group had prospered remarkably well though the members aged.  These survivors had been his mentors, teachers and his life.  Now they were all gone.

Each member of the small clan, unrelated but closely aligned, seemed to have certain talents that they were able to impart into the young man now resting with only his thoughts to keep him company.  He had learned to survive; hunt for food and gather wild grains as well as make his own clothing.  Though it was a meager existence, they never wanted for things necessary to maintain life.  They could have lived there forever, if it were not for the onset of age and the ultimate fate of all; death.  Had there been offspring they might have continued for untold generations but it was not their destiny.

His mother told him he would have to leave once she was gone.  He also had a destiny.  She wasn’t sure what that was, but she knew he would make the best of it.  Perhaps he was not the only one and there were still others like him.  Many times he had heard the tales of how humans once populated the entire world, built great cities and even traveled beyond the confines of the planet they called Earth.  He valued looking at the sky and often conjectured if there was something out there for him.  He learned science and knew about the solar system and the galaxies.  He also knew he lived on a small blue planet.  He often pondered if there were other humans on earth who also might have sought refuge from the craziness.

He had likewise been taught how humans, flesh and blood like him, had waged war, destroyed vast areas of the planet through careless management of their resources and tried to colonize the large bright disk called the moon.  The human population had grown to immense size and crowded many areas of the planet.  People preyed on each other.  There had been much distress and suffering near the end.

Mercifully none of that had pervaded his little world.  In his world everyone lived in reasonable harmony.  Certainly there had been minor conflicts but they were always mitigated without violence.  His clan shared everything so there was no need to steal.  The plants and animals in the area were plentiful and provided for their needs, without waste.  No one took more than they needed and always shared any excess.

He once had a pet raccoon when he was younger.  There were a dogs, cats and domestic animals that shared the simple domiciles the survivors had constructed.  When he was older one of the men gave him a puppy from his bitch’s litter.  Adam named it Pluto; the name taken from a character in a picture book.

Adam had a few books he treasured.  He had been taught to read.  Other members of the group shared their books with him as well.  Books were valued because they reminded everyone who had known the world before the end of what it had been like.  Most of the books were tales of fiction, but there were a few reference books as well.  Adam learned about how the world had been, yet he was always warned that things had changed greatly and if he was ever going to leave he would find a world very different from the past.

Now Adam was going to find out how different the world was.  He wasn’t going to stay here, though he loved the local so much.  He needed to explore what was left of planet Earth.

Chapter 2 - Preparation

Adam had been preparing virtually all his life for this time.  In the past it was a normal function of the present generation to prepare its youth for the future, utilizing the amassed knowledge of generations before, while incorporating the experiences of today and the vision of the days to come.  Times were different.  The human population had a past, but the present day was ambiguous and the future totally unfathomable.

Each day of his life, Adam was schooled in human history, scientific theory, practical horse sense as his father had called it and natural philosophy; the philosophical study of nature and the physical universe that was dominant before the development of modern science.  From the ancient world, starting with Aristotle, to the 19th century, the term natural philosophy was the common term used to describe the practice of studying nature.

There was also a class on theology, the study and explanation of religious faith, practice, and experience.  He was told reasoned discussions about whether or not the divine is possible has long been a point of contention.  Some believed theology prevented human beings from achieving liberty, while others supported the idea that belief in a divine was the ultimate source of true freedom.  Many religions have narratives, symbols, and sacred histories that aim to explain the meaning of life, the origin of life, or the Universe.  It was the ‘god’ given right for each person to choose what he believed.

His primary preparatory courses were lessons on survival.  Adam would have to survive if his destiny was to be realized.  He learned to forage his own food, hunt if game was available and preserve his food for future use.  He had to provide shelter from the elements, both external abodes and personal adornments.  Being alone increased the chance of failure.  As humans had adapted they grew to rely on others to supply part of their necessities.   Adam would not have that amenity.

Adam was adept at being alone, however.  Even at an early age he was often taken to remote areas and forced to survive in solitude.  At times he actually enjoyed the adventure and his self-confidence grew each time.  Isolation gave him many hours to think.  Yet his reward for surviving the ordeal was always to return to his small ‘family’ which supplied the one thing he realized he need most of all; companionship and love.  Whether he would ever feel that closeness again was only supposition.  Loneliness would be a bitter pill to swallow.

Adam had never been really sick, other than contracting some common ailments, and luckily had not suffered major injuries.  His knowledge of herbal remedies was rudimentary and he learned basic tactics for dealing with injury and maintaining his health.  Sanitation was routine as well as detecting potential environmental hazards.  What lie beyond the land he knew however was only speculative.  There may be deserts, swamps, rivers and lakes he might encounter; all which posed their own hazards.

As far as the human populations were concerned, he had been told that at the end when his clan left for their commune there indeed had been others that had survived.  He was warned humans might be his major concern concerning his safety.  Roving bands of marauders attacked, maimed and killed at will.  Some were noticeably diseased or deranged.  Being alone he would be easy prey if he were not wary.  The prevailing theory however was that most humans had succumbed to their depravities and the population was all but decimated.

His mother insisted nevertheless there were survivors and someday he would find people like himself.  He would find a mate.  The world would be revived and a new generation of humans would begin the long hard journey back to civilization. He wasn’t sure why she felt this way.  It was true that in their own clan they had fashioned their own civilized society.  However there was something terribly wrong.  No woman except his mother had conceived.  He had no siblings.  He’d often pondered on why he was born and if he would be able to procreate when no one else was capable.  Adam often observed the animals joining in union and the birth of offspring.  Though human intercourse occurred in privacy there were no young to carry on their race.  Being the youngest member of the clan, barely of age, Adam had taken no lovers.

Once the burial had been completed and the appropriate time of morning passed Adam finished his preparation to leave.  The year after his father’s death he began to gather the supplies he thought he would need.  Travel would be hard.  A small wagon, a mule and a horse were found.  He had his hunting implements.  He did not consider them weapons.  Weapons were for war and meant to do harm to other humans.  He only needed to kill to live.  He would avoid conflict if possible.  If he came upon other humans, he was adept at concealing himself where he could observe them to determine whether they were friendly or not.  His father had told him to never trust anyone, until they proved they were worthy of his trust.  Preserved food supplies were loaded on the wagon along with some tools, blankets and clothing suitable for different weather conditions.  He would forage most of the time.  Shelter would have to be temporary.  He also needed food for his animals; the mule, the horse and his dog Pluto.  .The later would provide companionship as well as a keen set of eyes, ears and a nose to sniff out danger.  Pluto could also deliver a mean bite if so inclined.

As a young teen Adam had traveled with his father along a trail not too far from their home.  His father said that the trail was pretty grown over but once he reached the other side of the mountain there was a wider trail.  It had been traveled extensively before the end.  Nature was trying to reclaim the route but he was sure it was passable.  In his younger days he remembered his father and some of the other men going away for days, even a week or more, to scavenge for supplies.  Sometime they came back with things they needed and tales of harrying encounters with other humans.  No one had told him then, but later he found out, they had skirmished with the humans and lives had been lost.  The search parties were always very careful to retreat to home without leaving a trail for others to follow.  His mother disparagingly called it hit and run forays, and despised any need to kill humans.  Still she surrendered her position admitting at times it had to be necessary.  Adam hoped he would not have to kill anyone, but he was prepared to do so if it meant it was the only way to survive.

Mother subscribed to a set of ethics she called the common sense commandments.  Not killing humans was one of the tenants.  Terrible things would happen to a person who killed anything except in self-defense or to feed a family.  That is the one thing Adam would miss the most; family.

Once everything was loaded on the wagon, Adam prepared the animals and they set off.  He wasn’t in a hurry being young and had a whole life ahead of him.  He looked back a few time, solidifying the scene in his mind.  The image would relieve the lonely nights and provide courage during the days of travel.  Adam must find his destiny but he hoped he would return someday.  Optimistically his return would be the spark igniting a new beginning where he had called home for all his life.  Here had been his parents end, but it could be his new beginning.

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Chapter 3 -- The Edge of Civilization

Cresting the summit of the mountain, Adam couldn’t believe his eyes. A whole new world spread out before him.  There was a wide valley with another mountain range far on the horizon.  Snaking through the valley was a ribbon of a wide trail that extended in either direction as far as he could see.  He had never been this far from home or on this side of the mountain.  Like the ribbon highway, the possibilities seemed endless.

It had been a hard three days of constant travel, often interrupted by having to clear the smaller trail so the wagon could pass safely.  Now he knew why no one had discovered them.  They had chosen a well concealed glen and the only ways in or out were circuitous and filled with obstacles.  Unless someone knew they were there it made no sense to travel the route.  Only an eagle would have seen their little village.  Eagles don’t carry tales.

He stopped to reverently thank his people for their perseverance and fortitude to choose the ideal place for him to mature in.  He also was thankful for the training he had received.  The horse and mule had performed well, though the horse was limping a bit.  They would have to find a place in the valley to recover from the trek for a few days and let both horse flesh and human muscle recover.  Pluto was as ready to go as from the first day.

The way to the bottom of the mountain seemed easier, until he ran out of open ground.  Getting off the mountain would prove more a challenge then he first thought.  It took nearly two days, mainly because he had to turn around and retrace his route.  During the decent he had seen some game but did not take the time to acquire fresh supplies.  His stored food maintained them but he knew he could rely on it forever.  The horse and mule found little in the way of forage.  Pluto was a little more resourceful and managed a good hunt or two bringing down a few varmints for his sustenance.  The dog offered to share his kills, but Adam declined respectfully.  He had no desire to eat a mauled chipmunk or field mouse.  Had there been a rabbit or a squirrel among the bounty he might have reconsidered. Adam knew he had to stop and take the time to hunt but their water supply was dwindling and the lure of a stream he had seen in the valley kept him going.

Near the bottom of the mountain Pluto rustle through the underbrush as Adam was guiding the horse.  A wild turkey bolted from the bushes bounding directly towards Adam.  He swung the stave he had been using as a walking stick to ease his descent hitting the bird more in a defensive mode than any offensive maneuver. The bird fell stunned, crumbled in a heap.  Pluto sprung from the thicket and raced to the bird which was trying to right itself.  He pounced but did not bite, simply pinning the now flapping bird to the ground.  Adam rushed over and gripped the bird’s neck ringing the life out if it.  Pluto prance around his master, pleased with his assistance to the man he was attached to.

They stopped right there, prepared the carcass and cooked it.  Pluto was awarded a giant turkey drumstick for his efforts.  Adam wished he could make some jerky but they had to get to lower ground so the equines could find suitable food.  The cooked turkey wouldn’t last long.  Adam stuck a long feather from the turkey in his hat and the caravan began its journey once more.  Pluto was not impressed with Adam’s fashion adornment.

Once they reached the valley it was time to settle in for a while before they continued.  The grass was sweet and the water pure and clear; still cold form the runoff from the mountain.   Both animal and human took a breather.  They would stay in the meadow .  Adam would sleep under the wagon with Pluto in case it rained.  Hoppling the horse and mule, the equines were left to gorge themselves on their favorite plants.

After a restful night, Adam felt his muscles ache as he stood up from under the wagon.  He had not had a bath for almost a week.  The stream was colder than he liked but it was also refreshing and soothed his muscles.  Even Pluto took a dip.  Once his body was clean and he put on clean cloth it was time to do laundry.  The homemade soap worked better in hot water so as a bucket of water was brought to boil Adam explored the area.  He was immediately gratified when he found a thicket of berries.

Pluto again came through.  He stalked the area and found a quail’s nest.  Adam retrieved the eggs as the pesky birds made know their displeasure.  They were too quick to catch but the eggs would go well with the bacon he had in his supplies.  Pluto tried his best to snare a quail but only came as close as a mouth full of feathers.  Still Adam decided he earned a few fried eggs.  Pluto made it know he preferred his eggs raw.

Breakfast completed, Adam packed everything back into the wagon.   The mule was reluctant to be hitched back up, having enjoyed the fresh grass and would have rather lounged the rest of the day.  The horse on the other hand seemed spirited and strained at his constraints wanting very much to frolic.  Adam untethered him and with a slap on the rump freed the beast.  He knew he wouldn’t stray far and eventually find his way back to the group.  Pluto took up the point.

The sky was a brilliant blue with only a few wispy clouds punctuating the azure.  Though early in the day it was warm.  The days had been near perfect.  Temperatures were not too hot and there were cooling breezes even though the sun’s rays were intense.  Adam had wanted to reach the wide trail he had seen from the top of the mountain and with a little luck find more substantial shelter.  From his current vantage point he could not see the trail but he knew it couldn’t be too far.

When the troop reached what Adam had seen as a trail he noticed it was elevated and would be difficult to ascend.  Following alongside to the south they reached an area were the trail descended to the same level as the surrounding terrain.  A rusty deteriorating fence blocked their way but it was not difficult to cut the wires and pass through.  Adam had never seen such a trail.  It was wide and straight.  The surface was hard like packed river sand, solid, though there were occasional cracks and in some areas the cracks had widened into ruts.  Still for the most part it was intact.  Grass grew through some of the cracks and there were other weeds and a few wild flowers.  It looked like it would be a good route for the wagon despite the damage to the route which appeared to have been unattended for a long time.  Adam worried about the impact the hard surface would make on the horses hooves.

On the other side of the trail was a wide area of grass and weeds with occasional bushes and small trees.  Further away there was another trail paralleling the first.  He pondered who could have built such a glorious avenue and what and who had traveled here in the past.  People once moved along this trail; people he would never meet. He believed the paved area was concrete, a common building material from the past.  Viewing the landscape from the trail he was amazed at the expanse of the valley and the beauty of the fields and distant mountains.  Anyone traveling along this route must have been tempted to stop; perhaps stay forever.  No one could simply pass through without being affected by the grandeur of the place.  Adam let the horse walk freely in the medium area between the trails.  He decided to walk himself, often joining the horse where the grass wasn’t too tall.

They ambled along at a leisurely pace.  Adam examined the wild flowers gracing the terrain with their beauty and .thought of his mother.  How she had loved the flowers.  He would bring her the prettiest he could find and she would give him hugs and kisses.  At the time he could have done without the kisses.  Now he longed for just one.  Adam picked a bouquet in remembrance of the one who had born him.  They would wilt and die as she had but for the moment it made him happy to have her still in his heart.

As the sun rose to near its zenith for the day Adam halted the group and gathered them in a small grove of trees between the two trails.  At this point the trails were more widely separated.  It was shady and they could rest, drink water while Adam and the dog ate a small meal; consisting of jerky and honey cakes.   By now the horse had satiated his need to gallop and stood by quietly, occasionally pawing at the ground with his hoofs.  The mule simply stood stoic not at all interested in where they were or where they were going.  Pluto lay at Adam’s feet and napped.

Once Adam had rested sufficiently he led the group again along the trail.  It was only a little over a mile when he