Deluge: The Conqueror Worms II

CHAPTER 6

In a normal climate, Kevin and Sarah would have seen the U.S. Forest Service Tower long before they reached it. The ranger station loomed over the forest, jutting up through the treetops on Bald Knob’s uppermost peak. With the rain and swirling mist obscuring their vision, they didn’t spot the steel structure until they were almost at its base.

The hike to the top of the mountain had been uneventful. Both were grateful for that. Now out of immediate danger, both were experiencing post-adrenaline exhaustion. They shivered in their wet clothes, and their feet hurt. Cold water had soaked through their shoes, and there were blisters on their wrinkled toes and soles of their feet. They walked with a sense of hopeless caution, praying they wouldn’t encounter more worms, or another crazy like Earl Harper. Luckily, they hadn’t. The only danger had been a small mudslide and a falling tree, but they’d managed to steer clear of both. They did notice that more and more of the vegetation was dying—either from lack of direct sunlight, or drowned roots. Many of the tallest trees could no longer keep their purchase in the waterlogged soil, and had simply toppled over.

A concrete platform stood at the base of the ranger station. The tower itself was embedded deep into the mountain’s bedrock. Nearby, there was a small utility shed, restrooms, some vending machines, and a fenced-in area that held electrical transformers. They performed a quick, cursory check of the restrooms, making sure there were no surprises waiting inside of them—worms or otherwise. Both stood empty. The door to the utility shed was padlocked, as was the gate leading into the electrical equipment.

Kevin leaned against a soda machine, pressing one of the buttons with his palm.

“The power’s out,” Sarah reminded him. “That’s not going to work.”

“I know. Just wishful thinking. Force of habit. I’m really thirsty.”

“Me, too. Let’s figure out how to get up to the top of that thing, and we’ll get settled.”

Kevin smacked his lips. Sarah noticed that they seemed paler than normal.

“No,” he said. “I mean I’m really thirsty. Like, more than normal.”

“You’re probably dehydrated. You have a headache?”

He nodded.

“That’s probably it then,” Sarah said. “Come on. We’ll get you fixed up.”

Swallowing, he nodded again. Sarah watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down. It seemed bigger—swollen. Maybe that was just because he’d lost weight over the last few months. They both had.

“How about you?” Kevin asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Fine?” Kevin snorted. “Earl punched you in the face—beat the shit out of you. And we’ve been on the run ever since. Don’t tell me you’re fine.”

Sarah’s lip twitched. “I’ll manage.”

They began circling the base of the tower, splashing through puddles and keeping a careful eye on the surrounding woods. Water streamed off the steel girders overhead, drenching them even more. Kevin sputtered as a particularly forceful stream splashed him. Sarah giggled as he shook his head back and forth.

“What’s so funny?”

“You look like a dog,” she said. “Shaking yourself like that.”

“I feel like a dog. Like I’ve got fleas or something. I keep itching.”

“Maybe you brushed up against some poison ivy on the way here.”

“I hope not. I don’t think so, though. It’s not bad, like poison ivy is. It’s more of a low-grade itch.”

“Could be another symptom of dehydration.”

“Maybe,” Kevin agreed. “It’s pretty fucking annoying, whatever it is.”

On the far side of the tower, they found a winding staircase leading upward. They began to climb. Sarah took the lead, holding the hunting knife she’d liberated from Teddy’s truck at the ready, in case there were any surprises. Her arms felt heavy. Weighted. She was wearing a sweater that had belonged to Teddy’s wife, Rose, and the garment seemed to soak up the rain.

Their feet clanged as they plodded upward. They moved carefully, mindful of slipping on the wet metal. Although the stairs had a handrail, there were no other safety measures—just a straight drop to the concrete below. Sarah glanced down once, and immediately, her head swam with vertigo. The sound of the rain seemed to grow louder. Sarah grabbed the rail tight. She felt her butt pucker, and her breath caught in her throat.

“You okay?” Kevin asked.

She nodded. “Just not crazy about this.”

“You’re afraid of heights? I never noticed. All that time we spent on top of the hotel, and then in the helicopter. I figured you’d be used to it.”

“I don’t mind heights.” Sarah inched herself forward. “But that’s a long way down, and I really don’t want to have made it this far just to crack my head open on the concrete.”

“Good point.”

Eventually, after stopping twice to rest, they reached the top of the tower. The door was unlocked, and the hinges squeaked as Sarah opened it. They slipped inside, breathing hard, and glanced around. The room was circular. Instead of walls, it had thick floor-to-ceiling windows all the way around, providing a complete view of the forest below. Sarah supposed that the panorama must have been breathtaking before the rain had started. Now, she could only see a few hundred yards around the base of the tower. Beyond that, the only thing that was visible were treetops jutting through the swirling mist and low-lying clouds.

The open space had been divided into different functional sectors. One portion of the room had two sets of bunk beds. Another area seemed to be the entertainment center, complete with television, DVD player, several different videogame consoles, a stereo, and a bookshelf stuffed with movies, compact discs, and battered paperbacks. A third part of the circular room was equipped with a microwave, two coffee pots, an electric tea kettle, and a small wooden hutch containing mugs, silverware, and plates. Another sector held communications equipment. Scattered throughout the room were boxes and bins, clothing, and other various personal items. Tired as she felt, Sarah realized that she was looking forward to inventorying everything. She’d grown quite comfortable with looting civilization’s leftovers, if only for the small comforts that sometimes presented themselves.

She put her hands on her hips and smiled.

“Home sweet home.”

She was still smiling when Kevin collapsed to the floor.