He hid out in a larger bunker last time. During the previous attacks, Ray stayed in a bunker with extended family members. At first the situation felt more family reunion than last-ditch survival effort. Ray usually made any excuse to avoid visiting aunts, uncles or cousins. They considered him an oddball since he didn’t have a wife or kids. But he’d proved himself useful during the weeks in such close quarters.
This bunker was shoddier than the last, and poorly stocked. Ray supposed this shelter a retrofitted natural cave. Bug crawled through cracks in the wall. He wondered how long would it be until they ate the beetles and ants. At least he wasn’t alone. Ray brought Brendon with him. And there was already a family when they arrived. A mother, father and two teenage sons. Ray was grateful the family let them in, as they clearly didn’t trust Brendon. Ray explained to the family that Brendon was a tourist. That they’d been on their way to the ruins. Ray promised that Brendon wasn’t an Invaders, nor a foreigner who’d come to fight alongside the faction groups. But he felt that the family didn’t believe him. They were suspicious that anyone would visit a country on the brink of civil war. And Brendon’s behavior didn’t ease the family’s distrust. He paced around the small space, inspecting every crack and fissure in the cement. Putting an ear to the floor, Brendon remarked that he could hear an underground river running beneath them. Ray tried starting a conversation with the older of the two sons. Usual small talk questions, “What subject do you like in school?” and “Who’s your favorite footballer?” But the boy remained quiet, a mix of nerves and regular teen awkwardness. Eventually Brendon grew tired of pacing. By midnight everyone was asleep except for Ray and the mother. Each remained alert. Both heard the noises and exchanged glances. The metallic hums and booms were closing in. Ray had only heard stories of what it looked like when the robots fought. Heavily armed steel boulders twice the height of a man rolled into combat against swarms of flying micro-machines. He hoped these battles wouldn’t destroy the ruins. Everyone awoke. The clanging was deafening. The bunker shook. Ray figured the fight was directly above. By early morning it was quiet. After an hour or so of stillness, Ray made out one strong voice yelling, followed by a coded knock on the bunker door. He opened the latch. Two red lights glared into the bunker. Headlamps from a machine. “We are here to help. Do you need medical supplies or clean water?” the machine asked in the local language. Ray was frozen. He didn’t trust the machine. Brendon stood up before Ray could respond. The machine fired a warning shot into the floor and said, “Remain calm. Limit sudden movement. We are here to help.” The shot cracked through the brittle cement floor. Brendon had been correct. There was an underground river beneath them. Water shot out like a geyser. Within a few seconds it rose to their waist. The current was strong. “We are here to help. Detecting fresh water.” “Move!” shouted Ray. Grabbing Brendon and the younger brother, he pushed his way out the door. Overwhelmed by the rising tide, the machine fired sporadic shots. Ray heard it short-circuit as it was dragged down into the water. The bunker collapsed. Outside there were no other robots. The machine must have been conducting a solo reconnaissance mission. In the morning light, Ray saw the ground was completely scorched. On the horizon, he could make out the ruins burning.
NOTE: This story is Part II of my new series "The Invaders." Although each story is meant to stand alone, the installments will form a larger narrative. Check out Part I: The Rumor!
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About meI’m a producer, writer and storyteller with expertise in digital, print, film, TV & stage productions Archives
March 2018
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