The High Place

[yarri]

Chapter Four part one
“The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.� -Honore de Balzac
I watched Bekka sleep, staying close to her. She slept neatly without extra movement self-contained like she wasn’t really asleep…only waiting. A howl reverberated off the buildings which startled me. Bekka came up the gun pointed at the door. I moved to where she could see me and motioned that it was outside. She crouched peering out staying hidden in the shadows. This was the first time I have seen her in solder mode. I was in awe yet afraid of her skills. Bekka was protecting me. I felt at once very humble.
She pulled back looking at me making writing motions with her hand. I slid the tablet over to her. “How long have I been asleep?� I read her note and held up two fingers then tapped on my watch to indicate hours. Bekka nodded in understanding motioning me to stay put. She crawled over and sat close to me for comfort. I suspected mine. She continued to write.
“It’s still not safe. I can see a few of those things milling around down in the street. We have food and water for a while. Let them finish and then we can bugout.�
We slept in turns throughout the day and when we couldn’t sleep we talked with the tablet of paper. Bekka woke me before dawn the next morning. She handed me a folded piece of paper. I struggled to
read it in the dim light. She made herself busy packing what things she judged worth taking with us. We were not coming back here. I understood her reason. We needed safety, food and the ability to escape. Bekka thought all of this could be found in the Seattle civic center and the high place.
“Today is going to be dangerous, Hill. I don’t know what we will find outside of that door. I need you to understand that your safety and mine depends on you following my orders and not hesitating.�
Bekka knelt down next to me whispering “Do you trust me?� her eyes pleaded with me to understand to cooperate. I nodded, my voice nearly soundless “Yes. “She stood helping me to my feet handing me her green duffle bag and the shower curtain rod compressed into a four foot long steel pole. I pulled the duffle bag over my shoulders and took the makeshift bat. “Batter up� I mouthed and helped her move enough of the furniture blocking the door. Bekka took point the .9m at the ready and entered the hall way clearing the left then going to the right. She mouthed at me in the dim light “watch my six.� We moved out of our safe heaven and down the hall. There was still power, the red antique glass shades on the wall sconces flickered with faux candle. It gave the hallway a dim glow which made it almost impossible to see. For a few seconds, I wished strongly for better light, so we could spot what might be heading towards us. Then I felt the carpet under foot squish, turning boggy, soaked with God only knew what and from the blood/shit smell in the air. I knew it was something biological and I was very glad it was dark.