Black Box 86ed (11 page)

A voice over the intercom crackles out of the speakers. “We have been informed that rebel terrorists have placed and detonated a bomb in one o
f the rail cars.
We have been told by the United States government that this may be a ploy to overtake not only the train but kidnap passengers onboard and have been instruct
ed to continue on our route.
For those in the rail car we ask that you move to the next car up the train, as the one behind you is alr
eady over regulation occupancy.
Paramedics onboa
rd are making their way to you.
Please if your injury is not immediately life threatening,
allow them to attend to others.”

Instantly four men in military uniform appear behind us. “Will everyone able to walk please move to the next car.” I nod to them as I grab Graces hand and lead her through this god forsaken mess. We take two steps but I can tell she won’t make it. I turn to her, her body engulfed into convulsions.

“Here, I have you” I say as I pick her up. “Just close your eyes it’s alright, your fine I have you. I won’t let anything happen to you. Okay?” She nods as hear dark blue eyes disappear behind her eyelids.

A sudden rush of euphoria and the feeling of unbridled victory. I’m happy, I am so incredibly happy. I don’t know why. With so much death so close to my feet I can’t help but feel so incredibly accomplished. I have her. All of her, so close to me. In the back of my mind I know it’s a cheap win, but I can’t help it. Having her so incredibly vulnerable and me as her rock. It’s what I’ve wanted for so long.

The air is filled with the smell of burnt hair and diesel. It’s quite disgusting. I feel it seeping into my hair, clothes, and the deepest reaches of my nose. It feels as if I will carry this smell with me for years. We slowly make our way over hands missing fingers and bodies missing more than what make them whole. My foot sinking into the sludge of someone’s half digested breakfast of champions. But out of this incredible sight something catches my eye. I look down to see two hands. Two hands their fingers still intertwined both missing their owners yet
still holding each other. Huh. I think to myself and keep walking. We make our way to the edge of the car someone holds the door open with about ten heads poking through trying their best to get a good look at the carnage that they so luckily escaped.

“Excuse me,” I say as they allow us through. Everything still sounds miles away. The screaming of children frightened from the blast intertwined with scared mothers yelling at their husbands to get them off the train, or to just do something. I walk about half way and turn to two guys sitting down.

“Would you mind if we take your seats?”

“Absolutely not, go ahead” one of them says as they move from their chairs. I softly lay Grace into the seat next to the window. Her eyes still closed tears silently slipping out of them. I plop down putting my arm around her as she sinks into me. I’m on top of the world and nothing could bring me down.

CHAPTER…

We pull into Union station, the boarding platform filled with police and paramedics as we slowly come to a stop.

A voice once again coming over the intercom. “Due to recent events the police will be questioning and patting down every passenger, there ar
e paramedics for those injured.
We appreciate your patience as we try to deal with this situation as best we can.” “As always thank you for supporting your local Amtrak.”

I look down as Graces eyes slowly open. “Ok we’re here, we’re safe.”

She sits up wiping the now almost dried tears from her eyes. “Ok” she whispers. I don’t know why but her eyes have never seemed as beautiful as they does right now. Gently holding her hand I lead her out of the train.

Turning to the guys who let us take their seats. “Thanks again.”

“No problem” one responds in a strong southern accent. He’s tall about 6’3 with a plaid long sleeve shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots. His pensile thin mustache just barely curling at the ends. The other man is quite short maybe 5’6 with brown thinning hair.

“Names Roger, and this is my friend Over and you’re dam lucky to be standing here.”

“Ya, it was a close one that’s for sure.”

Over holding out his hand,
“God must have something special for you two.”

“I sure hope so. O, my name’s Will and this is Grace.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“I take it you guys are trying to get your stars?” I ask.

“Yep we’re truck drivers and if we want to keep working we h
ave to declare our citizenship.
Just so they know we aren’t smuggling weapons and what have you.” Roger tells us.

“O,
so do you guys drive together?”

“Naw, just seen each other at rest stops a few time an talk over the radio. Actually that’s where we get our names,” he smiles. “Cause Over’s always talking my ear off. So he’s always gotta say over when he’s finally finished, and I’m always just trying to make sense of it all.”

Grace lets out a crackling laugh that shocks all of us.

“Well I’m glad to p
ut a smile on that pretty face.
Especially after what you’ve been through.” Roger
smiles turning
to Over who has an unpleasant look on his face. “What’s wrong with cha?”

“Just go around telling strangers I’m a windbag full of hot air why don’t ya.”

“O for Christ sakes how am I supposed to explain our names?”

“O just forget it lets get our prostates checked by the cops and go get our stars.”

Roger turns back to us “he’s a little cranky, didn’t eat his Wheaties this morning.” Turning back to Ove
r, “you want a snickers bar?
I’ve seen more than my fair share of commercials telling me it’s the proper solution to this problem.”

Over rolls his eyes and starts towards the line of police. We turn following him as he slowly leads us through the sea of people. We get close and as a police officer see me he waves us up. I grab Grace’s hand and we head over to him.

“Do you need medical attention?” he asks me.

“No I think the bleeding stopped but I wouldn’t mind a Tylenol.”

“I think we can do that but let
me get to know you real quick.
Hands at your sides, do you have anything that can prick or stick me?”

“Nope” instantly I realize Grace’
s stash. Shit what can we do? I look to
her, as she seems to have come to the same realization.

“Ok all clear, you can head up to the ambulance now.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“You see my friend there,” he nods.
“I forgot I put a lil weed and a pipe in her purse. As you can tell we’ve been through a little more than we were hoping for.”

“Don’t worry son I’m not handing out tickets for a little extracurricular activity. Plus after what you’ve been through I doubt a judge would convict you anyways.”

A sigh of relief escapes my mouth “thank you.”

“No problem, now go ahead and get to that ambulance.”

I turn to Grace and mouth that it’s ok. She nods and I turn and head to the ambulance.

The paramedics give me two Tylenol and I make my way back. Grace is through the line and heading for me. Roger and Over right behind her.

“Say, Grace tells me you two been here a few times. We ain’t so familiar with Union Station, you think you can show us how to get there and back to the train?”

I nod and we continue down the tracks towards the main station, following signs with big stars and arrows showing us the way

CHAPTER…

“Hey before we go me n Over gona go smoke a cig,
that ok?”

“Thank god I was just thinking that, Grace doesn’t understand the importance of smoking.” I reply.

“O ya cause you know cancer is so in now a days.” She jabs

“Blah, blah, blah, by the time I get cancer they will have a tiny little pill you take and in five minutes, poof you have a brand new state of the art lung.”

She rolls her eyes, passing us heading to the street.

“O don’t you roll your eyes at me.” I yell as I catch up to her.

Exiting Union Station we see the streets absolutely covered in stars paraphernalia.
“Show your pride,
get a star!”
One reads. “Stand united,”
reads another. It's weird we are in the middle of downtown Chicago but looking down the street past the train station it's nearly deserted.

“Where is everyone?” I ask the group

“Cities on lock down ya know.”
Roger replies, “No businesses are open, not even Dunkin D
onuts.”

“Ya but there are always people around this is eerie.”

Police every few yards watching people shuffle in and out of Union Station randomly searching whomever they think looks suspicious.

“This is nuts.” Over exclaims

“Well I mean there’s kind of a war going on.” Roger retorts

“Ya but I never would have thought anything could shut this city down.”

“Let’s go to the shady side of the building,” Roger interjects. “I'm burning up”.

We make our way around the building as I pull out my menthols. “You know those crystallize you lungs right?” Over informs me.

“Ya I figure if I’m gona give myself cancer I don't think a few crystals can be much worse.”

“Ha, I suppose.”

We make it to the side of Union Station. A large poster of military men in uniform stand folded flags in hands, behind them the slogan “We've come too far” written in red, white, and blue.

“I guess they weren’t convincing enough.” Graces says.

“Ha ya, it got us here though.”

“I just wanted a
free ride to the Farris wheel. We could still go.
Couldn't we?”

“I do
ubt the pier is open right now.
Seems like the perfect spot for an attack don't it?” Over points out.

“Well, we will ask someone, maybe one of the hundreds of pigs that are sitting around.”

Suddenly the streets fill with a bounding voice. “We have come too far to give up now. We will get through this. The stars are our guide as we voyage through this dark time. Please show your support by visiting Union Station to be a registered backer of the United States government, the greatest country in the world. We will not be beaten, we will
not
be broken. We stand united with stars on our hearts, and the American dream in our minds.” The recorded message bounds off the buildings slowly fading.

“Well, I’m convinced, should probably high tail it an get our stars.” Roger says with a smile.

A man carrying a small ladder steps from the far side of building, slowly walking past us. He's a blind, older black man maybe in his sixties sliding his walking stick from side to side. Reaching the corner he takes three steps back and slowly sets up his ladder. We all watch in silence as he painfully slowly makes his way up the ladder grunting with each step, breathing loudly through his nose. Reaching the top he folds his hands bowing his head he quietly prays to himself. Then
raising his head and with a booming and not unlike the preacher from the Jesus channel’s voice says.

“He knows our grand design

You have and will sin against the one true god

Why are you still here?

Repent for our ends are near

Fire will rain from the sky

Until each last one of us has died

Be grateful for this short time

For you will be judged by this god of mine

For in great fire you will sleep

Like a lamb to the slaughter, a quiet sheep

I pray for peace.

For one’s safe keep

Through these trying times

Whilst living by front lines

A war brought home

Soon becoming the daily norm

The devil now shown in true form

When brothers fight brothers

Mothers against mothers

Neighborly love dependent on a star

Or the lack there of

For this is not American

This is not human

It is a simple condition

Brought forth by our own cognition

But you think there is still time

You think not to worry about this god of mine”

We stand aw struck at his melody. I look to Roger and Over, their cigarettes burning into the
filters as they stare entranced at the man. I get their attention, “you guys ready?”

“Yep, I'm done.”
Over replies and we head back around the building.

“He was intense,
” Grace tells us.

“Ya his flow was pretty cool, I can defiantly say I was not expecting that.”

“You always get the crazies in downtown Chicago,
” Over interrupts. “Every time I'm in this city there is always some weirdo preaching up a storm to a nonexistent audience.”

“He kinda had a point, we are fighting a war that could have been avoided.” Grace points out.

We cross the street entering the main building of Union Stat
ion. A big hall absolutely jam
packed with people. TVs mounted on the walls blaring Obama’s latest speech to the country.

“Now is not the ti
me to lose faith in our system.
With something that has worked for hundreds of years, we must keep our government, our laws, and our se
curity for generations to come.
Now I know this is a tumultuous time in our country, but we are strong and will make it through this more united and better than ever.”