Remedy Z: Solo (34 page)

As I approached, I was not sure what to expect and I was intrigued, excited and scared all at the same time. I would not do “the stalking”. I was being stalked; waited for. The front door rattled and abruptly opened revealing a double-barrel shotgun, an old-school side-by-side. It poked out from the obscurity of the house. I could not see who was wielding it. I stood there and realised I was just in range of that weapon and may survive a shot. I dropped quickly to my belly, unslinging Old Man and was ready to shoot. My heart pounded and I put the crosshairs on the door, where I imagined the person’s body to be.

Then I heard something as alive and as beautiful as all of the nature and life that was around me: a woman’s voice.

“Easy cowboy, is this how you treat all your guests?” It was strong but gentle, alluring. I realised it wasn’t the Alamo; or was it? The door opened a little further and the silhouette, firelight from behind her, it jogged my dazed mind. It was the same shape, the same person who had saved me at the Alamo. She emerged from the shadow of the doorway, bold and beautiful with good height a fit body, a pretty face and wavy brown hair past her shoulders. She was wearing my dressing-gown and I could see all that. Our eyes met and she regarded me without fear but a little amusement.

“I was expecting the three bears,” I said with a wry smile, still lying on my belly. She smiled back and said ”Me? Goldilocks? Sure I am. Aren’t you going to thank me?” she asked with a sassy smile. I was about to ask “For what?” but then I realised she was indeed my saviour, a Valkyrie that had saved me at the Alamo. I cracked a broad smile, still on my belly and in the dirt and said, “Why yes ma’am, given half the chance I will.”

Chapter 17: Bird of Paradise

It was awkward but exciting. I had so many questions, so much to talk about but I didn’t know where to start or want to overwhelm her. I got out of the dirt, kept my eyes on her and dusted myself off. I felt no danger and put Old Man’s safety on. I slung the trusty old rifle over my shoulder, still with my eyes fixed on her. If the woman who stood in front of me had wanted me dead, she would have done it when I least expected. Topping me would have been easier while I was working on the solar kit. The task would have been as easy as a quiet walk up and, “boom”, with that shotgun of hers. 

 “Hi there,” I smiled genuinely, trying not to leer at her. The usual immediate chemistry test was there; she flashed me a lovely smile in return and I felt a spark. “Thanks for saving my life back in Tantangara,” I continued. “You’re welcome. Both times,” She said, also feeling awkward and not knowing whether to smile, or what, or not. 

I didn’t overthink things and walked up my stairs, looked her in the eyes, gave a smile and a nod and stepped past her through the front door. She wasn’t afraid or intimidated. She was as excited and interested in this rare person as I was. The airlock was as I had left it with my range of gear available, minus the kit I had taken with me to Tantangara.

I had returned without my German combat smock and other clothes that I had burnt at Samsonov’s. Those items had been with me since the Great Change and exodus from Canberra and I had held some sentimentality for them. She regarded me with interest as I laid down my rifle, pistol and day-pack. I was lost in thought for a moment and pondering the concept of loss and gain. “Old things sometimes go and most surely new things appear,” I said aloud, to myself, as I put Samsonov’s Loden coloured fleece top and the Aussie Special Forces jacket in place of where my Flecktarn smock and other tops had once gone. 

“Sorry? What was that you said?” the lady began to follow me in. “Sorry, I am not used to people and have been talking to myself for over a year now.” I smiled warmly into her blue eyes. She put the shotgun down and leant it in a corner near the door. I was shocked that she was so quick to lay down her arms. I had to stop myself from over-thinking and considering if I was about to be ambushed by others.

“Well, I haven’t introduced myself yet but this is my home; you are welcome to stay here if you want to live well and like a bit of company. I think it is fair to say I am a good person.” She nodded subconsciously and smiled. She was really unsure of whom I was and I felt she was taking an enormous gamble in doing what she was doing.

“I’m Jessie, Jessie Stadler.” I extended my hand. She took it and there was a little jolt between us; the touch was lovely. I had missed human contact terribly. “I am Jennifer Jensen, a survivor too.” She said proudly but gently, almost wearily. “But call me Jen,” she smiled, “all my friends do.” She was making the same efforts I was to break the ice. Like always, I had too much enthusiasm and almost bowled her over. 

 “You’re a survivor too? Where have you been staying? Is there news from the major cities- Sorry,” I was talking fast and over-excitedly at the interest and intrigue that another survivor posed.  I took a breath and calmed the conversation back down and remembered my manners “Please; let’s sit down. I want to get to know you. We have so much to talk about and I could really use a cup of tea. Cuppa?” I smiled gently. She nodded. “It has been a rough but productive few days in my travels.” I continued. “You do look like you need some TLC,” she looked into my eyes with a look that had me captivated. I hadn’t seen a woman in a long time and this one was something else; she would have had me just as interested as before the Great Change. I couldn’t believe my luck. 

We hadn’t let go of each-others hands since our introduction and we released suddenly when we realised it was an awkward pause. I gestured to my living room and the couch where the fire already burned. Jennifer obviously knew the place to relax already. 

“I’ll give you a moment,” I said. “I have to get some powdered milk and supplies from the truck.” She looked at me strangely a moment as if something bothered her, then she said, “Milk… -Yes. Milk, would be nice.” 

“In the meantime, you can get into some other clothes if you like.” I said and felt so awkward; nodding and placing my hands together, nervously. First date sort of stuff. “You don’t like what I’m wearing?” she said feigning dislike. “No, you look fine to me. Just wanting to make sure you are welcome and comfortable.” I went a little red and smiled, leaving her to her own devices for a moment. “I’m just messing with you,” she beamed, “my other clothes were septic, so I burnt them outside. I’ve been borrowing yours hoping you would come back and find me some more.” She winked at me. She was a nice lady thus far; a bit of sass and cheek and a warm personality that I could work with. “Yeah, tell me about it,” I shook my head. We knew each other’s world, obviously. “Timing is everything!” I said emphatically. “I found some things you might like,” I nodded to myself satisfactorily. “I’ll bring in some clothes with the milk.” I turned to front door again, paying no attention to the fact I was now unarmed.   

I was a maximiser and loved the idea that all the clothes I had scavenged at the holiday park would have a great potential use. I found myself staring at her as I thought about those clothes, smiling at her like an amorous little boy. “I scavenged a huge amount of clothes, including a bunch of women’s clothes for myself-so I could-“ I said in a matter-of-fact kind of way. She started laughing at me and I stopped that sentence and blushed. It hit me; she teased that the women’s clothes were for me. We both laughed a little. She had a great sparkle in her eyes.

“Nothing gets past you does it?” I smiled and chuckled along. “What I MEANT to say was that the women’s clothes were going to be used for rags; cleaning things like rifles and machinery and so on. You can have your pick of the lot.” She was good company. “That would be great. I hope you have something in my size,” she stopped the kidding around and was back to being practical.  

I felt comfortable and left her as I went to the truck and unloaded garbage bags of clothes and carried them to the doorstep. I left them there and returned with some of the food supplies for that much needed cup of tea. The truck was still almost full and I would unload it later; more important things to do. I hoped this would work out for all the right reasons.

I returned to the house with the last of the clothing and my go-bag, a box of powdered milk, some biscuits and my shower-bag. “Jen, I am going to get myself cleaned up.  It has been a long day and I could use a shower and a change of clothes.“ She had paused a moment and was still fixated on the clothing. “Sure, no worries, ah…-Jesse!” She smiled and pointed at me, getting used to my name.

I went to the bathroom and had a cold shower. Looking in the mirror I saw myself staring back; a tough, mature man but with my hormones raging like a fresh-faced teenager. “You can do this Jesse, whatever this ends up being,” I smiled, checked my teeth. “Need a brush, I thought.” After a couple of minutes, I had minty fresh teeth courtesy of toothpaste and a toothbrush from the latest trip to Tantangara. This really was feeling like a first date. I emerged, smelling good and wearing some of the fine clothes Samsonov had provided.

I had returned to the open-plan living area and entered the kitchen to make the tea I had promised. I found the bags had all been opened and Jennifer was quickly working through them. She wasn’t a passenger and we seemed to have a good interplay with one another. Things weren’t too awkward, given the circumstances. “We are making a good team already,” I said, my inner monologue still not working, as I sat down. “Yes,” she said, her mind working fast and it seemed to be she was a milTiger miles away at that moment. Like me, I was sure she had been through more challenges than one person deserved in a lifetime and she was doing well in this set of circumstances. I went into the kitchen and made the tea while I formed my questions. 

From the kitchen, I could look down on the living room. Jen had gathered a pile of jeans, tops and underwear. Strangely and without any fuss or warning, she dropped the robe to reveal she was naked underneath. What a figure, just beautiful, just captivating. I had not seen a woman, like that and in that way in a long time. 

“Today was my lucky day.” I shook my head in disbelief I thought she knew I could see but wasn’t sure, so I asked about the tea, reminding her I was in the open-plan room. She quickly put on a pair of underwear and was doing up the bra when I said: “Jen - how do you have your tea?” I was apprehensive in case she reacted badly. She looked up at me, in my eyes, unashamed and said, “White with one, thanks.” A big smile was given; no issue. She was used to mucking in with others.

As I collected the cups, I watched her pull on a pair of jeans and a casual shirt. Then she put on some men’s outdoor sandals that fit her long, hardened but elegant foot, with just a few adjustments from the straps. I liked the way she just got on with things and seemed to be versatile. The simple clothes she had chosen looked comfortable but she shined, this woman would look fit and tidy in almost anything.

I had found a packet of biscuits that seemed to be alright despite their “best before” date being some time before that day. In the day and age I lived, it would be better than fine and was nicer than I had had or Jen had probably had in some time. 

Jennifer was excited at how much of the clothing fit. It was like before, before the Great Change, when women would go shopping together and smile and talk and laugh. Men had become increasingly of the same ilk but it wasn’t my focus in life. She had her own monologue, talking to herself, and putting things up against her body to get a first impression before trying it on. There was a mirror in the living room that she used as though she was a teenager in her bedroom. I watched, captivated by this woman as she sorted through clothing. It had been too long since I had company and far too long since it was the company of a woman like that. Old, almost forgotten feelings welled up and I had to wait a minute or two before taking the tea down to her or it would have been obvious. I had to calm down a bit. It really was like old times. I almost laughed at myself out loud. I tidied up and thought of some boring things, cold days, former jobs, just to bring the heat down. I was at half-mast but couldn’t delay emerging or she would have thought it odd. 

It was a funny scene. I brought down an ornate silver-service tray with proper teacups and a fine china dish of biscuits and my blackened billy to heat the water for the tea. “The Swagman and Gentry Tea Party,” I thought to myself. The tray was placed down carefully on the large timber coffee table, trying to make the best of impressions and then put the billy, full of alpine rainwater, onto the fire to heat up. We had a couple of minutes before the billy boiled so I enjoyed watching my new friend and tried not to look too much the voyeur.

It was a great night for me; nothing like it for so long. Jen was enjoying herself and so was I. In my nervousness, I over-checked the billy and tried to look somewhat busy rather than just watching her every curve and feature. Her pile of things to keep was substantial and I was glad. I had hoped she would feel at home and I hoped she would stay and this would become “our” home. It was all too soon to think like that but the world was a very different place to what it had been. A man could but dream. “Calm down, Jesse. It’s the first night and first hour,” I reminded myself.

I used a crocheted tea-towel to lift the billy’s handle from the fireplace and poured the steaming liquid into the tea-pot which contained a nice blend of loose-leaf tea. I placed the billy on the stone edge of the fireplace where its steam continued to flourish out. “Well that does it!” she said, almost jumping and slumping casually onto the couch. “I’m done,” she sighed happily. “How do I look?” she smiled and looked at me for a reaction; “Oh yeah…” and my face said it all as I nodded. She winked back and smiled excitedly. ”Is this for me?“ her eyes saw straight through me and gestured at the teacup. “Yes, that’s yours.” I smiled gently. She wasn’t without manners but was pretty laid back and grabbed the teacup, making an emphatic sip and sigh. She was fitting in just fine. She was a real person and I gazed at her as if she was an illusion or a mermaid.

“Oh, before I accept any more hospitality, I have something for you.” Jen smiled broadly and with a hotness that makes a man feel like one. She removed something from around her neck and put it around mine. As she came in, I could smell her, breathe her in and I wanted to put my hands on her waist and hips as she bent down. I was a little blinded by her comeliness but I did notice the leather throng this was on was the same type Skinny had been wearing. “This is something I found,” she touched my neck affectionately. “It’s just a little luck charm.” I looked down at this Gryphon; a mythical creature that is part Tiger and part eagle. She didn’t realise how appropriate it was. I was apparently all mythology but would prove powerful too; the Doc was hunting me down. What I didn’t realise was the gryphon was really an icon of her.