The Apocalypse Remembers Him

of metal and dry grass. Ryan kept his steps even. He felt the growth

like a crooked tooth. A tarp hid the dish. A black flag hung li

them before?

id. "Quick packs. They

ooked like my old un

n at the camp said the s

emember patches. Patc

andage across his head. The other sat by the fire with a coat and a

r?" Ryan

hel answered. She pointed

ife. "Circle. Look

ndaged man swung and pointed a ri

alled. "Trade for

he man laughed. "

ara shouted. "No on

shot. Bullets bit the air. Caleb

hissed. "Pu

When he came into the light Ryan could see the patch on his chest. The symbol under the circle loo

ck," the man said. "F

n men," the man added. "El

p like a photograph. Mara moved forward. "You b

e man said. "We take the mea

that law?"

e. The coat whispered against Ryan's sleev

n who followed orders and died? O

daged man tightened his grip on

leb rolled. The world stank of splinter

amed from the rid

He looked like a man caught between shame and a last chance. So

has rehearsed victory. "Look who showed up," h

th, empty. "Put the guns down," he s

ch man said. "You built orde

es!" Elias hissed. "Th

e patch man countered.

ara shoved her back. "Stay," she hi

n. His voice was sm

no one would see. He could make the flag a memory. He could tear the patch from the man'

did

harper than a blade. He would not bu

fter now. "We have radios. We make

ed. His voice was flat and

. A splinter flew near Elias's boot. Elias stumbled and co

Elias said, voice thi

tch man said. He tapp

e lamppost, the orders, the smell of wet concrete. He

as not a voice but a rhythm,footsteps, maybe

ge," the bandaged man said,

ded and stood with something glinting in their hands. The figure raised a small radio and

men tore the tarp and scanned the scrub. The ridge

. The patch man counted his men and found them thin. He looked at Elias li

," she begged Ryan. "For the camp

hought about how Sophie had left him once to save herself. He thought of Elias signin

ed forwar

ack," Ma

ridge, louder now. T

le cr