After the Pandemic: Corrigan (1660 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: After_the_Pandemic
Rating: 1.97 on 40 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Jack McCallum (View user info) at 2005-03-05 17:58:44 EST
After the Pandemic: Corrigan
Corrigan was heading west across the panhandle.
Amarillo was two hours behind him. He'd taken secondary roads around the city at midnight when he had changed his direction from north to west. He saw floodlights, heard the roar of heavy machinery, smelled the acrid reek of industry. Sparks like fireflies came from a pair of distant arc welders.
The leeches were rebuilding. It was night, their time. They were busy.
When Corrigan was a boy the struggle between leech and survivor was still going strong. The jugheads had started cleaning up and rebuilding in the big coastal cities first; Los Angeles and San Francisco, New York and Boston.
L.A. was said to be hell on Earth now. Corrigan had heard weird stories of sacrificial temples, pyramids and spires a hundred stories high. Even after they became leeches, the believers in new-age hoo-doo were still looking for some greater meaning, some higher power.
San Francisco had been a dark center of hedonistic bloodletting, where orgies played out over days with leeches fucking and draining their prey while smoking weed, which sent them out of their skulls without debilitating them they way plain old tobacco did. The city by the Bay was history now, leveled by a massive quake, the fallen remains having burned for a week until there wsa nothing left but blackened stone, twisted metal, and ash. Survivors said it was a sign from God.
Corrigan didn't believe in God, not any more. The last three decades under leech rule made it plain that if there was a God, He was an ugly one.
Moths flashed in Corrigan's headlights and disappeared. One of them hit the American flag decal in the lower left corner of the windshield. He'd have to clean that shit off at some point.
All Corrigan heard was the gutteral rumble of the old Ford's engine, the calming thrum of tires on asphalt.
His dad used to say there was nothing like driving through the Texas night with the radio on, listening to a sweet-voiced girl singing along with a slide guitar.
The leeches owned all the radio stations now, and they didn't like music. They broadcast endless reports of their efforts to get the country up and running, flashed stories of victories against sunriser rebellions, played recordings of speeches from great leech leaders of the past like Shen Siu and Barak Bey and Arthur Host.
Corrigan hated foreigners, and Host was a boring old drone. The radio hadn't been on in a long time.
He saw movement up ahead, and eased up on the gas, letting the Mustang slow a little.
It was a girl, hitching.
She was either a leech, or dumb as a stump.
Corrigan pulled over on the shoulder, keeping her in the headlights.
She looked to be in her early twenties.
The girl had an onion in one hand, and took a bite.
Corrigan got out of the car and tipped back his battered Stetson so she could see his face. He gave her a smile, caught the tossed onion, and dug in. He hated the taste, but there was a lot of nutrition in onions, and vegetables rarely came his way these days.
"We need a ride," the girl said, still standing a few yards away from Corrigan.
He wasn't surpised. A car will more likely stop for a lone girl than anything else. "Who's we?"
A skinny young man stepped out of the dark scrub brush, and together they took a few steps closer to Corrigan.
They were pale, thin, weak.
They didn't interest Corrigan. He got back behind the wheel.
They ran to him, shouting. He didn't hear them over the roar of the engine, and a moment later they were lost behind him in the darkness.
Corrigan drove on. He smoked hand-rolled barter cigarettes. Every once in a while he took a sip of bad whiskey from a screw-top juice bottle with a faded lable.
It wasn't until Corrigan was approaching Glenrio, near the New Mexico border, that he saw anything of interest, letting the car crawl to a stop.
In the center of the road was an old Volkswagon van, the rusted body canted over a flat tire.
Just behind the van was a dusted-coated SUV. Corrigan could tell the two men walking toward the SUV were leeches just by the way they walked, strong and cocky.
A tall, bald leech was dragging a man by the collar of his jacket. The man was out like a light, a runnel of blood gleaming under his nose.
The other leech was black, wearing only blue jeans and boots. He was Corrigan's size. Unlike Corrigan, this leech was all muscle. He had a young girl by the arm, just a kid.
The girl was screaming, her face shiny with tears in the glare of the Ford's headlights.
Corrigan slipped an appliance into his mouth and got out of the car. He gave the leeches the wide smile that was the customary greeting in their world, the showing of fangs.
The leeches relaxed, just a bit, and Corrigan drew his revolver. He fired only twice. That was all that was needed. Corrigan was a very good shooter.
The leeches grabbed their chests and lurched.They let go of the man and the little girl. They waited for their bodies to repair the damage done to each of their hearts by a single bullet.
The little girl ran to the man lying on the road.
They didn't realize the bullets were tipped with anti-coagulant capsules until they felt the blood gushing out of the entry wounds. Their blood was breaking down and running out of them like beer from a sprung keg.
Corrigan walked to them and drew his knife. The leeches didn't have a lot of fight in them. He cut their throats and let them bleed out.
He turned to the little girl, huddled by the unmoving man. The man was like the hitchhikers, pale and thin.
"It's my daddy," she said. "Is he gonna be okay?"
"No," Corrigan said. He hunkered down. He grabbed the litle girl's wrist with his free hand and slashed the man's throat.
The liitle girl screamed as Corrigan threw her over one shoulder, walked back to the Ford, and tossed her into the trunk.
She was small, but the man had taken good care of her. She was well-fed and robust.
She would fetch Corrigan a nice reward.
Before he got back behind the wheel, Corrigan pulled the American flag decal off of the windshield. Under it was his brand, the insignia that allowed him free passage, a single tear-like drop of blood on a field of white.
As he started the long drive back to his keepers in Lubbock, he wished more than ever that he could listen to some of his daddy's music on the radio.
The screams always bothered him more than he liked to admit.
Corrigan knew he was just one of many Retrievers on the road that night. It was a dangerous business, bushwhacking other leeches to feed his keepers. It beat the alternatives all to hell, though.
I'm just doing what I have to, he told himself. To survive.
He hoped to reach Lubbock before dawn.
--
After the Pandemic - Intro here http://www.ubersite.com/m/61238
User Reviews
Submitted by sadie73 (user info) at 2007-12-15 12:25:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Fantastic.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2007-12-15 11:44:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I never read this
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2007-12-15 10:54:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
jacky mac...you're amazing.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-10-19 04:07:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
There are a solid four pages of +2 streaks with 30 or more reviews. That is stupid. I am weeding it all out by giving every one of them a +1; that way posts that have 1.99 with 200+ reviews gets best ever.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-08-17 16:46:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
oh dear.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-08-03 12:17:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Supreme Overlord damage control...
Submitted by Supreme_Overlord (user info) at 2005-07-21 22:28:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
shite
Submitted by notyou (user info) at 2005-06-30 17:26:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Finally got to reading these. I like the twist at the end of this one.
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-06-03 12:53:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very good
Submitted by nrduncan (user info) at 2005-05-12 17:40:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I have just got done reading these all and I have enjoyed them all. Great work everyone, +2's for all!
Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2005-03-12 11:52:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Here is my contribution - http://www.ubersite.com/m/61730
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-03-10 03:15:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Twist is great, I can't belive I didn't see it coming.
Submitted by TimeCop (user info) at 2005-03-09 23:50:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Awesome.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-03-09 18:06:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by engine13 (user info) at 2005-03-09 12:41:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-03-08 23:20:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/08/high_school_zombie_threat/
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2005-03-08 21:15:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
fucking money. keep it up, i like.
Submitted by Phinch (user info) at 2005-03-08 18:55:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
cool world.
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-03-08 16:01:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm having a lot of fun reading/writing the spin offs.
Great idea Jack.
Submitted by Dannie (user info) at 2005-03-08 13:36:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Great concept and follow up story. I am enjoying the posts and the premise beind them.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-03-07 11:25:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-03-07 10:40:33 (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked this better than the first post. interesting concept.
--
Yeah, like I said, the first one was scattershot because I wanted to throw in lots of details for the set up. The ones that follow will be more and more focused as more and more people get the idea.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2005-03-07 10:40:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked this better than the first post. interesting concept.
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2005-03-06 14:15:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Jack, email me about that Xlibris deal, and the open series you're starting. I'd be interested ot know about both. judoka1978.at.hotmail.com
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-03-06 13:51:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2005-03-06 13:12:11 (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm starting my Sympath series now. Maybe I can't beat you, but I can stay competitive.
--
Done yet? Not that I'm impatient...
Also, I'm hoping others will add to this series...
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-03-06 13:43:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-03-06 00:46:24 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by stardamage (user info) at 2005-03-05 22:35:52 (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh man, this turned something on in my head but I don't think I can get it out yet.
That is the most frustrating thing ever, goddammit.
--
You need a mental laxative. Do a bowl tonight, wake up refreshed and ready to roll tomorrow. """
The Stand?
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2005-03-06 13:12:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This ruled like a...um...ruler. Or a protractor. Or something. But it was great.
I'm starting my Sympath series now. Maybe I can't beat you, but I can stay competitive.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-03-06 00:46:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by stardamage (user info) at 2005-03-05 22:35:52 (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh man, this turned something on in my head but I don't think I can get it out yet.
That is the most frustrating thing ever, goddammit.
--
You need a mental laxative. Do a bowl tonight, wake up refreshed and ready to roll tomorrow.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-03-05 23:43:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Dead_0hi0_Sky (user info) at 2005-03-05 22:46:13 (#)
Ranking: 2
this is what turns an extremely boring saturday night into just a boring saturday night.
thanks bro.
--
Damn it, I forgot to throw in some titties. That would have taken care of the boring part.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-03-05 23:41:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-05 19:48:50 (#)
Ranking: 2
Ahhhhh Fuck.
You had to do this didn't you?
You had to come up with a concept that would draw me in like a moth to flame.
More fucking Zombies on the horizon for me.
Maybe this weekend I'll write something.
--
I'll keep an eye out for it.
Submitted by Dead_0hi0_Sky (user info) at 2005-03-05 22:46:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
this is what turns an extremely boring saturday night into just a boring saturday night.
thanks bro.
Submitted by stardamage (user info) at 2005-03-05 22:35:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh man, this turned something on in my head but I don't think I can get it out yet.
That is the most frustrating thing ever, goddammit.
This was really good in spite of that though, or maybe because of it.
Submitted by tlozoot (user info) at 2005-03-05 21:22:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
!
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-03-05 21:04:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-03-05 18:30:18 (#)
Ranking: 2
I have to think of something to write in this world...
--
Go for it.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2005-03-05 19:48:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ahhhhh Fuck.
You had to do this didn't you?
You had to come up with a concept that would draw me in like a moth to flame.
More fucking Zombies on the horizon for me.
Maybe this weekend I'll write something.
Good story.
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-03-05 19:07:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
One of my cats eats broccoli. And bread. And other things, but I'm not going to be arsed to actually write them down. Suffice it to say, cats are strange animals.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2005-03-05 18:59:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Before I started writing this I made myself a giant sub. I wrapped it in foil and put it in the oven so the mozzarella inside would melt and the baguette would get just a little crispy. I sliced some tomatoes and left them on the counter to be added later.
I wrote this story, went back into the kitchen, and found... carnage.
My completely fucking insane Siamese cat from hell ate the tomatoes, and left bits all over the counter and all over the floor.
Tomatoes! Fuck!
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-03-05 18:49:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"he wished more than ever that he could listen to some of his daddy's music on the radio."
Billy?
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-03-05 18:47:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oooooooooooooh. I kind of thought something like that would happen, but it was still rather suoprising. +2, good sir.
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-03-05 18:30:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Hey! I just had an idea! Huzzah!
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-03-05 18:30:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ooooh, me likey very much. I really liked the twist on this one...had me going right until the very end, you clever little monkey, you.
I have to think of something to write in this world...