Page 97 of Heart of the Sun

Ah, a group of crunchy Californians with time on their hands, money burning a hole in their pockets, and a desire to feel like they were living off the land. Well, God bless them because it sounded like they were ahead of the curve. “Leon’s father was war buddies with one of the residents so that’s how he has an in. It’s grown a lot in the last couple of weeks as they’ve invited outsiders in. Leon made contact with a few strong men he knows who didn’t have a place to go. He offered them a spot in the community in exchange for guarding the gates.So now they have security. There are a couple of doctors among the residents, which is obviously important. And they love that Leon has brought in some artists and entertainers too. They know how important the arts will be going forward.”

Going forward.

“Oh,” Emily said. “I see.” She looked over at me, and for the first time in weeks, I realized I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. I felt hollow inside. I knew there was a wedge between us, and most of me hated it more than anything I’d ever hated, and part of me clung to it because I knew it’d be necessary for my survival when we parted. And the fact that history was repeating itself didn’t escape me either, which only added to my despair.

“How are you traveling there safely?” I asked. “There are barricades everywhere. Whatever path Leon took might already be closed.” Things were unwinding rapidly. Nothing could be counted on. Even if San Diego was less than two hours away by car.

“Yes. There are four blockades set up that are allowing people passage as long as they don’t stay. Guides will walk you through. They’re not bad people. They’re just trying to protect their own. Like I said, Leon’s traveled the route a few times, so they know and trust him.”

The door to one of the recording booths opened, and a man walked through looking sleep-mussed, his eyes widening when he saw Emily and me. “Emily? Holy shit. How the hell are you here?”

“Leon!” She practically ran over to him, and they hugged.

“My God,” he said after they’d let go. “Did you just randomly find your way here?”

She laughed and wiped a tear from her eye. “We came here for the food and water,” she said. And I had to admit the relief in finding these two people, even if I didn’t know them. They were part of Emily’s life,and damn, but it was good to know that decent people were still fighting through this. And even more than that, it was a relief to hear that whole zones were being formed, even now, to keep people safe.

Like Layne had said, that couldn’t last, but for now, some who could, were making room rather than casting out.

Emily introduced me to the man who had once been her manager and I shook his hand. He looked between us. “You came to the right place. I’m so glad you remembered this studio, Emily. Did Layne tell you about the safe zone?”

Emily nodded.

“You should come with us,” Leon said. “This will be my final trip.”

Emily glanced over at me quickly and then away. “We… I can’t. We’re heading to my parents in the San Fernando Valley.”

“San Fernando?” He shook his head and frowned. “Oh…damn. There were massive fires there when the event first happened. From what I’ve heard, the people there are living in makeshift camps and it’s pretty desperate.”

More fucking fires. Shit.My heart dropped and Emily’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, but hopefully their community came together, and your parents are okay.” He looked back and forth between the two of us. “Hey, listen, this safe zone in San Diego, I could make sure that they allow you a few family members too. Each resident was given a number of guest allotments. My father’s old friend Merrick Winchester doesn’t have family nearby and so he gave me his allotments and I’ve been trying to find as many as I can to fill those spaces. As long as we get there tomorrow, they’ll hold spaces for your family to follow later.” He glanced from me back to Emily. “There will come a point, and it’s probably fast approaching, where all the spaces will be filled and they won’t be able to feed or house anyone else, but for now, they have room and they’re gathering a diverse community of people who have something to offer. Come with us, both of you.”

“How would I get word to my parents though?” Emily asked. “Even snail mail doesn’t exist anymore.”

“There will be ways once things settle down,” Leon said. “There are already teens here in the city who are delivering messages on bikes for a few scraps of food and some water. If there’s a service that will help keep them and their family alive, humans will find it. There will be a way to contact your parents sooner than you think. Especially if you’re in a location with currency, which you will be if you come with us. You’d be shocked at what people do these days for a loaf of bread.”

Emily’s brow creased at what he’d said, but then she gave a distracted nod. Leon hugged Emily again, and then he and Layne got out some food and laid out a little picnic as we all talked about the things we’d seen and the places we’d been, at least most of it. It was difficult to sum it all up, and I was distracted and hurting because I could tell by the way Emily’s eyes kept drifting to the wall as she obviously considered something or another, that she was thinking about taking them up on their offer.

I’d thought I had at least the last short leg of this journey with her to her parents’ house, but that might not be the case. And I couldn’t decide if I should try to talk her out of this or encourage her to take these two people she obviously trusted up on their offer of a safe haven.

Because we didn’t know exactly what was happening in the San Fernando Valley, and this might be an opportunity too good to pass up. Both for her and her parents, given they were alive and at least mostly well.

We finally closed the curtain on one of the small recording studios that still contained a few pieces of equipment. Leon was going to take the first watch, and then wake me for the second. Emily had said good-night to both Layne and Leon and let them know she’d decide before morning whether to go with them or continue on to her parents’.

We lay down on our sleeping bags on the floor,one of the small battery-operated lamps we’d turned on in the corner casting the barest glow. I could see the slope of her cheekbone, and I let my gaze run along it, feeling an ache so sharp that I swore it pierced something inside. Some vital organ that I could live without, but only barely. And I decided to make it easier on her.

“I think you should go with them,” I said softly, my lungs deflating under the weight of my words. “I’ll continue on to your parents, and if they’re in need of a safe zone too, I’ll bring them to you.”

“But we were supposed to travel there together,” she said, her voice little more than a whisper. “That was the plan. Since the beginning.”

“We didn’t know about this place in San Diego though, Emily. It seems…it seems like an opportunity too good to pass up.” I paused. God, my throat ached. It hurt to say this even if I knew it was true. Because I wanted her to be safe more than anything or I’d cease to be useful at all.

She paused only a moment. “Yes, it’s somewhere safe when there isn’t much of that anymore. And my parents may need it too. They may have lost everything. They may be barely surviving.”

“Right. And like Layne said, the community members in San Diego appreciate the fact that Leon’s brought artists to join them too. Your voice, Em, your songs…don’t underestimate how much people need music right now. If those residents recognize that value, they must be good, and wise.”

Again, she was silent, and with each quiet breath, I felt the chasm widening between us. “I… I wanted that,” she said. “A way to use my music to help. Even…a little.”

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