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Chapter 9: The Hermit

One day in July, the four of us started to feel a little cooped up.

Cabin fever, in other words. When I was in the army, one of my commanding officers called it cabin fever. There were times when our unit would go into surveillance mode, and most of us would spend days or weeks in a van, or in a small apartment. On top of each other, almost literally. Cooped up.

So, I knew the feeling quite well, and I could tell that the four of us were starting to feel a little bit - well - restless.

We’d been spending most of our time in the apartment, lately - by choice. As July went on, and then on some more, the fallen city broiled in the heat. We were among the lucky ones, in that we had a generator - and thus, we could turn on our air conditioning.

We were also lucky that we had central air. Window unit air conditioners could be so dangerous, because they attracted the attention of gangs, and thieves, and worse.

So, with the summer heat rising outdoors, and with the cooler air indoors, it was no surprise we started spending more and more time inside the apartment.

We did hear about things that were going on. Whenever we ventured out, for food or whatever, we heard about parties that were going on. And folks were starting to set up their own little pubs, here and there. So there were things to do, in the city. Even with the world in chaos, folks wanted a social life, things to do, places to go.

Which is normal. Human or anthro, we are all social creatures.

And yet, even though we knew that we had options, we preferred - during the hottest part of July - to stay indoors, in the space that had become our home.

Well, it was true that we had everything we needed in the apartment. Thanks to the generator, we could watch movies, and keep our beer cold. And we had plenty of food.

The city, by the way, so vast and sprawling, had not yet run out of food, even though it had been six months since the bombings. Possibly, or probably, that was because so many folks had left. Markets, stores, and private dwellings were mostly undefended, and those of us who’d stayed were thus able to help ourselves to whatever was left in those places.

So, as July went on, we felt no need to go out into the city.

However, on the other hand, we were all young.

Most likely, it isn’t natural for folks in their early twenties to spend large amounts of time cooped up indoors, day after day. Even if those folks are happy in their space, enjoying each other’s company.

At some point, restlessness - and perhaps cabin fever - will set in.

And so there came a day when the four of us were restless.

I noticed it in Rex first. The Great Dane was in the kitchen, cleaning things that didn’t really need to be cleaned. Every so often, he would glance over at the door. Julia had not appeared the day before, and so far that day she had not shown up. In fact, it was nearly noon, a sure sign that she would not be coming. When she did appear, it was always well before noon.

Hence, Rex’s restlessness. Probably, he was worried about her, too.

And then I noticed that Gunnar was walking around the pool, staring at the water. Normally, when he wasn’t swimming, he would sit on the edge of the pool, with his feet in the water and a beer in his hand.

Ario was watching Gunnar pace. The Wolf sat on the edge of one of the many chairs we’d placed around the pool. Ario was the quiet one of the group, and usually we’d find him curled up somewhere with a good book. That day, however, he was perched on a chair, watching Gunnar.

I walked up to the edge of the pool.

“What’s going on?” I asked, looking at Ario and then Gunnar.

“What d’ya mean?” Gunnar asked, looking surprised at the question.

“Well, you’re just pacing around the pool like a feral predator at a watering hole,” Ario said.

“Huh.” Gunnar’s expression of surprise intensified. “I didn’t realize. I dunno. Guess I can’t sit still today.”

“Neither can Rex,” I said.

“Is he still in the kitchen?” Ario asked. I nodded, and Ario rolled his eyes. “Seven gods,” he said. “We’re all starting to fidget.”

“We should get out of here,” Gunnar said, “Go for a walk, maybe, or get some cans from our food stash at the bowling alley. Or go find a place with beer and stuff.”

The big Pit Bull’s eyes lit up, then, as he thought of something.

“You know that Fox we sometimes say Hi to? She said she was opening a bar, right? With a small backyard? That’s only like four blocks from here.”

“Her name is Selene,” Ario pointed out..

“The Fox?” Gunnar looked puzzled. “How do you know her name?”

“I pay attention,” Ario replied, with a smile.

Gunnar laughed.

“Well, hey,” he said, with a broad smile lighting up his face, “At least I paid attention when she said she was opening her own bar. That counts for something, right?”

“Right,” Ario affirmed. Then, after a pause and a shrug, he said, “I’ve always been good with names, for some reason.”

“Probably a good thing,” Gunnar said. “Considering you were gonna be a teacher. That was the plan, wasn’t it? After your four-year degree - I forget what that’s called - you were gonna get a PhD, right? And be a college professor.”

“That was the plan.” Ario looked at the water, an expression of sadness on his face.

Gunnar looked down, at the can of beer he held in his hand. He seemed surprised to find it empty.

“Well, shit,” he said. “Let’s go check out Selene’s place.”

After tossing the can towards a chair, he yawned and stretched, as if he’d just woken up from a nap. He was shirtless, and the white, star-shaped patch which covered most of his chest shimmered in the light reflecting off the water.

“Sounds good.” Ario sounded relieved. The expression of sadness left his face, and I assumed that he was doing the thing we’d all gotten so good at doing - turning away from thoughts of what we’d lost when the world fell.

“Right, then,” Gunnar said. “Someone get Rex out of the kitchen. We’re all going to shower and clean ourselves up, and then I will lead you to - um -” He looked at Ario. “Were you paying attention when Selene said where she was setting up her bar?”

“Yeah.”

“Great. Ario will lead us to the promised land.”

**

The Fox, Selene, had turned an empty shop into a pub. The space was filled with comfortable chairs and low tables. Near the door, Selene served drinks from behind a folding table. All she asked for was a single payment of food, or coffee, or a book - that would guarantee you one or two drinks. Perhaps more, if you were a friend - and, as well, if you could promise that you were able to walk home safely and soundly.

Out back, a small concrete “yard” held more chairs and tables, and a friend of Selene’s served food from another folding table.

Selene had a generator, but during the day she preferred to illuminate the cool, dark space with candles. The interior of her pub felt intimate, and perhaps a little mysterious. It also felt inviting.

As we entered, Selene came up to us.

“Gunnar!” she said, warmly greeting him. “I’m so glad you stopped by. I’ve been hoping you would.” She turned to Ario. “I’m sorry - I remember that your name is something unusual, but I can’t quite place it.”

Ario gave her his name, and I gave her mine, and then the Fox surveyed us with curiosity in her eyes.

“Usually, when I see you in the neighborhood, there are four of you,” she pointed out. “Sometimes five. Are you missing some folks?”

Rex had been unwilling to go with us, in case Julia came by later. Gunnar made the point that, if we weren’t there to let her in, Julia would simply go home - and what would be the harm in that? Rex, however, said that he wouldn’t want Julia to feel as though she’d wasted a trip. After that, we couldn’t budge him, and he wouldn’t listen when we reminded him that Julia never showed up later than noon, on the days that she stopped by.

“Yeah, we are,” Gunnar explained. “But they’ll come next time.”

And then, before we could make our way to the folding table and the drinks, a Wolf came through the door. He looked, to me, to be in his forties, or perhaps fifties. At the sight of him, Selene’s eyes lit up.

“There you are,” she said. “Finally.”

“Well,” the middle-aged Wolf said, with a roguish smile, “I had to fight an entire horde of gang members, just to get here. There were so many of them! It was a hell of a fight, I can tell you that.”

“Really?” Selene raised a single eyebrow. “You live across the street. And I sure didn’t hear any kind of commotion like that.”

“That is true, I do live across the street,” the Wolf said, laughing. He looked at us. “Friends of Selene’s?” he asked.

“Yes, indeed, they are friends,” Selene replied, before we could.

“Well, then, introductions are in order, because - friends of Selene’s are my friends as well.” The Wolf looked at each of us in turn. “My name is Ramses, and you are . . .”

The three of us introduced ourselves, and we shook hands, and Gunnar told the Wolf that we had friends who weren’t there at the moment.

Ramses replied that our absent friends were also, at that moment, friends of his. Then he turned to Ario.

“Always nice to see a fellow Wolf. Were you born here, in the city?”

Ario replied that he’d moved here for college.

“Oh?” Ramses said. “So did I - many, many years ago.”

“These days, he lives like a monk,” Selene said, looking at Ramses with affection. “All alone, in that building, rarely going out. I’ve decided that I’m worried about him.”

“I live a solitary life, it’s true,” Ramses said, with a casual shrug. “But that’s hardly cause for concern, especially considering the state of the world.”

“You were a teacher and a mentor, before the bombs went off,” Selene protested. “And now, you’re just hiding your light.”

Ramses started to reply, but some folks came through the door, in search of drinks and refuge from the realities of the fallen city. Selene turned her attention to them. Ramses excused himself, and he went to the small concrete yard in the back.

Gunnar, Ario, and I collected our drinks, then, and we found an empty table near the corner.

I looked around.

The small, makeshift pub was fairly crowded, and everyone there seemed to be in a good mood.

As we drank, we relaxed, and I hoped that this would cure our restlessness - hopefully, in other words, a short trip out to Selene’s would be enough. On the other hand, I was worried about Rex. He was probably still cleaning, still looking towards the door every few minutes.

“I feel like I should go back,” I said, “And drag Rex over here.”

“Knock him out, if you have to,” Gunnar said, burping and raising his glass. “Carry him here.”

“If Julia doesn’t show up tomorrow, Rex is really gonna be messed up.”

Such was Ario’s opinion, and I agreed with him.

I noticed Gunnar looking at me, with a slight smile.

“What?” I asked.

“We haven’t talked about this, just the three of us,” Gunnar said, burping again. “How much Rex likes Julia. And I think she’s into him.”

“I feel like Julia tries to hide everything,” Ario said. “But - you know - she kind of gives herself away. It’s obvious she talks to Rex more than any of us.”

“Yeah.” Gunnar nodded. “And here’s the thing. I can’t figure out why they’re dancing around it.”

“Well, the world’s all messed up . . .” I started to say.

“So?” Gunnar jumped in. “That shouldn’t make a difference. That affects some stuff, sure, but it shouldn’t affect that.”

“I think Rex might be shy around females,” Ario said. “And Julia - it’s like Julia’s put up all these walls around herself. She’s a mystery. I think she likes being - what’s a good word - independent? But being independent’s one thing, and being alone is another.”

He gestured towards the door, beyond which was the city.

“No one should be alone, the way things are now.”