Carrier Sickness (Short Story)
By Jayross 2 Comments
Carrier Sickness
A short story. Part One.
The sun shifted through the radioactive, midday haze and beat down on the steel and iron hull of the large, beached aircraft carrier. Many consider Rivet City as the most secure place in Washington D.C., which isn't saying much considering the second largest town is composed of scrap metal and was constructed around a Chinese atomic bomb that never detonated. Compared to the rest of the D.C. Wasteland, Rivet City is a pretty nice place to live, although at times one can think that the iron walls that are meant to keep the super mutants out, do a better job at keeping everyone in.
It is with those thoughts Henry found himself looking through a porthole and scanning the ruined D.C. skyline. The Washington Memorial was half stone, half skeleton.
"Do you ever wonder what it's like out there?" He asked Buck, who was tossing rusty bolts into the pale green water.
"I've heard stories and that's enough for me, besides, Rivet City has everything we always needed," replied the adolescent of 16, only one year older than Buck.
"But don't you get tired of the darkness? Don't you wish we could see the world? See what it's like?" questioned Henry.
"The only thing I need to see is the safety of these 4 inch metal doors, and if you cared for Ma, you would too," answered Buck. "Speaking of her," he added, "we need to get down to the mess hall by 6 o'clock, Ma says."
"You go on ahead," insisted Henry "I'll catch up, I just want to watch the sunset just one more time..."
"What do you mean 'just one more time'? That sun isn't going nowhere, and neither are you," stated Buck, grabbing Henry's collar, who struggled only a bit.
The two brothers retreated from the deck into the dim steel staircase towards the decks below. A dull murmur could be heard from the mess hall, accompanied with the clangs of plates against the grimy floor. A damp smell of sterilized "Pork N' Beans" greeted the two teenagers, who were more interested in getting a plate than finding their mother.
"Wait, we were supposed to find mum before dinner," remembered Buck, tugging at his brother's arm, and pulling him away from his plate, causing him to drop it. The people in line turned around at looked at Henry.
"You better clean that up!" Shouted one of them.
"Henry, get a rag and clean that up, now," demanded Buck.
Henry dipped his hand into a crusty bucket and pulled out a greenish rag. He got on the floor and started cleaning up the brown, chunky liquid off the iron floor. Buck watched to make sure he did a good job and didn't miss any spots. Once Henry was done, and Buck was satisfied, they started walking to The Muddy Rudder. However, Henry was not going to put up with Buck any longer.
"Buck! That was my food! And I already gave them my meal-card! I am starving!" yelled Henry, extremely irritated.
"Well I never said you could get food, Henry, you need to listen to me.
"Buck, I don't need your permission to get my food!" said Henry.
"Quiet Henry! You are making a scene! Let's just go find Ma."
Buck hurried off to find his mother, with Henry in tow. By now most of the residents had took their plate of pork n' beans and had found a table, however the bar was still open, and Buck knew that's where they would find their mother.
The Muddy Rudder was even darker than the rest of Rivet City, the rays from the few bare bulbs were engulfed by thick smoke. Henry coughed, but he saw their mother at the end of the room sitting at a table by herself.
"Hey Ma! Sorry we were late, Henry made a big mess in the mess hall," informed Buck.
"No I didn't!" Insisted Henry, "You were the one who did that! And now I don't have any food!"
"Anyways, Ma, do you want us to bring your dinner for you, or are we going to eat in the mess hall?"
"Let's go to the mess hall," begged Henry, "I don't like it in here..."
"Quiet Henry! No one's asking you!" Said Buck.
The woman took a swig from her pale-yellow glass and leaned back, a cigarette was clenched between her gums.
"Sorry Ma, Henry will go get you your food, won't you Henry?"
"Alright..." he replied, as Buck handed him the meal-card for their mother, but Henry had other plans for the meal-ticket.
Henry walked through the iron corridor, past the Church of Atom, into the mess hall, although this time chatter did not echo off the metal walls, and it was nearly empty.
"Uh oh," thought Henry, rushing to the counter where he would normally present his meal-card in exchange for a ladle of food.
"Ah shoot," Henry muttered to himself looking at the empty, sauce-coated vats.
"Dinner starts at 5:00, you're too late, " sneered the lady sitting behind the counter. "But if you give me your meal-card I can give you some old C-class rations.
Disappointed, Henry returned to The Muddy Rudder with the C-class biscuits and presented them to his brother, who was not happy with what Henry brought back.
"Henry, I asked you to do a simple task, bring Ma a plate of pork n' beans, was it that challenging so that instead you brought her some biscuits? Ma will love these, I'm sure! What, were you afraid of dropping the plate again? Can't I ask you to do anything? I am so sorry Ma, Henry failed to bring you any food tonight. The woman coughed, closed her eyes, and breathed deeply through her cigarette, which was considerably shorter than at first, now almost at her wrinkled lips. She opened her eyes and Henry was gone.
If any of you read it fully, wow, thanks, it was quite a read, but I hope it was terribly boring. The next parts should have more more action, and won't be all emotion and sibling rivalry. If you liked it please say something, if you have some suggestions, say something.
Thanks,
~Jay