Solara's Journey- BOOK OF ELI
I do not own the rights to the movie: Book of Eli, the characters, or plot. That pleasure lies unto Writer Gary Whitta and Directors Albert and Allen Hughes.
My story is a continuation of the events after the movie which I have written solely for my own recreation.
Note- Passages from the KJV: Hebrews 9-22; 9-27-28
Chapter 14: Journey to the North
The dustbowl storm left the surrounding area bleached, worn, and covered in layers of debris and grit. The stark sunlight caused the world to appear just as whitened and weathered as ever.
The group reached the GRAND JUNCTION water cave. Guns drawn, they approached cautiously. Solara turned her gaze to the sky. The upgraded solar lensed goggles helped her spot 2 circling buzzards. She strung the short bow deftly, shot each bird, and retrieved her sleek arrows.
"Nice shot." Eli complimented.
"Thanks. But I'm afraid that they found your friends before we could." Solara noted. On the road, buzzards were a typical indication of dead bodies.
Kit sniffed the birds curiously, though took no interest in the meat.
"We'll have a nice supper tonight." Carnegie bragged.
"No. Not this meat." Solara said. "They've been feeding off of human. We're not eating this. We could probably use some of the feathers for trade. But nothing else."
Carnegie looked at his daughter curiously. She had an air of confidence and assurance that he had never noticed before she returned. He believed that the dark skinned nomad taught her many things during their time together. He also thought that the younger nomad, now watching Solara in admiration, must be one of the descendants of the nomad. Information that he would bet his life on. "Daughter, you are exactly right." He said as if he had actually been testing her instead of nearly eating the ruined bird meat.
Claudia knelt down and plucked the birds.
Boyd, Bessie, Carnegie, and Kit remained behind while Solara, Eli, Red, and Tom approached the water cave warily.
Tom whispered. "2 days ago, Russ placed 2 trucks here. I'll make sure they're still here." He circled around saw the vehicles and the bodies. He whooped to grab their attention. "Back here."
Solara was quicker than the others. Thankfully, the stench of the bodies had been masked by the storm. She stopped Eli before he could see them. "Why don't you check the cave? Red and I will bury the bodies."
Red mistakenly thought Solara wanted a moment alone with him.
"I have to know if my brother is here…" Eli tried to steer around Solara.
"You shouldn't have to see him like this." She reasoned.
He halfheartedly struggled against her, then conceded. "He wears a horn around his neck and has breeches like mine."
She nodded. "Check the cave. Then help Tom strip the smaller truck. We only need 1 to travel and we can use the supplies and gas from the other. Don't leave the other truck able to drive. If Russ or any of them survived, this is going to be their next stop. We need to be fast."
Red had already moved the bodies out of sight, dug a shallow grave, and now watched as Solara searched the male body. She found the horn, kept it, and searched the other body.
"Had a full canteen. The food was ruined though." Red said.
"Who was it?" She asked him.
"No one I knew. It looks as though they killed each other." He showed her how he found them.
Red covered the bodies with dirt and sand. Solara found a rock, placed it, retrieved her KJV, and knelt in prayer.
"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and with shedding of blood is no remission. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."
"Lord, forgive these men. Take them to your home in heaven. Forgive us all for what we've done. Lead us from this place in safety. We keep you, Lord, in our hearts. In your son's name, Amen." Solara stood and realized that the group now stood watching her curiously. She passed Eli his brother's horn. "We'll give you a moment to spend with him before we go."
Solara led the others to the truck.
Bessie and Boyd approached her. "He was close to his brother. What you did was very kind."
The little girl gazed shyly up at Solara. Her red hair tangled.
"I'm Solara. You must be Bessie." She offered.
"My daddy said that my mommy died."
Solara nodded. "Yes, sweetie. She went to heaven. Just like Eli's brother. I bet she is singing with the angels now."
Bessie looked confused. "What's that?"
"Well, an angel is a guardian. They can sometimes give us messages from God and heaven. They can protect us and guide us." Solara explained. The concept was still a bit new to her.
"That's right, Bessie." Claudia agreed. She had retrieved the bible written in the blind language and read it when Carnegie was delirious with fever. The word of God was still beautiful and she was so proud to have her own daughter believing in its purity. "Let's get in the truck. Come on, Kit."
Suddenly, ash began falling from the sky. "The Toxin fumes! Masks on everyone!" Tom bellowed as he got into the driver's seat. Claudia helped Carnegie into the back seat of the extended DODGE pick-up. Bessie sat next to Tom and Boyd helped Red load the last of the supplies.
"There isn't much room left." Red said.
"I have a gas mask and proper gear so I'll ride in the back. Besides, we need someone watching the rear. In case Russ' crew had another vehicle to follow us with." Solara stated.
"Me too." Red was stopped by Eli.
"Your clothes are not enough protection. I'll scout with Solara. You ride in the cab." Eli hopped in the back before Red could answer. When Red closed the door with an angry thud, Eli thumped on the roof twice. "Let's go, Tom."
The outsider slid his clear goggles on, zipped up the desert-camo flak jacket, and attached the gas mask. Ash fell from the sky thicker and thicker as the DODGE pick-up drove north through the washed out barren land.
Solara could still see black smoke barreling from her home.
"Thank you for what you did for my brother." Eli finally said after an hour of silence.
"I'm sorry that he died." She said sadly.
"I carved his name into the rock that you placed." He glanced at her and quickly looked away.
She nodded.
They remained silent for several hours.
(O)
It was late afternoon. The group had continued on the road. Passed water and food through the back window without stopping. Solara and Eli were still scouting.
"Friend. My wonderful, brave friend." Eli's old voice whispered through Solara's mind. But it didn't startle her. It was as though she expected him to visit.
'Eli. My good, fearless friend. It's been awhile.' She spoke silently to him.
"You've done so well on your own. God will protect you. Continue to practice his love and forgiveness. Teach your loved ones His word. Watch over that little red-head." Eli said.
'You're not going to visit me anymore, are you Eli?' She asked.
"I'll pop in from time to time." He said vaguely.
'My father, thank you for my friends and family. Please watch over them. Thank you for sending Eli to guide me when I wasn't strong enough to continue.' Solara prayed silently and heard the ghost of Eli's deep chuckle before the hum of the road was all that could be heard.
She stood, rummaged through her pack, and found the old iPOD fully charged.
With an ear bud in her left ear and the other in Eli's, Solara hit play. Mozart's Concerto number 20 hummed powerfully. It gave each friend a connection to Eli. The walker. The nomad. The protector of the word of God.