Once again I do not own this world and no money is being made on this at all. It is strictly for the enjoyment of the people of Malawi and anybody who likes the terminator.

Chapter 4: Travelling companions

Ibrahim snuck trough the darkness, keeping careful watch for any machines. He saw several guarding crossroads and everywhere where the machines where there where corpses in the road. He didn't make any connection between his own actions and those of the machines instead acting on gut instinct he avoided them. The streets where dark, the street lights weren't on and he noticed that most houses where dark as well or only dimly lit by candles. He figured that the power had been cut, so that meant that his friends had been successful. After a while he got to his apartment, the cops hadn't been here yet. Relaxing slightly he went to the fridge and got something to eat. Looking out of the windows he saw no lights at all. That was odd. The city had three power stations. His men had blown up the two old ones. The new one should still be able to provide most of the power. The new one had mainly been built to provide the new factories with power. True it would also solve the brownout problem the city had in summer time but that was just an extra benefit. Curious he decided to climb to the roof to see what was happening.

Climbing the stairs to the roof took some time as the building was 15 storeys high. When he got there he looked around. He could see dim lights in the hospitals. Apparently the hospitals where running on emergency generators. As he looked around he thought at first that city hall was also running on emergency power but then he noticed flames breaking out of the windows. The city hall was on fire! Maybe another group had hit that, he wondered idly. Then he turned around, the new car manufacturing plant was a see of light, and obvious it still had full power. That was odd why give the plant all the energy when the city obviously needed it? He really hadn't thought that these westerners would be so jaded as to put profit above the welfare of the city. As he once again turned around now looking at the horizon he saw several red glows far away in the direction of other cities topped by thick billowing clouds that blotted out any starlight. In the past he had come up here at night to think trying to recapture the sense of his desert home country where the sky was ablaze with stars. Here much of the starlight was soaked up by the glow of cities on the horizon. Now it seemed as if every city that had been there was on fire. What could have caused that? He remembered the rumbling he had heard in his cell and a grim realization started to sink in. Somehow the events of the day must have triggered a nuclear Armageddon.

So what was the role then of those machines? Where did they come from? Had they been snuck in to the city as an automated assault force? He knew that his people weren't capable of such a feat. The only countries that where possibly technologically advanced enough to have made machines like that where the western democracies. He didn't think anything like these machines was possible without some sort of remote control. And even if it was some western country it didn't make any sense. Ibrahim just wanted the western world to acknowledge the wrong they had done his people. He also wanted rid of the abomination of their religion and mainly get rid of the Jews. Let them have their homeland in Germany they where the ones who had wronged them. But he didn't want to destroy the whole world. Who would want that, besides the west would strike back at his home as well. His heart grew cold at the thought of the destruction of his homeland. He slowly realized that maybe somehow he had been used by someone who had a completely different agenda. "By Allah!" he thought. "I'll have my revenge on whosoever is behind this; Ins Allah".

He didn't sleep well that night, the whole situation continued to play through his head. He made up his mind to check out the factory in the morning. Something was going on there and he meant to find out what and how it tied in with the bigger picture. During the night he continued to hear gun shots. Several times trucks moved through the street. In the morning he was woken by a different sound. Several machines had moved into the street, one was equipped with a flame thrower. It had started at the first house of the street; it moved up to the front porch after one of the machines shot the front door to pieces. Then it turned its weapon on the inside. Soon the whole building was on fire. As people tried to jump from windows they where shot by several machines that where standing guard.

As the fire was started the first two machines moved to the next building and repeated the process. Some people in the street who had been watching the scene unfold tried to get out of their own homes; they where gunned down mercilessly by a number of machines that where standing guard throughout the street. Other people who had guns started shooting at the machines. It was to no avail, at best they where ignored at worst they where shot by the machines. Ibrahim was stunned what where those machines? Who where they working for what was the sense in this? Fortunately Ibrahim had chosen to live in this building for a reason. It had a cellar where people had storage space. His storage space was unique it was very close to the street sewer and with the help of some of his comrades he had made a passage to the sewer. His apartment was also located on the ground floor above the cellar and he had made a bolthole in the floor of his apartment.

Gathering up his weapons, from their hiding places, and packing a rucksack with food and drink he pulled back the carpet which hid the access to the cellar. He stopped as he could hear the people in the hall arguing what they would do. His next door neighbours had gone out into the street and had been shot. Several others had tried the rear of the building, only to get shot by other machines that where waiting in the alley. He opened up his door, some people turned to him staring at the AK47 he now carried. Before the people could ask him what he was doing he spook. "Quickly!" He said. "Don't ask questions, I've a way out of here that is hidden. Grab some food, water and flashlights and come here. If you have weapons bring those as well. What do you mean, Ibs;" Asked one of his neighbours whose name was Tom. Standing back in his doorway he let him see the trapdoor. Nodding in understanding Tom stood back; "everybody do as he says, move, move, move those damned machines will be here soon!" Everybody started to get the things they wanted to take with them galvanized into actions by the man's words.

Ibrahim in the meantime went into his cellar. Picking up a flashlight which was there for just such an occasion he moved to the tunnel. Tom was the first to join him and Ibrahim walked up to the door which lead to the sewer. It was very well made. From this side it was a heavy door which was bolted. From the other side it looked just like a piece of sewer wall. Tom raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner but left it at that. Ibrahim just shrugged. They checked to see if the way was clear, no machines could be seen. Returning to the cellar Ibrahim picked up a rucksack which lay on the floor and gave it to Tom. "There's a Glock inside with some clips also for the AK47, a hand grenade and some bandages and stuff" Ibrahim said to Tom. "Man you sure are packing" Tom said. Ibrahim just smiled.

Just then the first of the refugees came down the ladder into the cellar. Ibrahim explained that the sewer led to the warehouse district. That should be safe enough at the moment. All in all some nineteen people made their way into the sewer. Ibrahim had expected some complaints on their escape route, but to his surprise nobody said anything. They all realized it was this or a rather dreadful death. It was slow going at first. An older couple had decided to bring a suitcase which they wouldn't give up at first. Only after Tom offered a trade, they could carry his rucksack and he would carry the suitcase, did their speed increase.

As they made their way through the damp and filthy sewer, they heard the sound of gunfire grow lesser and lesser. They heard rumbling and crashing sounds and a once an explosion but they couldn't tell if they where walking towards the sounds or away from them.They passed several side passages, but Ibrahim kept them on a straight course. He had long ago scouted the sewers and new where he was going. He was headed to the warehouse district where he hoped to pick up a car from storage. Despite having seen and realized that the destruction was widespread he hoped to get to Canada. He hoped that they had escaped this war and that he could get transport to his home. As they got to a major junction ibrahim took a right turn. This tunnel would lead them pass the armoury, he had once hoped that he could gain access to that from the tunnels but all the tunnels leading in that direction where either too small or barred with strong gates. Now they got close to the sewer that ran underneath the main street leading to the armoury.

Ibrahim figured that the sound of rumbling and crashing had gotten louder and as he looked out in the gloom ahead he thought he saw that it was lighter. Motioning for the others too stand still he cautiously went a few steps ahead. Tom and a woman called Sara joined him. "What's up Ibs;" Tom asked. "Look ahead, don't you think its lighter up ahead," Ibrahim asked. "It's hard to tell Ibs. Can't see much because of the torches" Sara said. "Ok," Ibs said. " Ask the others too turn of their lights, maybe we can make out something more then." A few whispered conversations later and all the lights where turned off. Slowly Ibs, Tom and Sara moved further up. As their eyes adjusted to the darkness of the sewer they could see that there was indeed more light coming from up ahead. The light came from the side tunnel under the main street. As they got to the juncture, Ibrahim pulled his AK47 up. When they saw this both Tom, and to Ibrahims surprise, Sara pulled out guns, when Sara saw Ibrahims looks she smiled, "A girl alone in the big city what d'ya expect? Gotta have some protection." Ibs suppressed a snigger that was some protection she was carrying; a 357 magnum. No sane man would go near that girl.

Slowly Tom looked around the corner of the tunnel tube. He relaxed a little bit, he could indeed see daylight. There was some rubble laying beneath the remains of a manhole shaft. It had obviously been destroyed by an explosion but they couldn't see any other signs of the machines. They held a quick council. There goal was a few streets further. Ibrahim figured that whatever had happened was centred around the armoury. He thought there would be enough distance between them and their destination to risk going on. And they couldn't stay down here. Any where away from the machines would be good enough and the place he had chosen to surface again was inside the storage room so they would be hidden from sight. Admittedly at first he hadn't planned on taking them there but he actually did like his companions he realized. As they had no other ideas of what to do they decided this was their best choice. They did decide that Ibrahim would scout ahead and that Tom and Sara would lead the main group.

Ibrahim set off at a brisk pace, why he had decided to bring them to his escape base he didn't know however his choice was made and he decided to stick by it. Somehow he realized that this wasn't about east versus west anymore but something new. As he was on his own now he made good time. And shortly afterwards he found the exit to the storage room, this one wasn't hidden. It was locked with a big cipher lock. That had always been so, what was new was the lock, it was of the same make that the city had used to bar this entrance. He had simply replaced it with a new one which he had bought from the internet. The door led to a small storage area for the city maintenance crews which lay beneath the warehouse above. Ibrahim rented some storage space in the warehouse. He had a small supply of weapons in the storage, some handguns four AK47's and even better an RPG with three grenades for it. Ibrahim smiled, if things where going to go as he thought that would come in handy, as would his knowledge of how to make new grenades for it. His storage space was accessible from the room through a trapdoor in the ceiling which was hidden behind a cupboard. Smiling he opened up the cover and moved into the room above.

Tom and Sara moved the others pass the main street sewer. Just as they where nearly passed it, Tom heard gunfire coming from above ground. Whatever was going on he hoped that Ibs new what he was doing. It sounded as if a war was being waged above them. Every now and again an explosion would shake dust and once some bricks loose from the ceiling covering them in a brownish grey cake of grime and dust. Urging the others on Tom and Sara tried to catch up with Ibrahim. Just as they where beginning to think that Ibrahim had deserted them, they heard him calling out. "This way," he whispered loudly. He moved everybody into the storage room. It was tight but they could at least sit for a while on crates and equipment.

At the moment there was another lull in the sound of fighting. Ibrahim suggested he take a look and see if he could find out what was happening. They thought that maybe the machines had tried to take over the armoury and had met armed resistance from National Guard troops. If they could get to them they would be safe and maybe they could get them to stop the killing that was going on. So Ibrahim checked his gun and on an after thought took some grenades and plastique explosives he had stored there as well. The storage had a rolling door with a second door in that. Ibrahim first laid his ear against the cool metal of the rolling door. After he was satisfied he couldn't hear anything he carefully opened the smaller door. Cautiously he looked out into the street. Before he went into the street he turned to Tom, "when I come back I'll knock like this," quickly he drummed a rhythm on the door. "If you don't hear that rhythm, don't open up. Arm yourselves and be prepared for trouble. If I don't return within two hours Leave, get out of the city and don't come back." After that bit of advice he went out into the street.

Keeping to shadows and hiding between cars and crates that where in the street Ibrahim crept along the street in the direction of the armoury. He was also heading in the direction of the gunfire he heard previously when he heard muffled gun fire followed by a loud crash. Making sure there where no machines in the street he wanted to use to get out he moved up to the corner of the street. A building had collapsed and a man was lying in front of it, covered in dust clinging onto a M16. Moaning the man turned around to look at the collapsed building when all of a sudden a machine emerged from the rubble trailing a broken beam of timber after it which had been lodged between its body and its left mini-gun. Cursing the man got up and ran in Ibrahim's direction. He was in luck, the machine couldn't get its remaining gun into a firing position before he was at the corner. He stumbled pass Ibrahim who didn't hesitate but grabbed the startled and limping man, supporting him he ran with him to the cover of an old factory building. The first machine was followed by a second one. After what seemed a moment's deliberation the machines turned back on their original course leaving the two humans alive to limp to safety.

Jacob had been travelling for a day now after leaving the barn. The fallout had fallen for two days, several other people had found the barn as well. Nobody had talked much as everybody was to busy with their own grief. Now the road was full of people most where on foot but there where a few cars about, but not many, and those that where about where mainly older models. The EMP had destroyed much of the delicate electronics of new cars, and most people lacked the skill to get them running again. He spent the night in the back of an abandoned Mercedes. The driver having left the car door unlocked when he left the car. Jacob figured that compared to some people he probably slept luxuriously that night.

The next day he awoke thirsty and hungry. The last of his water and the energy bar had been finished the previous night. Tiredly he got to his feet. He knew he needed to get to the first town fast before it was swamped with refugees. Jacob reckoned that although few people must have survived the blast they would all be heading to the hills and the sheltered little towns. He set out at a punishing speed, so far he had been able to maintain it and he had thus outstripped other refugees on foot. This far from the main blast zone the damage was already lessening. Early in the midday he came to a small town. He was stopped at the main road by the sheriff.

"Stop! Go back, we don't want your kind here!" Brandishing a shotgun the sheriff stood in the middle of the road on a makeshift barricade blocking Jacob's path, more armed men could be seen along the barricade. Jacob replied "and what kind is that? A looter, you'd take what little we've got, we've got children to feed so we're not sharing. So now just you go and turn around and don't come back here." Jacob wasn't really surprised by the answer the sheriff gave, but at the moment he was desperate for some water and a bite to eat wouldn't come amiss as well. So stopping in the road he raised his hands and turned slowly around; "look I've got no weapons and I'm really just passing through. I'm trying to make it to a friends place he lives beyond sacremento (check). But if you can just spare me some water I would really appreciate it."

The sheriff looked at him as he stood there in the street. His stance was very non-threatening and he looked really tired and worn out. When the flashes had happened everybody had been shocked and wondering what was going on. To the sheriff it had been obvious what the flashes where even before they could see the ominous shape of mushroom clouds in the distance. He had gotten his deputy to ride around using the speaker to urge everybody to get inside and stay inside until the all clear came. They didn't notice much of direct effects of the blasts the distance between them and the coastal cities being large enough to dissipate the effect of the blasts. The earth had shook like the effects of a small earthquake. And then a few minutes after the first flashes the town had been hit by a few strong and oddly warm wind gusts, the remnants of the shockwaves from the blasts. To the west a dark wall of smoke had begun rising to the heavens as anything flammable within reach of the heatwave from the bombs had been ignited virtually instantaneous.

If one looked through binoculars from a vantage point, as the sheriff had done, one saw angry red licks of flame reaching to the sky punctuating the billowing smoke columns. He had watched for a while as it grew darker and cold fear settled in his heart. And in a very short time the sky had become dark, as dark as night. At some point a severe electrical storm had picked up. He knew that it would probably start to rain pretty soon and any rain that would fall know would be radioactive. So following the advice he had given the townspeople he got inside abd with foresight turned on the taps getting every body to fill anything that could hold water. As true night settled the rain had fallen for a short while. He knew that after the rain there might be a short while when they could go about before the fallout would start to fall. So he didn't give the all clear sign just yet. As he expected the next day the fallout started, it looked like simple ash but if you held a Geiger teller anywhere near it, it would go like mad he new.

They had trouble with the refugees who had started to come through last night. They had been demanding food and board, most people had been prepared to help but when people refused to give their own emergency supplies it had gotten nasty. Some of the refugees had produced weapons; god only knew where they got those from if they had started out after the blast. They had threatened people it had gotten pretty bad and he had been forced to shoot one. The others had been disarmed those who weren't involved with the disturbance where simply turned out. Those who had been involved had been stripped of their weapons, supplies and vehicles and ran out of town. After that they had barricaded the entrances into town and turned everybody around.

Now he was looking at the guy in the road 40 something, good suit, walking shoes and a medic bag slung over a shoulder. Dusty as hell and he looked really tired. The guy in the road started talking again; "Look there are a lot of people coming this way and I want to stay ahead of them. Just give me some water, and if you feel inclined to, a bite to eat and I'll be on my way." The sheriff mulled it over a bit and decided to give the guy something, he just didn't have it in him, to let an innocent suffer. He motioned to Ed, his deputy; "Go on Ed get a jerry can of water and give him some food as well. Ah Sheriff!" Said Ed; "I thought we decided on turning people away. Yes we did Ed, but it just don't sit right with me. So I'm going to give this fellow something to drink and eat and that'll be the end of it. Now shoo go on get that water and food."

As Ed shuffled of to get the water the Sheriff turned to Jacob. "What's like out there?" He asked. "I didn't see to much myself," said Jacob. "But it looks bad. My office was burned to the ground and we where some way of from the blast. Most people reacted badly and stayed out in the fallout. So there are going to be a lot of dying people around. You really should turn people away, it won't be long before outbreaks of all kinds of deceases will start. And the people who stayed out in the fallout are already being affected. I passed people with blisters in their face from the fallout, and some where armed. Seal off your town, and hide your supplies just in case." The sheriff offered Jacob some coffee from a thermos can which he gratefully accepted.

"So," Jacob asked the sheriff. "Any idea who started this mess? None whatsoever," said the sheriff. "This is al so out of the blue. It might be that terrorist started this of or some event in the Middle East. Some of those defences where pretty much automated on both sides. One of the townspeople reckons he saw a missile launch a while before the bombs hit, so it's a save bet that we got our licks in as well. We didn't get a time between launch and the time the bombs fell so no way of knowing if we fired first or they did. I reckon it's a save bet that either some politician screwed up or some military guy got trigger happy." Jacob looked thoughtful, it's weird nobody I've talked to has any idea what happened. Or who or what event triggered it. Have you got anything over the radio? No" The sheriff said. It's been quiet all around. There is a lot of interference so we couldn't pick up much what we got was garbled badly seemed like some grunts survived but nothing organized."

Just then Ed returned with the water, he had a jerry can of water strapped to a back pack with some canned food, a bacon and egg sandwich from a vending machine and a blanket courtesy of Betsy at the station. Jacob accepted it gratefully, it was far more than he had expected or had reason to believe he could get. The sheriff smiled; "Betsy' got a good heart and I reckon you can really use it." Jacob agreed wholeheartedly. The sheriff turned to Ed once again; "Ed, just give this nice gentleman a lift to the old bridge, that way we're sure he's out of town and we save him a good leg of his journey." He grinned at Jacob who laughed for the first time since the bomb fell. After shaking the sheriff's hand he got into the patrol car with Ed and grinning he took a huge bite from the sandwich. This was his first bit of real luck in three days.

Ed turned out to be a very likeable man as well, once he got over his natural suspicion, and they got to talking pretty soon. Ed was a real family man with a two kids and a wife and he was very afraid of what was going to happen now. He wondered what kind of life they would have in a post apocalyptic world. Pretty soon they where at the old bridge, the trip had taken some 20 miles of his journey and Jacob was very glad. As they stopped at the bridge Ed turned to Jacob; "I could take you a whilst further you know, up to the hills there it's only 'bout an quarter of an hour drive." But Jacob refused "You've got a wife and kids to take care off and I'm pretty sure that the sheriffs going to need you in the time ahead, it's going to get difficult I suspect. Well anyway said Ed you might make it to the old Johnsons place, you can hole up there for the night" Shaking hands they parted ways and Jacob began his journey through the hills.

He started walking at a fast pace slower than he had the previous day but still quiet fast. He didn't see anybody after being dropped of by the deputy which was good, it meant he was still ahead of the main flow of refugees on foot and that those with cars had already moved on. He did not want to meet those who had been run out of the town. They would probably be more than a bit belligerent and not in a friendly mood.

Before the end of the day he came to a small and rundown deserted house, presumably this was Johnson's place as the name Johnson was stencilled in fading green letters on a mail box leaning at an odd angle on a very crooked looking pole. The mailbox had also very obviously been used as target practice by someone, it was riddled with bullet holes. Old stained curtains hung limply in the sills of the broken windows. Cautiously he walked up to the front porch of the house.

The front door opened with a loud creaking sound as the hinges protested against the unfamiliar strain of being used. It was obvious that kids used to hang out here. Amongst the dust that covered everything lay discarded candy wrappers, food cartons from take away and empty bottles and cans of everything ranging from ginger ale to hard liquor. He crossed through the former living room to the old kitchen. A three legged table and a rather sad looking chair stood forlornly in the middle of the kitchen covered with the debris of meals eaten with rather to much gusto. In the corner stood an old fashioned iron stove. A hand pump provided water and was still working. Jacob thought that the fallout wouldn't have effected the ground water yet so he decided to fill the empty bottles he had. On an after thought he decided to salvage some of the soda bottles and fill them as well. Most of the doors of the cupboards where gone and the cupboards very empty. Rummaging in the drawers however, yielded an old can opener and a pannikin with a broken handle. These he could use to open up the tins he had and cook them.

A second door led into another smaller room which was cleaner than the other area's. He decided that he would sleep in this room as it was less cluttered with rubbish. Returning to the kitchen he broke the table into pieces and used them to build a fire in the stove. Tonight he would feast, he decided, using some of the canned food he made a hot meal. After dinner he made his bed with some of the curtains. As he settled in to sleep he froze. A car had just pulled up outside. Quickly and quietly he got to his feet. He peeked around the corner of the kitchen, now he could hear some arguing going on outside. Two tired voices drifted in from outside. Apparantly they where arguing about the merits of stopping here.

"Oh! Alex can't we find a motel or something? I just know there's going to be cockroaches in there and other creepy crawly thingies!" Whined a high pitched woman's voice. "Honey, I doubt that anybody will take us in. It's everyone for them selves now, besides with what would we pay for rooms and food. It's not like money is still worth anything." A deep baritone male voice shot back. "We could give them your watch. I never did like it, its to flashy!" The woman shot back. "Honey it's a Rolex, its not flashy its stylish, state of the art and expensive. I'm not giving it away and besides what goes for money goes for jewellery as well, nobody is going to trade it for something which means life or death." A third voice then said "Oh just shut up you two, the world has just ended and you're arguing about fashion accessories.

On that statement they entered the house. The two who had been told to shut up where dressed for a party although their clothes where looking slightly rumpled now. The woman was petit with dark brown hair she was dressed in a crinkled but very fetching blue cocktail dress. She looked tired and irritated her makeup was a mess; a small gash on her forehead had crusted over. The man was a very skinny and nerdy looking young man he was dressed in dark casual clothes; stains marred his clothes with darker smudges. A few bruises where visible in his face and some small cuts where visible on his hand. The third member of the group was obviously of Mexican descent. He was a small man not five foot ten and very slim. He was covered with dried mud and soot and his dark hair was matted to his head. He definitely looked the worse for wear. Before the threesome could start arguing in full force they noticed Jacob.

For what seemed a long time they stared at each other, they all relaxed as they noticed that no one was carrying any weapons. The Mexican guy was the first to speak; "Um hi! Um we didn't think there was anybody in here and we need a place to crash so we thought we stay here but we'll leave if that is what you want and we've been on the road for a long time now and we're really tired and we don't want to cause any trouble we just want some water." He just rambled on for a while until Jacob raised a hand and said "all right. You can stay here there's still some water in the pump so you can get some from there. I have no idea though how long it's still going to be safe to drink from it."

They all relaxed and Jacob introduced himself, the nerds name was Alex the woman was called Honey at which Jacob couldn't suppress a smile. Honey started complaining about everything she saw when she looked around the front room with Alex dutifully following her and making similar comments. The Mexican guy just turned his eyes upwards and muttered quietly; "Madre de dios." He then introduced himself as Charlie. Jacob laughed a bit at that statement and offered Charlie some water from a cup with a broken ear he had rescued from the kitchen. As Charlie took the proffered water Jacob asked him what he had seen and where he dug up this very odd couple. "Well that is a very long story with some odd twists." Jacob grinned, "we've got time so spill." With that Charlie recounted his story of Judgement day and the following days.