'Really? I've been holed up here for weeks, and have no idea what could do to escape, and you have been here all of ten minutes, and you already have a plan?' The man says, sounding not particularly impressed.
'I seem to have been jumping out of one frying pan and into another, since I woke up.' I say.
'What, since you woke up this morning?'
'No, since I woke up from that vault. Since then all I've done is struggle to find food or clean water, get chased, nearly eaten, nearly fallen to my death, and shot at countless times. The only time I get any peace is in that camp. Crazy' I explain, feeling better after for letting it all out.
'Sorry to say fella, but that's the way life is. Been like that all my life. Why do you think I'm sat here in this sorry mess, cos every time I go out, like any of us, there's trouble, and something waiting to take away from us, either life or what little possessions we have.'
His words just make things worse. It isn't like I can sit back, accept what he says and deal with it by doubling up my intent to survive. Instead it leaves me wondering if there will be any happiness.
Silence descends upon us for a short while, both lost in thought. I wonder if perhaps we are at the end of our road, from the moment of birth, that our struggles are for nothing, because in this world they always end in failure, but in any world they always end in death.
'You mentioned you had a plan.' Steve finally says, interrupting my wallowing in negativity.
I look up at him, and think for a while, looking at him. My mind has gone blank, as if it is a clean slate, that anything I do from now bares no reference to my past, and that I can impress this fresh start on the world around me.
'I think this place needs a leader.' I say.
'What, this railway siding, these buildings, those old trains?' Steve asks. I give him a perplexed look.
'No, I mean the world we live in. It needs someone to organize it, to look after its weaker people, and to defend a set of principles that others will respect and join the fight for.'
Steve raises his eyebrows. I think I surprised him.
'You think? Never heard anyone talk like that before, never expected it of you.' He says, sounding as surprised as he looks.
I remain silent a moment, thinking some more.
'Do you think people would follow, if I led them to a better place, in mind and body, as well as physically?'
Steve looks ever more surprised. 'Yes, they would, I would, we would, I mean me and mine. No one ever seems to know how to lead any more. So yeah, we would.'
I like his optimism, and if I can impress that upon just one person who is staring at death, then perhaps I can impress the same on others. If we get away from here.
I stand up and move back along the walkway, onto the roof of the carriage again. I peer over the sides and down. A teeming mass of various crawling bugs and insects become ever more insane in their lust to gain access to me, strip my bones of flesh and continue their relentless search for food. Much as we humans do.
'Seems like a simple thing really.' I say. As I speak I feel Steve sidle up behind me. He is a very strong man, very muscular, not someone you would want an argument with, and definitely someone you would want on your side.
'Really?' He asks, looking at me perplexed.
'How about I get us out of this, and if I do, in turn you work with me, we create something better, for all people. how about that?' I ask, looking at him squarely in the eye now.
He doesn't seem to need time to think.
'Yes, yes, yes yes indeed. Get me out of here, and if you have an idea that will help all of us, then I will support you throughout to make it better.' He says, daring to smile, sounding giddy.
'Right.' I say, moving over behind him. I walk across to the metal sheeting that we used as a bridge to the building opposite. I push my fingers into gaps in the sheet, and pull at it, letting it fall away one end to the ground, but keeping a tight hold of the other end.
'What are you doing?' Steve shouts, panicking that we are lost.
The sheeting is heavy, but I can just about manage. I pull back on it, sliding it up and across the roof of the carriageway. Steve looks on, as confused as anything. Finally, I slide the sheeting across the carriage roof, and lift it upright, before placing one edge near the end of the carriage roof. Holding onto the bottom of the sheeting, I allow it to fall, away from the building, swinging down across the writhing figure of death below, as it crashes onto the a rock outcrop beyond, creating a bridge for us, out into the plateau beyond.
Steve now really does light up, his eyes a look of amazement, ignoring the fact that he has been stuck here so long and never thought of it.
'Ready to go?' I ask, at which he nods. I gently step onto the newly formed bridge, and move across slowly. Steve follows behind, and in seconds we are across from the mass of insects and to safer higher ground.
'We won't have long til some figure out where we've gone, so let's run for it.' I say. Steve needs no further encouragement, as we break out into a sprint, away from certain death...
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