7 - Can't Get There From Here - DEADLAND

Artwork for podcast DEADLAND

7 - Can't Get There From Here

Episode 7 • 31st January 2021 • DEADLAND • Philip A. McClimon

0:00

hi Philip a mccleiman here just wanted

0:04

to thank you for listening to my podcast

0:07

it's a blast making it and an even

0:09

bigger blast knowing you are enjoying it

0:11

if you are enjoying the podcast please

0:14

consider supporting it with a one-time

0:15

donation of three dollars which is about

0:18

the price of a cheap cup of coffee

0:21

the link to do that is in the show notes

0:23

right there at the top I am usually

0:25

drinking coffee when I record the

0:27

podcast so it kind of makes sense

0:30

okay thanks again for listening on to

0:33

the next episode and the next cup of

0:35

coffee

0:37

human

0:42

[Music]

0:50

extinction level Plus

0:59

smoke screen

1:02

Jenny listened to the footsteps above

1:05

her

1:06

waiting for them to move beyond the

1:08

kitchen

1:09

and out the door

1:11

her breathing which threatened

1:13

hyperventilation caught in her throat

1:16

when she heard the steps come to a stop

1:20

her held breath matched Pace with the

1:22

long silence above her

1:24

the panel flew open and a man in a

1:27

hazmat suit and gas mask stared down at

1:30

her

1:31

she was about to flee to take her

1:33

chances with the men outside wanting

1:36

only to escape whatever fate they had in

1:38

mind for her when the man above her held

1:41

out his hand

1:43

shock and curiosity gave her pause and

1:46

she watched in Fascination as the man

1:48

removed his mask and stared at her with

1:51

eyes more sympathetic than threatening

1:54

the words he spoke to her were the last

1:56

she expected to hear

1:58

in a hushed whisper he told her to wait

2:01

to flee to the trees Beyond only when

2:03

she could not bear the smoke and the

2:05

Flames another second

2:07

the man had pointed towards the ceiling

2:09

but later she understood he meant the

2:11

sky

2:13

they won't be able to see you under the

2:15

Heat and the smoke

2:17

with that and not another word after he

2:20

closed the panel over her

2:22

only then did she hear his footsteps

2:25

move across the floor and out

2:28

she held out for as long as she could

2:30

and when the Roar of the Flames above

2:33

her obliterated all other sounds with

2:35

her breath coming in chest rattling

2:37

coughs Jenny Harper pushed herself out

2:40

of the trailer

2:41

and ran for the trees

2:44

everything she had was gone

2:47

she would go to the Beaver Dam and to

2:49

Tugger

2:50

he would make her work for it but he

2:52

would give her what she needed

2:56

Leaving on a Jet Plane

2:59

Francis delrone shoved his money across

3:02

the counter and grabbed his ticket

3:05

seat 32b to Anywhere But Here

3:08

he was nervous and sweaty and was trying

3:11

to play it cool

3:13

hoping the attendant behind the counter

3:15

wouldn't notice

3:17

boarding wasn't scheduled for another 15

3:19

minutes

3:20

he wasn't feeling right but chalked it

3:23

up to stress

3:25

he saw a water fountain at the far end

3:27

of the boarding area and thought a cool

3:29

drink might make him feel better

3:32

making his way across the room it felt

3:34

like he was walking through the deep end

3:36

of the pool

3:38

he reached for the button on the

3:39

fountain and His Hands fumbled clumsily

3:42

activating the water on the third

3:44

attempt

3:46

as he raised his head from the fountain

3:48

he heard a female voice call for the

3:50

boarding of the physically challenged

3:52

and the elderly

3:54

he shambled over to the tunnel with his

3:56

ticket in hand

3:57

as he approached he thought the

3:59

attendant was going to give him trouble

4:01

but as she watched him she only asked if

4:04

he needed assistance in boarding

4:06

Francis shook his head then stumble

4:09

walked through the tunnel toward the

4:11

plane

4:12

he found his seat and slumped down into

4:14

it minutes later the rest of the

4:17

passengers boarded and the stewardess

4:20

began her safety monologue

4:22

Francis leaned back in his seat and

4:24

rested his head

4:26

he was so tired his body felt like it

4:29

was trapped in jello a quick nap would

4:32

do him good

4:33

when he woke up he would be away from

4:36

here and they would never see him again

4:40

all flights canceled

4:44

Patricia Neal had given the speech

4:46

countless times

4:47

and she was used to nobody paying

4:49

attention to her while she did it

4:52

what she wasn't used to were the

4:54

passengers on the right side of the

4:56

plane all looking hurriedly out their

4:58

windows and gasping at what they saw

5:02

only seconds before adulthood was heard

5:05

from somewhere outside the plane

5:08

almost as one the passengers on the left

5:10

Rose from their seats and leaned over to

5:13

get a view

5:15

Patricia stopped in mid-sentence and

5:17

watched the spectacle before her

5:20

she was about to go over to the nearest

5:22

window herself and see what all the fuss

5:24

was about

5:25

when another stewardess leaned in and

5:28

whispered in her ear

5:30

Patricia nodded and turned back to her

5:33

passengers

5:34

ladies and gentlemen if I can have your

5:36

attention please flight 252 is being

5:39

delayed temporarily ladies and Gentlemen

5:42

please if I can have your attention for

5:44

just a moment it concerns what you might

5:46

now be seeing out of your windows

5:49

sensing they might receive some sort of

5:51

explanation the passengers began to turn

5:54

her way

5:55

ladies and gentlemen we are being asked

5:58

to delay our flight this afternoon for

6:00

just a little while military authorities

6:02

are pursuing a suspect and have reason

6:04

to believe he may have come to the

6:06

airport

6:07

she said

6:08

immediately questions were fired at her

6:11

from passengers who were anything but

6:13

calmed by her words

6:15

a portly man bulging at the seams of his

6:18

too small suit stood up

6:20

his pink mottled face seemed to go red

6:22

underneath his thinning comb over as he

6:25

launched into his interrogation

6:27

does this have anything to do with the

6:29

explosion we heard and the fires in the

6:31

distance

6:32

Patricia spoke calmly and evenly over

6:35

the public address system

6:37

we have received no information

6:38

regarding explosions or fires I am sure

6:41

this is just routine so if we could all

6:43

relax then I'm sure we will she was

6:46

interrupted by one of the passengers his

6:48

dark wavy hair and open collar shirt

6:50

with jeans gave the appearance he took

6:53

things in stride only just now he wasn't

6:56

I'll tell you what ain't routine that

6:59

he said pointing out his window

7:02

just that quickly Patricia lost her

7:04

audience as the passengers turned their

7:06

attention back to the windows they

7:09

watched as outside the plane the

7:10

remaining employees and passengers

7:12

waiting for the next flight were being

7:14

escorted in lines to the back of waiting

7:17

18 wheelers

7:18

in the distance black helicopters

7:21

circled above the ground the fire and

7:23

smoke seeming to reach up to them

7:26

the portly man with the bad comb over

7:28

took it upon himself to speak for the

7:30

other passengers we demand to know

7:32

what's going on here if they are just

7:34

looking for a fugitive then why is the

7:36

military rounded up everybody we the

7:38

people know our rights they can't do

7:40

that

7:42

Patricia looked around the plane for a

7:44

saner voice but nobody spoke

7:47

they all turned and stared at her as if

7:49

she was going to give them an answer

7:51

they would understand

7:53

her eyes settled on the passenger in

7:55

seat 32b

7:57

he appeared to be sleeping undisturbed

7:59

by the events happening around him

8:02

she counted it a small blessing but at

8:04

least one of the passengers was calm

8:06

then took a breath and tried to think of

8:09

something positive to say

8:11

before she had a chance the door of the

8:13

plane was open

8:15

Patricia's last second of regular life

8:17

Ended as she turned and stared into the

8:19

dark lenses of the respirator and a

8:22

figure in a hazmat suit

8:24

he entered the plane his rifle slung

8:26

down by his side in one hand was a file

8:29

photo of Francis Del Roni

8:32

others followed in behind him as he made

8:34

his way down the aisle to the back of

8:36

the plane

8:37

within seconds they were soldiers all

8:40

wearing the same suits and masks

8:42

stationed throughout the aircraft none

8:44

of the passengers spoke transfixed as

8:47

they were by the scene unfolding before

8:49

them

8:50

the man with a comb over rallied and

8:52

tried to protest but was shut down by

8:55

another figure appearing at the front of

8:57

the plane

8:58

her protests ignored Patricia was

9:00

escorted off the plane by two soldiers

9:03

stationed at the door

9:04

the man at the front picked up the

9:06

abandoned microphone and addressed the

9:09

plane

9:10

my name is Lieutenant Oliver James when

9:13

I give the word you will be disembarked

9:15

and taken to a holding facility until

9:17

such time that it is deemed safe for you

9:19

to be released

9:20

a wave of protest erupted from the

9:22

passengers but was met by only the stoic

9:25

Silence of the men in the hazmat suits

9:28

those not moving on their own were

9:30

pulled from their seats and shoved into

9:32

the aisle

9:33

bad comor for guy found his voice and

9:36

began a fresh tirade hey I know my

9:39

rights you can't do this I'll write my

9:41

congressman

9:42

Lieutenant James looked over at one of

9:45

his men standing by seat 32b the soldier

9:48

gave a single nod to his lieutenant

9:51

everything will be fine if you come with

9:53

us peacefully sir you're safe Lieutenant

9:56

James said

9:57

the passengers were deplaned and marched

9:59

into the terminal an 18-wheeler pulled

10:02

up beside the plane and four more

10:04

soldiers in hazmat suits and rifles

10:06

jumped out

10:08

a fifth climbed out more slowly behind

10:10

them and directed the passengers to the

10:12

terminal

10:14

inside the plane it was empty save for

10:17

seat 32b and Lieutenant James

10:21

the lieutenant raised his rifle and

10:22

aimed it at the head of the motionless

10:24

Francis delrony

10:26

the lieutenant touched a button on his

10:28

mask and gave the all clear

10:30

all secure

10:33

a moment later the five from the

10:35

18-wheeler boarded the aircraft

10:37

the four in the lead marched down the

10:39

aisle and took up position around

10:40

delrony the fifth started down the aisle

10:43

but stopped at Lieutenant James words

10:46

don't get in my line of sight Dr krenner

10:49

he's all yours until he isn't understand

10:52

Dr krenner looked at the lieutenant who

10:54

kept his rightful training Don Del

10:55

Roni's head and nodded before going to

10:58

seat 32b

11:00

it only took a minute but Dr krenner

11:03

knew

11:04

he is stage four stage five is death

11:07

after that we don't have much time hurry

11:09

he said then stepped out of the aisle

11:12

making room for the four to do their job

11:15

the Four soldiers seized Francis delrone

11:17

and carried him hurriedly off the plane

11:20

and outside to the waiting truck