Apocalypsis 03 - Exodus

isn’t very realistic for our purposes.”
    “Oh,” I said, feeling stupid. I had no idea where Alcatraz was prior to Jamal telling me.
    “The place I’m talking about used to be the biggest penitentiary in South Florida. A friend of ours’ uncle was in there, so he told us about it. He showed me on the computer once. It’s got barbed wire all around it and fences, of course. And big buildings filled with rooms and stuff. We were thinking it could be good for not only living in but for defensive purposes too, if you know what I mean.”
    I nodded my head as I thought about all the possibilities. “Does it have land around it too, or is it all concrete?”
    Jamal frowned. “I can’t remember. I think I saw some grass and stuff. But it’s kind of out of the city, so it probably does have land around it.”
    My mind was racing a million miles an hour. If we could get some cattle and horses like the kids here have, and a loom or two and supplies that actually create other supplies instead of just getting used up … we could start a whole new self-sustaining community! I grabbed Peter’s arm. “You need to find us some looms. And figure out what it’s going to take to make a bread oven like they have.”
    “Okaaay,” he said cautiously. “Care to share what’s burning your brain cells at an alarming rate right now?”
    “I know exactly what she’s thinking,” said Ronald, getting animated too. “It’s exactly what Jamal and I said to each other. We need a place to start over. To start fresh. Where we can invite people to join us and share with us. It’ll be the new world! Better than the old one! Without intolerance or racism or hatred or any of that nonsense.”
    Peter held up his hands. “Ho, ho, hold on there, guys. You’re all getting a little bit ahead of yourselves here, I think.” He dropped his hands and looked at each of us before beginning again. “How do you know it’s available and that there aren’t already kids there? And how are just the four of us going to be able to hold down a place that big? The logistics of running a whole community are … astronomically complicated.”
    I patted him on the back. “That’s where you come in, little buddy. You’re the genius. Figure that all out for us and tell us what to do. You’re the new mayor of Apocalypsis.”
    “Why Apocalypsis?” asked Jamal.
    “Well, it recognizes what got us there in the first place, for one. And it also kind of shows that we’re flipping the world around a little bit, changing the way it’s been or shaped. No longer round but maybe just a little bit elliptical. Apocalypsis … get it?”
    Ronald nodded, smiling. “I like it. I vote yes.”
    “Yes for me too,” said Jamal, smiling with his brother and for the first time, showing me clearly that they are, in fact, related.
    “Fine,” said Peter. “If you guys like it, I like it.”
    I rubbed his back. “See how easy that was? Now do the rest and let us know our parts.”
    Peter stood up. “First thing’s first. We need to pack.” And he was back to breaking down the pantry’s contents into the going-with-us pile and the staying-behind pile.
    “You guys should get some rest. Why don’t you crash here, and we’ll talk more in the morning,” I said, standing and straightening my shorts.
    “Where are you going?” asked Ronald.
    “I have to go talk to some people. I’ll be back later, don’t worry. We’re all going to need a good night’s sleep before we head out.”
    Ronald and Jamal nodded.
    “I’ll see you later, Peter. Don’t wait up.”
    “Whatever,” he said, too distracted to probably even realize I was leaving.
    Now where in this godforsaken swamp am I going to find Mandy?
    ***
    I found her and several others at the pool. There was none of the frolicking around and splashing I had heard before. Now people were floating in groups or sitting on the walkways, talking quietly. Some of them were even crying. A small piece of me was happy to know that we would be missed, even if only for a day or two.
    I saw Mandy and walked over to her, gesturing for her to follow me. I waited a few feet away and didn’t start talking until I knew we were far enough from the others that they wouldn’t hear me.
    “Hey,” I said.
    “Hey. How are you doing? Are you totally freaking out right now like we are?” She put her wet hand on my arm.
    “Yeah, pretty much. But I’m here to ask you for a favor.”
    “Sure. What’s up?”
    “I need