A New World: Conspiracy by John O'Brien

health.
    Gonzalez, Robert, Henderson, Denton, Lynn,
and Drescoll take positions around McCafferty’s casket and lift it
onto their shoulders. They proceed solemnly out the front doors,
the rest of us following.
    The funeral procession makes its way to our
small cemetery – Allie’s final resting place. Seeing the markers
and the hole dug for McCafferty, I hope we won’t have to place any
others here prematurely. Our endeavors must be so that this place
remains uninhabited except for when it’s our own proper time to
leave. Although this world truly sucks, it’s the only one we have
and we must endure.
    As Allie is placed on a bier set over the
open grave, the feeling of grief once again grabs hold of my heart.
After all she’s been through, to find an end in this way just
doesn’t seem right. I hear the echo of her ready laugh in my mind,
a picture of her grinning at some joke made after an operation, her
game face as we embark on yet another operation. Her small stature
contained an overly large heart that held no fear. She hung in
there during the grimmest moments. One picture emerges of her
smiling at something said at dinner, her eyes shining with the same
joy. She loved the camaraderie of the team and was loved by all in
return. She will be sorely missed.
    The others of our small group of survivors
begin making their way to arranged seating. Allie’s dad is standing
off to the side staring blankly at the flag-draped coffin. With his
head hung low, Drescoll makes his way to a podium. I hear him
sniffle and wipe away a tear.
    “I really don’t know what to say,” he begins
between sniffles. “Allie was a true angel…(sniffle)…who had the
biggest…(sniffle)…of hearts.” Tears begin to stream down his face.
He attempts to scrub at them, but they fall faster than he can wipe
them away. “I’m sorry…(sniffle)…She’s going to
be…(sniffle)…missed…”
    I walk to him, placing my hand on his
shoulder. “It’s okay, you grieve and I’ll talk. I just hope my
words can give her the honor she deserves.”
    Drescoll nods and walks to the casket, his
back to the crowd and places his hand on the polished wooden
surface. Before turning to the gathered crowd, I see his shoulder
begin to shake with grief. Allie’s dad, also weeping, rises and
joins Drescoll on the other side of the casket.
    “Friends, we gather at a very sad time to
give our final respects to one of our beloved. How do I even begin?
How do we say goodbye to someone that we can’t believe is gone? How
do we say farewell to one that was with us heart and soul?
    “Allie was with us just a short time but
impacted the lives of everyone she came in contact with. It was
impossible to remain down when she was around. Her ready smile
brightened the day, and she gave us strength when times were hard.
Allie, you were taken from us too early and you will be grievously
missed…”
    I have tears in my own eyes by the time I
finish. Seven rifles fire three times, each report sends a note
that Allie is truly gone…that she will be with us no more. After
the final shots echo into the distance, a solitary bugle plays Taps , the sound drifting forlornly over bowed heads.
Soldiers rise and come to attention, saluting a fellow companion.
The skies overhead threatening rain reflect the gloom and sadness
we all feel. I can’t hear Taps without tears forming, and
this time is no different. The hot tears streaming down my cheek
are a direct contrast to the chill of the dying day.
    The services end and everyone silently makes
their way to our sanctuary. I watch them depart, thinking that, in
this new world, it seems that for every gain, there is a
corresponding loss. For Lynn’s return, we lost Allie. We can’t seem
to get a leg up on things. That needs to change soon or we are in
for trouble. If it’s not the night runners, it’s our own kind. As
for the night runners, they seem to be advancing at every turn.
Standing at the podium, with my pant legs