“I hope you’ll both find these accommodations comfortable. There’s a storage room with clothing, and I’ve sent my wife to find you both something to wear. We have washing machines, so we can clean your current clothes after your showers.”
“Thank you. Y’all have been very kind to us.”
“Great. Get some rest and we’ll see you at dinnertime.”
Max left the room. The girl had done nothing but follow Jim and stare around the room. She still hadn’t talked.
“If it’s ok with you, I’ll take this room and you can have the other. Don’t wander around by yourself, though. I don’t trust them yet and neither should you.”
She jumped when Jim addressed her, but she made eye contact and nodded her agreement. That’s a step in the right direction at least.
###
Dinner came and Jim joined them in the common room. The meal featured tasty food, and everyone ate their fill. These people weren’t lacking for anything. He hoped they weren’t consuming their stores too quickly.
After the meal, Jim pumped them for more information. He needed to know if the girl and him were ok staying with this group. Jim wanted to find a group to help but didn’t want to make a mistake trusting the wrong people.
“What brought your group into town?”
Max spoke. “We have three solar arrays and the controller on one of the arrays is acting up. I thought the electronics store in town might have one, so I sent Isaac and crew in to retrieve it.”
“You saw the battle that broke out. We didn’t even get to look for the controller.” Isaac continued the story.
“If you tell me what it looks like, I can go get it tomorrow. There are a few things I’d like to grab back in town too.” Jim wondered if he could get the GTO back to the camp.
“That would be wonderful. Isaac can go with you and point out the part.”
He didn’t want Isaac going with him, but Jim saw no logical reason to exclude him. Isaac didn’t prove himself capable during today’s battle, and Jim didn’t want to travel with a weak link. Jim would have to worry about Isaac’s safety now, since returning without him would cast doubts on his intentions.
“Ok, sounds good. I’m going to retire and get some rest. We should leave early in the morning. Ok, Isaac?”
Jim noticed the quick glance Isaac gave to Max before responding. “Uh… Sure.”
When they returned to the suite, Jim spoke to the girl.
“If there’s anything you want me to grab while I’m in town, let me know. While I’m gone, stay in the room. I think we can trust them, but I’m not sure yet. Ok?”
She stood and stared at Jim for what felt like minutes, but only had been seconds. He thought she might speak for the first time since she swallowed several times. But in the end, she nodded her agreement before she turned and walked into her bedroom. Well, he tried to reach her. Guess she’ll respond when she’s ready to talk.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Day 237
OVER THE LAST eight months, Big Jim had become the de facto leader of the group. Max still held the official position, but he ran all decisions past Jim before he took any action. A mob lawyer gave him a certain amount of power in the civilized world, but those skills held no weight during the zombie apocalypse. After being locked underground for the winter, Max appeared to be losing his mind. He forgot things often and repeated himself when he spoke. Max didn’t get around as well as he had only a few months earlier. Jim worried about him, but keeping everyone alive was his number one priority rather than worrying about Max’s mind and health.
A short time after Jim arrived in the camp, Max discovered his protégé’s son had survived and he spoke with him on the short-wave radio. Donald made it safely to a camp in Maine, and he had a small group of survivors with him. Jim rejoiced at Max’s happiness, but Big Jim felt something was off with this Donald guy after he spoke with him on the radio. He couldn’t put his finger on what the issue was, but something about Donald just seemed off to Jim.
The radio had been invaluable because it delivered news from the outside world. With the destruction of DC, the former head of HUD, Carl Stevens declared himself President of the New United States (NUS). President Stevens had settled the country’s seat of power around the CDC and declared a cure to the zombie plague forthcoming. Atlanta had suffered damage from a major hurricane and zombies had completely overrun it, so the new CDC occupied a secret location in Georgia west of Atlanta. Jim felt the biggest threat to their security centered on this new tyrant and the troops he assembled close to their camp. Carl wanted all survivors to bow to him and his regime and would use force to make it happen if you didn’t do so freely. Trips into town had been less frequent these days, but so far there had been no sign of the NUS Army.
April had helped Big Jim get the hydroponic systems working, and it had been one reason they hadn’t traveled into town. After their first week in the camp, that skinny, scared teen started talking and hadn’t stopped since. Jim loved her like a daughter and found out she was intelligent and good with tools. She took to the farming like she had been doing it all her life and had become Jim’s right hand. At 17 years old, April displayed a higher level of maturity than the other adult members of this group.
The main water pump had failed on their hydroponic farm, and Jim hoped to replace it or find parts to repair it in the electronics warehouse in Wheresville Valley. They currently ran on the backup pump and had a spare, but both pumps had a smaller capacity than the original main water pump. Their aeroponics system required a water pump to constantly mist the roots of the plants as they passed by the jets. No mist on their roots meant the crops would die within minutes, so they depended on a functional pump. A failed water pump would mean the end of their food supply.
Jim knew he needed to speak with Isaac because he required him to provide backup on this excursion. With Corinne seven months pregnant, Jim didn’t look forward to the conversation. She had been a bitch before she got knocked up and the hormones made her a nightmare to deal with now. Big Jim had been happy he never gave in to Corinne’s advances when he arrived at the camp. There might be time for love again someday, but not with a woman like her.
“Isaac, I need you to go with me into town today. We need to get a new water pump for the hydroponic farm.”
“Take someone else, Jim! I could go into labor at any moment and he needs to be here for me.”
“Corinne, you’re only seven months pregnant, so it’s highly unlikely. Besides, what help will Isaac be with your delivery?”
“Stop giving my man such a hard time. He’s a…”
“Both of you stop it! I’ll be ready to go in ten minutes.” Every once in a while, Isaac put his pants on and spoke up.
As Jim turned away to gather his gear, he heard the two of them continue to bicker. If there was any justice in the world, Corinne would have become a zombie and Melody would still be alive here with Jim. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out the way Jim wanted them to, and he had lost Melody forever.
April walked into the room as Big Jim checked his equipment one last time. He always double and triple checked everything before a mission. This thoroughness kept him alive during his time in the Problem Solvers, and it would preserve him during the apocalypse.
“Hey kid, keep an eye on the plants and that pump while I’m gone. Do you need something from town?”
“How ‘bout a Hershey bar?”
“Uh… You know we are going to an electrical supply house? I don’t think they have candy.”
April displayed her infectious killer smile. “That sucks! Well, watch your ass out there. I need you to return to me safely.”
“You got it, sweetie. Those zombies won’t get the best of Big Jim.”
“You’re getting older and slower, you know.”
Big Jim laughed at her insult. “I can still kick your ass, youngster. I’ve got to get moving. Watch yourself, April.”
Jim had been teaching April survival sk
ills, and she caught on fast. She could shoot better than anyone else at camp, besides Jim, and she understood the basics of hand to hand combat. Her physical limitations were only being five foot five inches tall and weighing about 100 pounds soaking wet. April fought like a feral cat, and Jim hoped it would be enough when the time came for her to fight for her life.
Isaac was already in the garage when Jim entered. He had two ATVs ready to go. The quickest way to town had them follow a narrow trail which wandered up and over the mountain. They could travel this path with an ATV, but no other vehicles could make the trip over the rugged terrain. Jim had hoped to bring the GTO back to the camp, but it hadn’t been a practical decision. He hoped the car would remain hidden in the house's garage on the hill and he could reclaim it someday.
“Why do you always bring the bow and arrow, Jim? Take an AR-15 like me.”
“Zombies respond to noise and my bow is silent. Your rifle will draw every zombie within ten miles if you start shooting. Who will be smart then?”
Without waiting for a reply, Jim started the ATV and headed toward the path to town. He knew Isaac would follow him because he may not be the smartest tool in the shed, but he was loyal. Isaac owed his life to Big Jim, and he never forgot that even without being reminded. Jim bailed him out during their first encounter and several more times since then.
After crossing over to the opposite side of the mountain, there was a turnoff where Jim always stopped to look over the town. It stood higher than the balcony on his previous home and at a different angle, but it provided a view of the entire town. At one-point Jim returned to the town and finished barricading the road with the remaining school buses, so any unknown visitors to town were rare. Today the town appeared to be empty, so Jim urged his ATV onward.
They reached the warehouse and dismounted the ATVs. A few zombies roamed the far end of the street and appeared unaware of their presence. Isaac raised his gun and Jim spoke one word.
“No.”
Isaac dropped his aim and turned toward Jim with a hurt look on his face.
“They don’t even know we’re here. No need to let them and their friends know. Only take them out when you have to.”
Jim entered the building with Isaac on his heels. A large warehouse space with tall metal shelves filled a football field sized space.
“The pumps should be down this aisle. Keep your eyes open for trouble.”
Isaac nodded and followed Jim with his rifle pointed toward the ground. Big Jim appreciated the second set of eyes but wished they belonged to a more capable operator. Their search lasted for about ten minutes before they found what they were looking for. Luck had been on their side because there were three pumps on the shelf. Jim grabbed two and Isaac struggled to carry the third. Looks like they would make it back to the camp in time for lunch. As they exited the building, Jim saw the men before they spoke.
“On the authority of the NUS, I order you to halt and surrender.”
Ten men stood in a semicircle between the exit of the building and the two ATVs. They wore the same black uniforms, but all carried different weapons. None displayed the training or discipline of military personnel.
“What cha taking from that store, gentlemen? Where ya heading to?”
Jim knew no good could come from cooperating with these morons, and he hoped Isaac would be smart enough to keep his big mouth shut.
“Uh… Water pumps.”
So much for Isaac being smart. He had to take control of this encounter before things got out of hand. Isaac would give everyone at the camp up without even thinking because he didn’t think. Just consider his ill advised relationship with Corinne as a case in point.
“Good for you, boys. Now put ‘ur weapons down and ‘ur hands up.”
“I’m afraid that ain’t happening.” Jim needed to remove the focus from Isaac before he ended up getting them both killed.
“The big oaf speaks. There’s ten of us and were all armed. Some dorky Robin Hood dude isn’t a match for us.”
“That’s the first smart thing you’ve said so far.” Jim smiled at his own private joke.
The pumps they carried weighed about 50 pounds each, but Jim threw the one in his right hand at the man who had been talking. His face contorted with a terrible crunching noise as he collapsed to the ground. Jim’s quick violent act caused the other nine men to pause, and a second was all Big Jim needed. He swung the other pump in an arc, contacting the heads of those standing to his left. A quick snap kick took out another while he brought his right arm around in a big arc, striking other NUS soldiers. Within ten seconds, nine bodies laid on the ground and one man held his hands up in front of his face.
“Please, don’t. I didn’t want to come with these men, but they have my family. Take me with you, please.”
“What about your family?”
“They killed my wife and daughter in front of me when we tried to run away. I’d be next if I ran again. I had no choice.”
“What’s your name?”
“Shaun Hill.”
“Here’s what you’re going to do, Shaun. You go back with these clowns and find out what their plans are. Feed them back to us. We’ve got a network of camps throughout the East Coast, and your intelligence can help us fight the NUS. What do you think?”
“Ok. When do I come back here?”
“We’ll meet back here in three months, find everything you can about their plans, and we’ll meet back here at this warehouse. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Great. Oh, and sorry.”
“Sorry?”
Jim clubbed him with a giant right fist, rendering him unconscious.
“Why d’you do that? He said he was going to help us.”
“What do you think they would’ve done to him if he was unmarked when they all come to? They would suspect his treachery and we’d lose our spy. Now help me grab their stuff. We have to disgrace this group.”
Isaac picked up their ammo and all the supplies they carried while Jim disabled their weapons. This would be hard to explain to their superiors. Ten men jumped by two, well really one since Isaac did nothing to help Jim during the brief fight. Their story would probably morph to facing off against twenty men. Jim chuckled while they worked. He left them tied in pairs in front of the building and they rode back up the hill.
When they returned to the camp, Jim headed for Garage Number Five, knowing Isaac would follow him there. It was the most remote building on the grounds of the camp’s living facilities, and they seldom visited it. Jim dismounted his ATV and waited for Isaac to do the same.
“Um… Jim… What are we doing here? Shouldn’t we park in the garage closer to camp?”
“What happened today has to stay between you and me. You can’t even tell Corinne. Do you understand?”
“Uh… Why? Doesn’t everyone need to know?”
“No. Max is losing his mind and you know it. Knowing the threat of the NUS would push him over the edge. I need to figure out how to neutralize their threat and telling the others would do no good. With any luck, our remote location will keep us safe, but we can’t count on that.”
“You’re a farmer… What do you know?”
“It’s true that I’ve spent over half my life on a farm, however, I spent the other half working for a secret organization in the government. I was part of one of those alphabet agencies that polite people don’t want to know about but are grateful for when the shit hits the fan. I know the evils on both sides and can recognize a despot like Carl Stevens. He won’t be happy until he controls everything and everyone.”
“Well then, everyone should know… I can take care of myself, you know.”
“Isaac, I’ve witnessed your effectiveness in battle several times now and I’m sorry to say you’re useless! No one in our camp can stop them except for me. Telling the others would only cause anxiety, and it might cause them to do something stupid. These guys won’t be happy with what happened today and they will be back
. Let’s gather the intelligence from our new spy and let me come up with a plan. Think about the safety of your unborn child.”
Isaac turned away and stood staring off across the garage at nothing. Jim hoped he would see the wisdom of his argument. No one in this camp, besides Jim, could solve this problem and this would be a major problem. After a minute or two of staring, Isaac jumped back on his ATV and drove across the camp to the main garage. Big Jim hoped Isaac would keep his mouth shut, but he doubted Isaac would be able to. He feared Corinne would know before nightfall, and this outside threat would destroy the camp from the inside out. April’s training would be stepped up and Jim hoped they would both survive, even if the others didn’t.
BEFORE YOU GO
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Operation Z | Novella | Everyone Dies Page 7