by Poe, S. B.
“Not really, but I would like to know what the hell that guys deal was.” Josh said.
“The crazy dude who stole it? Hard pass on that one. I hope I never see him again.” Devin said.
“I guess you’re right. Let’s see if he left anything.” Josh said.
They walked over to the car. Jahda looked up and down the street. Josh looked in the passenger door. Nothing. He looked in the back seat. Nothing. They walked to the back of the car to look in the trunk. The shotgun was lying on the ground next to the car. There were several empty shotgun shells lying on the ground too. They all looked into the trunk. There was a stringer with half its head missing curled up inside. Black blood was splattered against the open trunk lid.
“Looks like he took this one out. But why leave the gun?” Josh asked as he looked at the stringer.
“I guess he ran out of ammo and decided to run.” Jahda said.
“Or maybe he had another gun and left that one because he didn’t need it.” A voice came from behind them.
Jahda turned but the sound of the shotgun being racked made her freeze. The others had yet to start turning. They all raised their hands. Jahda had turned enough that she could see the man standing behind them. She raised her hands too. She could see he had managed to find some clothes. And shoes.
“Oh shit. It’s you. You're the folks from the stadium.” The man chuckled “Damn shit luck huh? At least for you, I mean. As for me, it works out great.”
“Why? Why you doing this? ” Devin said over his shoulder.
“Take a look around man, this is the way things are now. Survival of the fittest and all that.” He said.
“More like survival of the sneakiest.” Lori said.
“Whatever keeps you alive, hon.?” He said.
“Don’t call me hon. My name is Lori.” She snapped back.
“Ok calm down kitten. I mean Lori. Lori, my name is Grayson.” Grayson said.
“I don’t give a shit what your name is.” Lori said.
Josh glanced at Devin. He nodded at the pistol in his waistband. Devin eyes grew a little wider but he nodded.
“I am damn glad you guys showed up when you did at the stadium, and I am damn glad you showed up today.” Grayson said continuing to chuckle. “Nice truck you brought me.”
Josh suddenly reached over and shoved Lori into Devin. They both fell to the ground. Grayson was briefly distracted as Josh wheeled around and quickly drew his pistol.
“Hey, hey don’t shoot. It’s not even loaded. Shit.” Grayson said as he dropped the shotgun.
He turned and ran down the sidewalk as fast as he could. Josh stood there, with his pistol in his hand, watching him run away. He didn’t shoot.
“If we ever see that crazy son of a bitch again we’ll just shoot him. Anyone object?” Jahda said.
“Sounds good to me.” Devin said.
Jahda reached down and picked up both shotguns. Empty. Devin took one from her and they all climbed back in the truck. They were a few more miles from the entrance to Josh’s neighborhood and the cul-de-sac. They made their way there as rapidly as they could. It still took almost an hour of diverting around wrecks and small crowds of stringers.
The night that stood sentry outside the window had retreated a few hours ago. By the calendar in his head it was somewhere around January. They missed Christmas, no one had noticed. The sky brightened and the afternoon winds came in gusts. Empty limbs whipped violently one moment and sat silently still the next. Martin stood by the boarded up window watching the three stringers that had managed to work their way through the woods. They were now aimlessly wandering in the yard next door. It was more than he had seen since they found this place. He turned to Ham.
“There’s more.” He said.
“How many?” Ham asked.
“More. Not too many yet, but more.” He said.
“Do we have to leave? What about Jahda and Devin?” She asked.
“Listen, I don’t know where they are and I don’t know what happened to them. Maybe they will come back but there are more stringers starting to show up. We don’t have to leave right now but we need to start to get ready. We can get some things loaded up.” Martin said.
“Loaded in what? You’re truck broke. That’s why we walked here.” Ham said.
He looked at her. For barely twelve she had a good understanding of the situation, even parts of it that Martin had spent the better part of an hour trying to figure out.
“That boy, Josh, that’s his jeep sitting in the garage. The key is in it.” Martin said. “Once we are loaded up, we’ll be ready to go. Ok?” Martin said.
“Ok. Where are we going to go?” Ham asked.
“I don’t know.” Martin said.
“That doesn’t sound like much of a plan.” Ham said.
“What did you say?” Martin turned to her, surprised.
“Nothing.” She retreated.
“No really, what did you say?” Martin said. He softened as he realized he had seen her grow up faster in the last few months than the last few years.
“It’s not really a plan. Just driving off with no where to go.” Ham raised her chin as she spoke more confidently.
“You know what? You’re right.” Martin said. Ham beamed. “We should make a proper plan.”
He was glad she had started thinking at least one step ahead. He smiled.
“Let’s get the map. We’ll fix a little bite to eat and make a plan.” Martin said.
Ham took some plates out of the cabinet and sat them on the table. Martin unfolded the map and brought a candle over. Ham opened a can of sausages and put a few on each plate. They sat down and she gave thanks. Ham sat on her knees in the chair so she could lean over the map. Martin sat half on the table, holding the candle high above his head. Ham started looking at the map.
“Where are we Papi?” Ham looked up and asked.
Martin pointed to the spot on the map. She put her finger next to his. She started tracing different roads.
“Which road did we get here on?” Ham asked. He pointed again.
She traced it all the way back to the a little town called Spivey’s Hamlet. She reached into Martin’s shirt pocket and pulled out his pen. She drew a sad face over the town.
“Why did you do that?” Martin asked.
“That’s where we lost the Dabners and Hector and Maria. I remember the name of the town. I thought it sounded nice. I was wrong.” Ham said matter of fact.
Martin stood for a while watching her. It had not dawned on him, until that very moment, that all these things he had seen, she had seen too. Somewhere in his mind he had convinced himself that he had kept her safe. That was a lie. He had kept her alive but he hadn’t kept her safe. She had seen unimaginable horror and lost friends in the process. She had been forced, on two occasions, to shoot stringers. And even though they weren’t people, still. And here she was, drawing a frowny face on a map and moving on. He realized something else too. There was a truck pulling up to the curb.
“Ham, be still.” He said.
She looked up from the map at his face. He was staring over her shoulder. She turned.
“Well I’ll be.” Martin said. “It’s them.”
Martin watched through the opening in the boards covering the front window as Josh and Jahda stepped out of the truck and met the infected in the yard next door. Devin and Lori came around the other side as Jahda was pulling her machete from the eye socket of the last stringer. Martin opened the door.
“Welcome back.” Martin said.
“We was going to leave you.” Ham said.
“Really?” Jahda asked.
“Yep, I was looking at the map.” Ham said as she pushed passed Martin.
She jumped into Jahda’s arms, surprising Jahda and Martin, and gave her a hug.
“Glad we didn’t leave?” She asked.
“I sure am.” Jahda said, returning the hug.
Martin stepped aside so Jahda and Ham could go inside. He ste
pped back when Devin and Josh approached.
“Nice truck.” Martin said as he nodded towards the odd vehicle parked at the curb.
“Thanks. It’s a loaner.” Devin said.
“We saw the stadium. It was neat.” Josh said. He smiled at Devin.
“Yeah, neat.” Devin said chuckling.
“Uh huh.” Martin said as he stepped aside again.
Devin and Josh walked inside the door. Martin took another look at the truck. He looked at the three bodies lying in the yard next door. The wind picked up again and a few leaves scuttled low across the cul-de-sac, raspy against the asphalt, like the death rattle of the world. He stepped inside and closed the door.
4
Don’t Leave Today
Everyone stood against the fence looking towards the creek. They couldn’t see all the way to the water wheel slowly churning about a hundred yards away but they could see a lot. Bridger stood between them and the creek.
“Look folks. See how far we can see? That helps us. But more than that, these pushovers are a bitch to walk through. Anything or anyone trying to get close to us will have a hard time doing it. I know it is a lot of work but I think we need to do it.” Bridger said.
“How?” Dottie asked.
“We have some axes and saws.” Bridger said. “We have a small chainsaw too, but I don’t think we should use it. Too loud.”
“Lot of trees.” Jennifer said.
“We don’t have to cut them all down. Just some.” Bridger said.
“We can start with the smaller ones and go from there.” Charlie said.
“Seems like it’s settled then.” Evelyn said. Everyone nodded, some more enthusiastically than others.
“Great. First group starts tomorrow.” Bridger said. “Me, Evelyn, Ed and Dottie.”
Bridger followed behind as the group made their way back inside the fence. He had overheard a few complaints but for the most part everyone seemed to be on board. He caught up with Raj and Tilly who were walking just behind the others.
“Hey listen, I know I didn’t ask first but I assume you two are okay with pulling night watch?” Bridger asked.
“Sure. I get it. You’re just trying to set me and Raj up.” Tilly said smiling.
“Well you two would make a great couple.” Bridger said. Raj smiled then seriousness returned to his face.
“How long do you think this will take? To do what you want to do.” Raj asked.
“Well at least a couple of weeks. Maybe more. It will probably take longer just because we don’t need to be in a big hurry.” Bridger said.
“If we don’t need to be in a hurry why do it at all? If it will make us safer shouldn’t we do it as quickly as possible?” Raj asked.
“It will make us safer, but that is just part of it.” He continued. “The other part is boredom.”
“Boredom?” Raj asked.
“Yeah, boredom. We need to stay busy. We all have a lot of shit on our minds and most of it we can’t do a damn thing about, instead of sitting around brooding over that shit we need to stay busy. Plus it makes us safer.” Bridger finished.
“Dude, did you just say brooding?” Tilly smiled. They all did. Bridger walked on ahead.
“Why so many questions? Tilly asked Raj.
“I don’t know. I just want to know what the plan is, just to know.” He said half smiling.
“Are you ok?” Tilly asked, knowing he wasn’t but hoping he wouldn’t say so. She had sensed him trying to navigate her emotions.
“Sure. Are you?” Raj asked.
“Sure. All good.” They kept walking; both lying and knowing the other one did too.
She took a few more steps and stopped. She stood there watching as he took a few more until he realized she was no longer beside him. He stopped and turned.
“Raj listen, we should talk.” Tilly said and immediately regretted it. Not because she didn't want to talk but because it sounded like the start of her standard junior high school break up speech.
“Talk? Now? You know we are outside the fence right?” Raj asked.
“I know and maybe not right this second but we need to talk.” She said but he called her bluff.
“No. You want to talk and I want to listen so you talk and I’ll listen. And keep an eye out.” Raj said and smiled.
“Ok. Here goes.” She started nervously. “I’m trying. I want you to know that. I really want things to be ok with us, I do, and I think they will be soon. Please just don’t be angry or disappointed with me. I don’t know what I would do if I..”
“Angry? Disappointed? Is that what you think?” He interrupted. “No, no, no. I am not angry or disappointed or anything else. I am confused.”
“Confused?” She asked as she drew her eyebrows quizzically together.
“Yes confused. I love you and want to be there for you but at the same time I feel as though me being near you would somehow make you uncomfortable. And then the other day you flinched when I touched you.” He said.
“I’m sorry about that.” She said.
“No, you should not be. It is a completely understandable if not expected reaction. I am just unsure how to proceed.” He half smiled.
“You know one of the things I love about you?” She asked as she stepped closer to him and took his hands in hers.
“What’s that?” Raj smiled wider.
“This.” She hugged him tight as the gulf between them closed.
They walked, hand in hand, behind the others. As they approached the gate Kate stopped and turned. She smiled at them. Raj turned and set the gatepost inside the hole and they all walked towards the saloon as the sun set over their shoulders.
The trees swirled in the wind, dancing to their own music. Charlie stepped outside his shack shivering against the morning air. He carried his sleeping bag draped over his shoulders as he stepped onto the path. The ground, almost constantly mud, normally would give a soft squish but this morning it was a distinctive crunch. He looked up and down the track that served as their main roadway. The frozen moisture on the ground sparkled like individual diamonds even in the dim light of the overcast morning. He turned to see his daughter come out of the shack next door. She was bundled up in her blanket as well. They smiled at each other.
“Wow. It’s cold this morning.” Charlie said.
Living as they had for the last few months had allowed their bodies to acclimate. They had adjusted as the temperature had fallen for the most part. This morning was markedly different.
“I’m FRE-E-ZING.” She said smiling back.
“Let’s go over to the saloon and see if we can get that fire going.” Charlie said.
They put their bedding away and started walking towards the saloon. As they came around the corner they saw Dottie walking over too. Charlie and Jennifer grabbed a few of the split logs by the picnic table and walked inside the saloon. Kate and Scott soon joined them as they warmed up the potbelly stove. The room became warmer almost instantly. Evelyn emerged from the kitchen with the percolator and soon the room was full of the smell of coffee. Kate and Scott passed out MRE’s. Raj and Tilly came inside as the coffee was being poured.
“Lord almighty it’s cold out there.” Tilly said as she stamped her feet just inside the door.
“It started dropping sometime after midnight. The wind started as the sun came up.” Raj said as he set down the shotgun against the wall by the door.
Ed and Bridger came in next. They had gone to the shed to grab the axes and saws. They sat them down outside against the picnic table and walked into the saloon.
“Damn y’all, the hawks out this morning.” Bridger said.
“The what?” Jennifer asked.
“The hawk.” Scott said. “It means it’s cold and windy. My dad used to say it. It was some kind of army thing I think. Right?”
“Well not really but that’s how your Dad knew it, for sure.” Bridger said. “Anyways folks I think we probably need to wait a bit before heading out. Let the sun get
up good.”
“Y’all are still going out there today? In this cold?” Jennifer asked.
Bridger looked at Evelyn and Ed. His eyebrows knitted when he cast his eyes on Dottie.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’ll out work all of you and twice on Sunday’s” Dottie said as she lifted her middle finger at Bridger. The room erupted in laughter.
They broke bread together and spent time under the warm glow of the stove. As the sun climbed towards what would be it’s lowly winter zenith Charlie stepped outside.
“Well you know what they say? If you don’t like the weather in the south just wait a bit, it’ll change.” He said as he swung the door open and stepped into a bright sunny sky.
The day was still cold but the sun had managed to break out of its cloudy jail. The winter air still kept the ground crunchy under his feet for the most part but there were a few muddy spots to navigate now. As they walked outside they could see the subtle steam rising off of the thawing frost. Bridger and Ed walked over to the picnic table and grabbed the axes and saw.
“Well, I guess we can get started.” Bridger said.
Raj walked over and handed the shotgun to Dottie.
“You’ll want this.” He said.
She took the shotgun and slung it over her shoulder. Ed and Bridger had the tools. Evelyn came out of the saloon slinging a backpack over her shoulder.
“I’ve got a couple of MRE’s and some water. Do we need anything else?” She asked.
“Nope. Let’s get started.” Bridger said.
“Listen. Do y’all mind if I tag along for a while today?” Charlie asked.
“Not at all. Why?” Bridger said.
“Just to kind of get a feel for what we’re trying to do.” Charlie said.
“I’ll come too.” Jennifer said.
“No, no. You stay here. Help Kate and Scott. I just want to help get it started. We’ll go out together tomorrow.” Charlie said.
She shrugged her shoulders and turned to Kate.
“Come on Jennifer, we’ll find something to do.” Kate said as she wrapped her arm around her shoulders. She looked back and waved at Charlie as they walked towards the gate.
Charlie reached over and relieved Bridger of one of the axes he was carrying. They walked out the gate. Ed set the post back and they started down the muddy track.