Forsaken World (Book 5): Homecoming

by Watson, Thomas A.

  When Ian topped the rise and started down the slope, Lance felt Dino move and lean against his leg. Before he could glance down, Lance felt Dino’s chest vibrating against his leg. Jerking his eyes around, Lance was reaching for his PTT. “Contact right!” he yelled, pulling up his rifle.

  Ian heard the shout in his earbud and rapid shots above him. Turning to his right, Ian’s mouth fell open to see dogs, a fuck load of dogs running up the slope toward them like a flood. “Fuck!” Rhonda shouted, lifting her rifle and starting to shoot.

  Knowing the dogs were faster, Ian stomped and locked the brakes before he grabbed his rifle, aiming out the left side.

  Just below the crest, Jennifer and Lilly heard the shout fine without the radio and shots. Seeing the others stopping and aiming to the right, Jennifer stopped and looked to the right, but couldn’t see over the slope. “Wh-,” Lilly started and then jumped out, raising her rifle and started snapping off shots.

  With her heart pounding, Jennifer jumped out and opened fire, seeing the pack of dogs charging at them from the rear.

  Lance dropped the empty magazine and slammed in a new one before bringing the stock to his shoulder and tapping the bolt release. Flipping the selector to the rear on automatic, Lance started squeezing short bursts at the dogs as they ran between the trees.

  Hearing many yelps as dogs were hit, Lance kept his aim toward the front of the pack, seeing the charge falter. Now with everyone firing and dogs yelping everywhere, Lance moved along the pack, just aiming center mass. He saw a huge St. Bernard skid to a halt thirty yards away and he cut loose a short burst, watching the dog drop from the impacts and letting out a yelp. When the dog stood back up, Lance was already moving to another target.

  As one, the entire pack turned and ran back along the slope. Holding his aim on the retreating pack, Lance cut loose two more bursts and was rewarded with two more yelps. Ejecting his empty magazine, Lance slammed in a new one and turned around.

  His heart dropped, seeing Jennifer shooting behind them on their left side. Following her aim, Lance saw a dog drop and then try to get up, only to have Jennifer shoot it again. Quickly scanning the left side and seeing nothing moving, only several dead dogs, Lance turned back and saw Lilly lowering her rifle as she was aiming behind them.

  “Heath!” Lance called out, since Heath was behind them but standing on the right side of his buggy. “What about covering all sides?”

  Heath jumped in the air and aimed his gun at the slope on their left. “Jennifer covered your sector and she had to cover the rear all by herself!” Lance snapped.

  “Sorry,” Heath panted. “I just saw a wave of dogs.”

  “Well, if Jennifer hadn’t shot the ones on the left behind you, they would’ve got your ass,” Lance grumbled, climbing out. When he jumped to the ground, he saw Ian looking across the slope with his thermal. “How many you think we got?”

  “Over forty. Luckily, none were coming in my area and I could help Rhonda by taking the front. I still had to swing back and take three that were in Dwain’s and Heath’s area,” Ian answered in a trembling voice. Lowering his rifle, Ian turned to Lance. “That was over two hundred dogs, Lance. Way over.”

  Nodding, Lance turned to walk back to Lilly and Jennifer as adrenaline rushed his body. “I was hoping the lions and tigers would keep them away, but it seems the dogs scared off the pussy,” Lance called over his shoulder, then stopped beside Heath.

  “Shit, I have a gun and thought about climbing a tree,” Ian mumbled, seeing Rhonda staring down the slope and panting hard.

  “Heath,” Lance said in a low voice. “You have to make sure your left side is clear. We were point and responded to the threats. Ian’s area was clear, but he still kept track of the left side, including your area. I think the pack was heading to your place. Please tell me you have the animals locked up.”

  “Yes, every day before sunset we lock up the chickens and goats,” Heath answered in a shaking voice. “You seem kind of calm.”

  “Dude, I’ve had motherfuckers shoot at my ass,” Lance responded. “I’ll take dogs any day.”

  “Sorry, it won’t happen again,” Heath said, flipping his monocular up.

  Stepping up, Lance grabbed Heath’s forearm. “Heath, just relax and think because a mistake can get you or all of us killed. I’m not mad just disappointed because I should’ve looked back. I know your group hasn’t practiced this yet,” Lance said in a low voice. “Now, go to Dwain and go over your mistakes while I talk to Jennifer and Lilly. Reload your magazines and keep an eye out.”

  When Heath nodded, Lance left and found Jennifer and Lilly looking around, loading magazines. Lance turned to the left and saw six dogs laying still and four more thrashing about on the ground. “You two okay?” Lance asked.

  “Lance, don’t be hard on them,” Lilly said, and Jennifer nodded. “I’ve been attacked by dogs several times since this started, but not by an army of them. It’s hard to force yourself not to panic.”

  Walking past Lilly and patting her rump, like a guy would another guy, Lance saw several more dogs lying still at the crest of the ridge. “Not going to lie, I think I wet my pants,” Lance confessed, reaching over and patting Lilly’s leg.

  “Take your glove off and move your hand over some more and you’ll feel I did,” Lilly informed him.

  Leaning close, “You’re my girl, so your pee doesn’t scare me,” Lance whispered, and tapped the forehead of his mask against Lilly’s mask.

  When he looked over at Jennifer, Lance could see she was still trembling from the adrenaline rush. “Hey, I wasn’t going to pull down my pants to take a piss,” Jennifer huffed. “I pissed my pants when you were walking back here.”

  “Don’t you even start,” Lance huffed. “You peed on me before.”

  Jennifer gasped in shock, cutting her eyes at Lilly. “Lance, we were in the swimming pool playing chicken.”

  “And you were on my neck,” Lance hissed. “I don’t care if Beth was pulling your hair. I heard you scream, and the back of my neck got warm.”

  Stomping her foot, “I said I was sorry,” Jennifer whispered harshly. “I tried to get Ian to be my partner.”

  Cocking his head to the side, “Jennifer, you were in a small bikini,” Lance droned. “That’s why Jason had to team up with Beth and Ian was referee. Sorry, but when men have serious wood, we don’t like girls to know. It’s kind of embarrassing.”

  Lilly moved up beside Lance. “When we get a chance, that one pool in the stream is five foot deep now. How about you and I challenge Ian and Jennifer to a chicken fight?” Lilly offered.

  Images filled his mind and Lance’s body gave a jerk as he spun to face her. “And who’s going to carry you?” Lance gasped. “I couldn’t. Just thinking of you in a bikini, much less sitting on my neck, gives me wood.”

  “Just an idea,” Lilly responded, then patted Lance’s mask.

  “We leave in five,” Lance said, spinning on his heel and storming off.

  “I really didn’t mean to pee,” Jennifer said, shoving her loaded magazines back in her vest. “Jason was like a giant and Beth actually had to lean down to get me. She grabbed a handful of hair and it just came out. They kicked our asses so bad; I really don’t want to chicken fight swimming anymore.”

  Patting Jennifer on the shoulder, “I’m getting the ladybugs to ask for a swimming pool,” Lilly chuckled.

  Rolling her eyes, “You wait till we get caught up some because you know damn well Lance will build them one,” Jennifer snapped, climbing back in the side by side.

  Stopping beside Heath’s side by side, Lance turned to Heath who was sitting behind the steering wheel. “If we run into an ambush where they shoot at us, don’t stop. If our vehicle stops, you drive around and get out of the kill zone. Just hold your guns out and start shooting,” Lance told him.

  Nodding, “I remember that one and I’m glad Ian didn’t do that because if I could’ve gone around him, I might have tried,” Heath admitted.r />
  “Dogs don’t shoot, but can outrun us in the trees. That’s why Ian stopped. If you had tried to outrun the dogs through the trees, you would’ve had dogs climb inside and munch down on you,” Lance informed him, and leaned down to see Robin trembling in the passenger seat. “Robin, relax and get your mind back in the game because we are still inside our three mile patrol area.”

  A shiver ran up and then down Robin’s body. “I’ll be okay,” she assured Lance.

  Heading back to the buggy, Lance found Ian standing at the driver’s door holding out a handful of magazines. “I loaded your mags,” Ian said, and Lance took them before shoving them back in his vest. “You went through four and I went through three. I won’t ever argue again about carrying twelve magazines.”

  Climbing on the buggy and dropping his legs down through the roof, “Dude, the only reason I don’t carry more is because I want room to add a spot for the other magazines when we carry different weapons,” Lance told him. “You ready?”

  Not answering, Ian just climbed back in the buggy and took the parking brake off. Scanning around, “At least pussy doesn’t travel in packs like that,” Lance mumbled as Ian slowly pulled off.

  Chapter Three

  For the most part, Ian kept them on the twisting and turning ridgelines heading north. In the small valley behind Heath’s new house, Lance flipped up his night vision and lifted his rifle up before flipping the thermal in place. Looking down in the valley at the dozen mobile homes, Lance couldn’t tell if there were any changes since the last time he and Ian had been there. He did see a few dozen stinkers milling around.

  Letting his rifle rest on the roof, Lance lowered his goggles just in time to dodge a low branch. All the mobile homes in the valley had been ransacked. The mobile homes didn’t provide very good shelter from stinkers or gangs.

  With Ian leading them along at the pace of a fast walk, Lance kept watching the forest and then reached down to pat Dino. “Forgot. Thanks, Dino,” Lance praised, glancing down. Dino was just sitting up in the backseat panting and looking around. “Glad we decided to leave George and Judy at the cabin.”

  Getting closer to their three mile boundary, Lance could feel the tension build inside. He and Ian had roamed all over the area Uncle Doug had laid out. Under no illusions, Lance knew people moved in and out of the three mile perimeter, but they weren’t staying there. They had found signs of houses being searched and even two campfire areas.

  Lance was sure those people were dead because those fires had been at night, in a camping spot. You don’t light a beacon to lead shit to kill you. When they lit stinkers at night, they damn sure didn’t stay around.

  “Lance, Ian,” Rhonda called over the radio and Lance almost jumped out, she startled him so bad. He was relieved feeling the buggy lurch, letting him know Ian got startled also.

  “Yeah,” Lance said, pressing his PTT.

  “You know that small road that runs up this draw but stops a half a mile from the perimeter?” Rhonda asked.

  “Yeah, we are above it now,” Ian called back, even though he was sitting beside her. Risking a glance, Lance ducked down and saw Rhonda still looking out the right side.

  “There are people living in a house back up in that draw,” Rhonda told them. “I spotted them when I was hunting.”

  “Is that the group you told us about?” Lance asked.

  “No, that group is further west on the other side of Highway 11,” Rhonda answered.

  “So, did you know about the group you and Heath are going to set up a meet with?” Ian asked.

  “Yeah, I saw them when it first started on one of my first hunting trips,” Rhonda chuckled.

  Knowing the entire group was listening but not caring, Lance asked. “Rhonda, you’re awful country and Heath and Dwain aren’t. How did that happen?”

  “They left the farm as soon as they could,” Rhonda answered. “I stayed helping Ma and Pa. They sent money, which did help, but Pa lost the farm three years ago. He died that year and Ma followed a few months later.”

  “Sorry,” Lance mumbled into the radio, feeling bad about asking.

  “Don’t be. They had to get rid of the farm and move into assisted living apartments. That’s what killed them,” Rhonda sighed.

  “Lance,” Heath called over the radio. “Even when we were kids, Rhonda could run the farm. I’m the oldest at thirty-six and ten years older than Rhonda, but she was plowing fields when she was five. She loved the farm and outdoors. Dwain and I didn’t like either. We hunt and fish, but Rhonda can hunt and fish. Big difference.”

  “And Rhonda can shoot,” Dwain chimed in.

  “Rhonda, what do you think about that group you just pointed out?” Lance asked.

  “If they ain’t starved to death, they might be someone we can teach. They are tryin’, but I can tell you they are city through and through. I found a deer they shot, and they have no idea what they are doin’,” Rhonda informed him.

  Thinking for a few minutes, “After we see about this other group, we can set up a meeting with them,” Lance decided.

  “We’ll set it up, if you don’t mind,” Dwain butted in quickly. “I don’t want Rhonda going with us either to set up the meeting, but she threatened to beat the shit out of me, so I’m not going to argue anymore.”

  “Damn,” Lance mumbled to himself as he looked around. “They know Rhonda is their strongest person and don’t want to risk her.”

  Pressing his PTT, “Dwain, don’t think I’m going to take your side. Lilly will take Rhonda’s side and that means I’ll have to as well,” Lance responded.

  Gripping his rifle, Lance looked to his right and left into the valleys below as Ian drove along the ridge. The ridge they were on lowered into a finger ending in a larger valley. The finger almost ended at the property they were headed for, but they would only have to move down the valley a quarter of a mile. Looking around, Lance couldn’t believe they would find a business, much less one that was expanding so far out in the boonies.

  When the ridge started to drop, Lance kept his head pivoting and gripped his rifle harder. Since they had left the perimeter, Lance had only seen a few stinkers stumbling along in the valleys below and none in the woods.

  “Ian, stop back from the tree line,” Lance called over the radio.

  “Hey, dildo junkie! I know what the fuck I’m doing,” Ian shot back.

  Pressing his PTT, “Sorry, brah,” Lance responded.

  Waiting for the buggy to stop, Lance climbed out and jumped to the ground. Taking his left hand off the rifle, Lance patted his thigh and heard Dino climb out. When Dino was beside him, Lance eased through the trees toward the valley.

  Gripping her rifle tight scanning out the passenger side, “Aren’t you going?” Rhonda asked Ian over her shoulder.

  Taking a deep breath like he was talking to a child, “No, that’s your job. I’m driving,” Ian sighed.

  Lurching out of the buggy, Rhonda landed on her feet and moved after Lance. “Sorry, I thought Ian was coming,” Rhonda whispered when she was next to him.

  “We have to have someone who knows how to drive the buggy, in case we run into shit,” Lance whispered back, but kept his eyes forward.

  Stopping beside a large tree, Lance knelt down on his left knee. A field was in front of him and he was guessing it was over half a mile long and about that wide. Ten yards from the tree line, a rather wide creek ran down the valley. On the other side of the field, he could see the road that ran along the valley. Seeing movement, Lance flipped his goggles up and switched the thermal on while lifting his rifle up.

  He could see three stinkers moving down the road and leaving the valley but as slow as they were moving, it wouldn’t be anytime soon. Scanning up the valley, Lance spotted the collection of buildings Heath and Dwain had spoken of, and the frame of another building under construction. “Rhonda, how did Heath and Dwain know about this?” Lance asked, lowering his rifle.

  “Heath did the dirt work and Dwain wor
ks for the phone company putting in new lines and internet,” Rhonda shrugged. “If they hadn’t, I would’ve known anyways because I killed a nice buck in this valley.”

  Glancing down at Dino, “You haven’t seen any people in this valley?” Lance asked.

  “No. You see where the road forks?” Rhonda pointed. “The left fork leads up that narrow valley to the north and there are a dozen or so houses up there. That right fork is the road that ends just before the perimeter, but there are a dozen or so houses on it before it ends in that draw. I’ve been in a few, but I’ve never seen anyone else.”

  “How deep is that creek?”

  Pointing to her left, “There’s a road on the west side of this finger and we can use it because it has a bridge,” Rhonda told him. “It’s not deep but the banks are steep, and we would make a lot of noise going through it.”

  Nodding as he got up, Lance backed away and then turned around with Rhonda behind him and Dino moving in front of him. “Why so many questions about people?” Rhonda whispered. “I wouldn’t hold something like that back.”

  Motioning toward Dino, “He doesn’t like something,” Lance whispered back, and Rhonda almost asked if they could leave. One thing she had come to respect was Dino.

  Standing out of the roof in Lance’s spot and keeping watch, “Well?” Ian asked when they returned.

  “Dino didn’t like something, but he didn’t stop me from moving into the valley,” Lance reported. “I only saw four stinkers on the road, and they were leaving.”

  After several seconds of silence, Ian realized Lance was waiting on his input. “Dude, unless we see a gang or military unit entrenched in that valley, we are getting the shit,” Ian declared. “I didn’t face the largest pack of dogs on record to head back home empty-handed like a little bitch.”

  Nodding, Lance grabbed his PTT. “Okay, we’re moving out. Heath, I want you to let Ian get twenty yards ahead, in case there is trouble. If anybody shoots at us, everyone haul ass back to the clubhouse.”

  “Copy,” Jennifer called back, then Dwain and Heath did the same.