Forsaken World (Book 5): Homecoming

by Watson, Thomas A.

“Just seen three mens, but I knows they be more because they was gettin’ stuff for women from houses,” Holly said, then pointed to the other spot. “They be only four here, two men and two women. When they go out, they all go together.”

  “You ever see a group that flies a pirate flag?” Lance asked.

  “Yep,” Holly nodded. “When Dawn and I tried to get to Rhonda’s house near Crane Nest last month, saw a bunch on four-wheelers. They ar’ bad, but they be really stupid, actin’ like boys afta a high school football game. But they still assholes. Saw them kill two men an’ take the women and kids.”

  Rhonda leaned over, pointing out her house to the northwest four miles outside of their perimeter. “And you walked?” Lance scoffed.

  “Yeah, tried using a four-wheeler, but couldn’t hear what was in front of me, so I left it,” Holly nodded, then pointed at the two spots Lance had marked to the north with survivors. The first was the Stanton’s that he and Ian knew about, and the other was the one Rhonda told them about. “Theys people here, but I didn’t stop to see much.”

  Walking off, Holly patted Rhonda’s shoulder. “I never think to look fer ya at Heath’s,” Holly chuckled. “Guess I bein’ stupid, too.”

  “Hardly,” Lance mumbled. “Did you go around this?” he asked, moving his finger around the draw the cabin was set in.

  Sitting down, Holly nodded. “Seed a bunch of burnt spots and some trails of four-wheelers heading here. I could tell you knowed what ya doin’, so me an’ Dawn gave ya a wide swing. Sorry, but after seein’ what we seed, I couldn’t be takin’ chances. I could be tellin’ you knowed what you be doin’.”

  “Damn,” Lance mumbled as Holly leaned over and moved her finger along the east perimeter, showing her route back to the shack they met her at. “So, any others?” Lance asked, and Holly shook her head.

  “Naw, them supreme peoples and bikers hit that side hard. Anuter reason I didn’t want to see who be hidin’ up in this draw,” Holly admitted. “I seed other people, but they were movers, only stayin’ in a place for a night or so.”

  “Just how far out have you gone?!” Ian cried out.

  “Corbin. But theys more fected on that fancy interstate than you can shake a stick at,” Holly gasped. “It be lookin’ like a river of bodies when we first got there bout two weeks ago, but the next day they only be like small groups headin’ north. I don’t knowed where they went, thinkin another big group comin’, so I high tailed it back to that shack.”

  “You were heading for Victor’s house,” Rhonda growled.

  Looking down at the table, Holly nodded and mumbled, “Yeah.”

  “Holly, where did you get the ball bearings for your slingshot?” Lance asked quickly, to cut Rhonda off about Victor.

  Holly jerked her head up with a grin and leaned over the table. “Here.” She pointed at a valley north of Walker. “There be a whole buildin’ with drums filled with ‘em.”

  When Allie carried over plates, Lance moved his map after he marked the site. Lilly got up and grabbed glasses and pitchers of tea. When food was placed on the table, Holly tried to get Dawn so she could feed her, but Kathy refused to give Dawn up, so Holly sat down to eat. The group kept eating as Lance and Ian asked Holly questions. After two plates, Holly leaned back rubbing her pregnant belly.

  “That be some good vittles,” Holly beamed then.

  Dwain leaned over and kissed Jodi. “It sure was,” he said, and Jodi looked up at her dad with a grin. “Lance, you there?” Heath’s voice sounded out, and everyone turned to the rack beside the back door where all the tactical vests were hung up.

  Giving a groan, Lance got up and headed over and grabbed his radio. “Here, Heath,” Lance called back.

  “Hey, they just showed up,” Heath reported. “They scouted the trailer really good and have two people across the road in the trees.”

  Looking at his watch, Lance nodded. “Two hours early.”

  Pressing the transmit bar, “How did they get there?” Lance asked.

  “Walked or they parked their rides a long way off,” Heath answered.

  “Heath, what are you doing on lookout so early?”

  Several seconds passed before Heath answered. “Um, just making sure they weren’t trying anything like you did us.”

  Laughing, Lance brought the radio to his mouth. “We showed up after you to make sure you scouted the area. Just make sure they don’t spot you.”

  “There are no stinkers in the valley, how about making contact now?”

  Giving a long sigh, Lance turned to the table and saw everyone nodding. “Okay,” Lance groaned into the radio. “Give us twenty minutes to load and leave, ten to set up overwatch. Then Ian and I will head on down.”

  Dwain stood up. “Rhonda and I’ll be with you.”

  “Fine,” Lance groaned. “Heath, I’ll call when we start down.”

  “Copy. See ya then,” Heath called back, and Lance put his radio back on his vest.

  “Brah, we talk to them now, and we can be back here before dark settles in,” Ian pointed out as he leaned back in his chair. “We have to check bots tomorrow and work on the centrifugal gun.”

  “Yeah,” Lance replied with wide eyes. “It’s going to take an hour just to wash them off, if the numbers I’ve been getting are even half right.”

  “How many?!” Dwain cried out with excitement.

  “Over ten thousand for both spots,” Lance reported, and Dwain felt his legs get weak. “Should’ve already checked them and burnt the area, but we’ve been busy.”

  “We saw the new area when we passed and noticed a pile around the playground, but ten thousand?” Dwain gasped.

  Shrugging, Lance pulled his vest down and put it on. “After the download at eight this morning that was the total, but for both sites. Site two was at six thousand.”

  “Download?” Kathy asked.

  Strapping his vest down, Lance nodded. “I have them send out reports at eight and eight to check function. Like I told you, unless someone is close, the transmissions aren’t powerful.”

  “Dwain, we were half a mile away and you were using binoculars,” Rhonda said, walking over and grabbing her vest.

  Putting his own vest on, “Ten thousand should be a mountain of chucks,” Dwain shot back.

  “I’m coming,” Holly said, getting up and Lance turned to see a determined face that wasn’t open to discussion. “And yeah, Dawn be comin’ wit me. We can move if somethin’ goes bad.”

  “I’ll get your clothes out of the dryer,” Lilly said, heading down to the basement.

  Lance turned to the kids. “It will be dark soon so lock the place down, and someone stay in control till we get back. Go ahead and shower and then do the night lesson. We can start movies when we get back.”

  The kids jumped up and started clearing the table as Lilly came back up with Holly’s and Dawn’s cleaned clothes. “Sometimes having others around is a pain,” Lance mumbled.

  Chapter Eleven

  With Jennifer and Lilly in one of the hybrid UTVs and Dwain following them in his side by side, Ian led the group. Everyone was tickled that the tigers were back at the platform that had been built for them.

  Reaching the build house, Lance and Ian parked with Dwain beside them while Jennifer and Lilly moved out and once again set up on the ridge overlooking the valley where the meeting trailer was at. “Lilly, stay on channel two because Heath’s radio can hear channel three,” Lance called over the radio.

  “Copy,” Lilly answered.

  Somewhat nervously, Dwain turned to Lance. “What’s that about?” Dwain demanded.

  Slowly, Lance turned to Dwain. “I think your brother has already gone down.”

  “Why?”

  Shrugging as Dino stuck his head between the front seats, “Just the way he was talking,” Lance offered.

  “Damn,” Dwain mumbled, looking off and then turned back to Lance with a sheepish expression. “Well, you’re right.”

  Flopping his head back
on the headrest, “I’m tired,” Lance mumbled under his mask.

  “Lance,” Lilly called over the radio. “We are set up and ah, Heath and Robin are already down at the trailer.”

  “Figured,” Lance called back. “How many do you see?”

  “Six, and I don’t see anyone on overwatch below us.”

  “You need to have a talk with your brother,” Lance told Dwain. “That was dangerous.”

  “Lance, Heath said he liked the two he talked to. Trust me, he won’t throw his life away, but we wanted to make sure the guys were on the level before bringing you and Ian to meet them,” Dwain replied, starting his side by side.

  Rubbing Dino’s massive head, Lance turned to Ian. “I really think we should ground them.”

  “Fine, but you’re the one enforcing that shit on Rhonda. I’ll fight the others,” Ian snorted, turning the buggy on and pulling off. “That bitch is strong. I’m not getting my ass kicked by a girl with a rack that size, I’ll lose my man card.”

  Lance just laughed, pulling his hand away from Dino and grabbing his radio, turning to Heath’s channel. “Heath, rolling down and yes, the spotters have told me you’re already there.”

  “Just wanted to make sure,” Heath answered quickly. “Waiting on you outside.”

  “Copy,” Lance sighed, letting the PTT go and holding his AR out the door. When Ian reached the valley floor they both scanned around for stinkers and lions, more terrified of the latter by far.

  “Hope the lions moved on,” Ian said, pulling onto the road and heading north.

  “Yeah, we have tigers already,” Lance grunted, scanning around as Ian drove up the valley. Rounding the last curve, Lance saw a group standing around the front of the trailer. “We are talking outside.”

  “That’s what I was thinking. That trailer would be hotter than hell,” Ian agreed.

  When Ian came to a stop, Lance climbed out as Dino jumped out and stared at the group with Heath. “Dino, chill,” Lance said as the new group shivered at the two grey skulls painted on the masks. Slowly, Dino walked over while sniffing the air and looking at the new group, then just dropped down lazily on the ground.

  “I didn’t mean take a nap,” Lance chuckled, letting his AR hang under his arm. “Heath, we are still talking about grounding you.”

  “Lance -,” Heath said, holding up his hands and Ian cut Heath off.

  “First, Dwain, Kathy, and Rhonda scout outside your area and then you just run down and meet a new group we know nothing about. You guys are really trying our patience. All of you are lucky I have on this heavy-ass vest, otherwise I would take my belt off and spank your asses,” Ian snapped.

  “I’d hide behind Jennifer,” Rhonda chuckled, walking past Ian with Holly.

  “You’d have to leave sometime,” Ian grumbled, following Rhonda over.

  “Lance, this is Patrick Stanton,” Heath said, pointing at a man who looked around forty. “Mr. Stanton’s oldest grandson. These are his younger brothers David, Colton, and Wesley. The two young men over there are Patrick’s sons Drew and Larry.”

  Lance turned to the boys and thought Drew looked around sixteen and Larry looked around his age. Turning back to Patrick and his brothers, Lance stared at each one’s face, noticing bushy beards. “Lance, Ian,” Lance said, holding out his hand.

  Shaking each one’s hand, Lance scanned them over seeing each held a hunting rifle or shotgun. Each of the men looked fit, but he could tell they were much thinner than they had been in the past life, and none were over six foot tall. “Not to sound condescending, but you don’t look like you’re from around here,” Lance said, stepping back and took off his helmet.

  “We aren’t,” Patrick answered. “All of us except for Wesley lived up in Lexington. Wesley lived in Frankfort.”

  “Lance, you want to head inside?” Heath asked, pointing at the trailer.

  “I’ve sweated my ass off enough today chasing them down,” Lance huffed, pointing over at Holly and Dawn. “I’m not in the mood to sit in a mobile home that’s been shut up since we met you.”

  “Well, Robin and I hauled a generator down this morning, and I put two portable A/C units in there and Robin brought some food,” Heath grinned.

  Taking his mask off, Lance didn’t notice the new group relax. “Okay, Heath, you don’t get a spanking or grounded,” Lance stated, grabbing his PTT. “Come on down.”

  “Lance, we need to keep eyes out for stinkers,” Lilly called back. “Besides, it feels better out here.”

  “Baby doll, Heath set up an A/C in the trailer.”

  “On the way,” Lilly answered quickly.

  “Not to say we aren’t thankful, but don’t you think all of you are being a little too trusting?” Patrick asked, looking around and stopping at Dwain and Kathy.

  “Why?” Lance shrugged as Ian took his helmet and mask off. “We have more guns than you and you don’t have anyone else on overwatch. Not to mention, you don’t have much for ammo. We could kick your ass.”

  The entire group seemed very nervous and Ian chuckled. “Guys, chill.”

  “How do you figure that?” the youngest brother Wesley asked with interest. “About the ammo.”

  Ian pointed at each one. “None of your pockets are bulging and only two are carrying backpacks, and they aren’t heavy enough to be carrying a lot of ammo. Then, each of you are carrying a bat.”

  Stepping over, Lance pointed at the XDM on Patrick’s hip. “Plus, your load indicator on your XDM is down, and nobody carries a pistol without one in the pipe except a dumbass, which I don’t think any of you are,” Lance grinned. “The only other conclusion would be no bullets.”

  Patrick looked down at his pistol and sighed, “Yeah.”

  “Now, why haven’t you guys put a fence around that house?” Lance asked. “I’m still trying to figure out how you survived that mass of stinkers that came through.”

  “Grandpa has a storm cellar in the backyard. After that flood of-,” Patrick paused. “Stinkers, we started sleeping in the storm cellar at night. About the fence, it’s taking everything we can do to keep food and clean water coming.”

  “You haven’t scavenged to the south or east,” Ian stated, turning to look down the road and saw the hybrid buggy coming.

  The entire group nodded as David answered, “I take it, you know of that white supremacist group and bikers.”

  “Yeah, we had to take those douchebags down,” Ian snickered as Jennifer slowed to pull into the yard.

  “That biker gang attacked them!” David blurted out.

  “Yeah, Devil Lords,” Ian nodded, turning back around. “After we attacked both and set up booby traps, making each think the other was doing it. We had to kill quite a few before the cock wipes started fighting each other. I hate attacking stupid people, trying to get a point across. It’s really much easier to just kill them.”

  Watching Jennifer and Lilly get out of the buggy, Lance nodded. “Look at the trouble we went through to make their misery elaborate, and did any one of them appreciate the time and effort we put into it? Hell no!”

  The four brothers all turned to Heath in shock. With a huge grin, Heath raised his eyebrows. “Told ya they don’t play around.”

  Jennifer and Lilly walked over, seeing the shock on the newcomers. “I remember when that used to be me,” Lilly chuckled, then glanced around.

  Letting his rifle hang under his arm, Lance waved at the trailer. “Let’s get inside and talk for a second,” he said and just walked off.

  Carrying Dawn, Holly followed Lance up on the porch. “Have to admit, I be lovin’ the air,” she said with a grin.

  Walking in, Lance saw the trailer had been cleaned up and the living room emptied of furniture. An eight-foot folding table now took up the living room with chairs around it. “We could’ve helped,” Lance called out, tossing his mask and helmet on the table before dropping in a chair at the end. The new group walked in sighing, but not as loud as Holly did at the relief of the cool air.
The cabin’s temp was nice, the temperature in the trailer was damn near cold.

  The four brothers took seats on one side of the table as Dwain, Heath, and Rhonda sat on the other side with Ian taking the chair at the other end. Watching Jennifer walk to the end of the table and sit on Ian’s leg, Lilly moved over and did the same on Lance’s left leg as she took off her helmet and mask.

  “So, what has Heath told you?” Lance asked as Lilly sat on his left leg.

  Patrick watched his boys head into the kitchen where Robin and Kathy were starting sandwiches. “That those that join up have to pull their weight,” Patrick mumbled, smacking his lips.

  “I told him everything you told us,” Heath chipped in.

  Nodding, “Okay. So, you need time to talk it over with the rest?” Lance asked, noticing all the brothers were turned to the kitchen to watch the sandwiches being made.

  Blinking his eyes to break the trance the food held over him, Patrick turned to Lance. “Lance, like I said, it’s taking everything we have just to keep up with food and water. Then throw in taking out stinkers that get close and dodging patrols of assholes trying to pillage, we won’t be able to contribute much. We would love to help, but just can’t.”

  Turning to Ian, Lance saw Ian give a nod as he spoke. “They know limitations. I like that.”

  When Kathy and Robin handed the first sandwiches to Patrick’s sons, each finished the sandwich off in two bites. “Slow down,” Robin laughed, walking over and handing a plate to Patrick. “Take one and pass it down,” she told him, heading back to the kitchen.

  “Well-” Lance started, and paused when Patrick shoved the entire sandwich in his mouth. “Dude, that sandwich wasn’t going to run away.”

  Taking a bottle of water, Patrick drained it as the others, including Holly, gulped down the sandwiches. When his mouth was empty, Patrick nodded. “Sorry,” he gasped. “We’ve only searched houses, and lately have been coming up empty. Like I said, between chores, stinkers, and assholes, we haven’t found much food.”

  “Like I was going to say,” Lance grinned as Kathy brought another plate of sandwiches in. “First, you need to leave that house you’re in. It’s a shallow draw with no water.”