End of the Line

by Frater, Lara

  “Yes,” I said. “We know. You can have it back. Sit.”

  The man obeyed especially when Robert looked at him. Robert was sweet and far less threatening than princess, but big enough to look scary.

  “My name is Rachel. Behind me is Princess. Don’t let her looks deceive you. She was one of the police’s best sharpshooters. She’ll kill you before you are even a threat.”

  The kid looked a little spooked. Princess was never in the police but it sounded better than winner of the Northampton young women’s gun club award three years running. Something she proudly told Abe when she first arrived.

  “I ain’t here for trouble, just to survive.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Henry.”

  “Henry, what can you offer us?”

  “I’m a hard worker and my dad was a mechanic, he’s dead now, he, mom and sis all died of the flu. My dad taught me a lot of stuff and I know how to make biodiesel engines if you get me the mats. I was into environmental stuff, just started school for it, when the zombies came.”

  “Why would we need a mechanic?” Eli asked.

  “In case you’re overrun, you gotta escape in something good to protect you from them.”

  “We’re holed up here pretty well,” Eli said, his voice stern.

  “Yeah, but you never know and sometimes you gotta go out and get things that ain’t here. You’ll need wheels.”

  He did have a point, considering how many zombies were killed last night. “What about people?” Jim asked. “Can you get along with all kinds of people?”

  “Sure,” he said. “People are good.”

  “What Jim means,” I said. “Is gay people, black people, fat people, maybe people who aren’t that nice?” I thought of Princess on the last one.

  “As long as they ain’t zombies, everything is cool. I ain’t gay or black, no offense to anyone who is. I need to survive, that’s all.”

  “What were you doing before you came here?”

  “Living in a house, but I ran out of food.”

  “Why did you come here, why not get more food?” Eli asked. “Supermarkets still have food. There are canned goods in empty houses everywhere.” I didn’t know why Eli was being so hard on the kid. He knew mechanics and he seemed okay.

  “Yeah—but well I’m also lonely, you know, not like the sex thing, but other people and I didn’t wanna keep going out for food. I wanna to be safe. I’ll work hard and do anything.”

  “No place is safe. We work at least six days a week,” I explained. “No excuses, unless you’re sick. We all share in sentry duty, moving, building, and farming—“

  “Inside the store?”

  “Some planters in the store and we have a rooftop garden. There’s a lady here who used to work on a farm.”

  “I don’t mind. I’ll do about anything to get in.”

  I looked at Jim. He passed out papers to each of us. I voted yes, the kid looked tired, desperate and still very young. We wrote our vote and gave it back to Jim. He looked through it, and then nodded at me.

  “Welcome, Henry.”

  Henry’s eyes lit up.

  “Oh my god, you mean it. I’ll work hard, promise. I’ll make a great car. I’ll even try to armor it.”

  “Good, Robert why don’t you hand him off to Maddie, then come back. We’ll take five.” I watched Robert take Henry out of the room.

  “That poor kid,” Ashley said. “All alone on his own.”

  “I hope he can fix a car,” Eli said. “A son of a mechanic does not make him one.”

  “And a nurse isn’t a doctor.” Eli didn’t respond right away. Jim didn’t usually tell how people voted but I think it was three to one.

  “We can’t let every poor kid in,” Eli said.

  Eli was a plumber from Oceanside, born and bred Republican, raised in a strict household, was strict with his wife and kids and tried to be strict with us. I put him on the council because he could make the hard decisions. He could tell me things I didn’t want to hear but should. His stubbornness sometimes got in the way of making the right decision.

  “If humankind survives,” I said. “We’re gonna need the kids.”

  Eli didn’t get a chance to respond when Robert came back in.

  “Maddie’s got him.”

  “Thank you, Robert, can you ask for the next person?”

  He let a woman in, who was in her sixties. I already knew she wouldn’t be accepted. We decided, god forgive us, to refuse anyone over 50 unless they were a doctor or sharpshooter. We needed people who were strong and could work.

  “Hello,” I said and gave the same spiel as with Henry.

  “The name's Dorothy, just call me Dot,” she said and gave a long cough and spit on the floor, not a good first impression. She smelled like cigarettes.

  “What can you do for us, Dorothy?”

  “I raised three children. I can cook, clean—“ she stopped when she looked directly at me. “You don’t want me?”

  “Sorry,” I said. No one said anything to defend her.

  “I’ll level with you—before we were overrun, I was getting treated for the cancer. I didn’t finish treatment, I don’t know if it’s gone but I expect not. The thing is that I don’t want to die out there like that or become one of them. Put me in a corner with a bed with a little food and smokes and I’ll do what I can.”

  “Let’s vote on it,” I said. I knew she was scamming. I wasn’t about to let someone who smoked in here. Jim handed out the paper and I wrote no. I don’t expect anyone voted yes. I handed them to Jim who looked through them.

  “Sorry,” he said.

  “You guys are asswipes,” she said.

  “Robert, why don’t you get Dorothy a box of smokes and food?” He nodded and left.

  “No hard feelings,” I said. Dot snorted a response. “You can stay in the repair shop if you want.”

  “Fuck you and your repair shop.”

  I was glad when Robert came back with a canvas bag stuffed with cigarettes and a couple of cans. We kept care packages by the door that we gave to the people in the garage. Robert gave them to Dot and escorted her out. She spit on the ground before she left.

  “Think she was lying?” Ashley said.

  “Probably,” I replied. I wasn’t angry at her for trying to survive. “Robert, let the next one in.” This was going to be a long morning.

  Robert let in a young woman, black, in her early twenties with very short hair that looked shaved and was uneven in different places. She looked like she had an attitude. This could be a problem. She didn’t resist the pat down and the bag search but didn’t seem happy about it. She was armed with a handgun, a knife, a crowbar, and a knapsack full of loose bullets. I started giving her the spiel when she interrupted.

  “I’m a survivor,” she said, her voice rapid. “I know guns and shit, and I kill them, a lot of them. Cost me my best baseball bat. Yes, I’m a total bitch, I don’t really care, but besides the attitude I won’t make trouble,” she paused. “I need a break, some sleep, anything for a while and I’ll help wherever you need it. I’m not afraid of hard work. Except for sex, I’m not a whore—“

  I interrupted. “Crimes against any member of the group mean expulsion.”

  “I won’t hurt nobody unless they touch me.”

  “You didn’t tell me your name,” I said, looking into her brown eyes. She did have an attitude problem, but I believed her sincerity. I think she could be tough enough to keep this place on its feet.

  “Tanya.”

  “Tanya, attitude isn’t a problem, but work ethic is. We all do our part. Can you cooperate?”

  “Long as it’s fair.”

  I looked at Jim. “Let’s take a vote.”

  He passed the paper out. I wrote my vote then handed to him. He looked it over. “Tie.” No one said anything. My decision completely. This woman looked like possible trouble but I can see a sort of desperation and strengths in those brown eyes.

  “
Welcome,” I said.

  “Oh come on,” Eli said. “Fucking look at her, she’s a hoodlum.”

  “I ain’t one now,” she said.

  “Eli,” I said. “We agreed that I would break a tie. Tanya’s survived and she can take care of herself.”

  “Besides,” she said. “I ain’t gonna steal your shit. I stole shit before. But there is tons of everything out there. Any kind of fucking big screen TV I want.”

  “There is plenty here and you can have them all,” I said and I got Tanya to laugh.

  “Smash over their heads maybe,” she said.

  “I’m watching you,” Eli said. “Any trouble and you’re out.”

  “I ain’t gonna bother you, cracker, stay out of my way.”

  “Cracker—“

  “Eli, it’s done.” I paused. “Robert, why don’t you hand off Tanya to Maddie.” “Let’s take 5.” Robert nodded and then showed Tanya to the door to the store. As soon as they were gone, I went after Eli.

  “You promised, Eli. You said it was okay that I would have two votes. I didn’t ask for it.”

  “Rachel, we also promised no criminals. We need good people.”

  “I think Tanya will be okay here.”

  “She could be a psycho,” Ashley said. Now I know where the other no vote came from.

  “I bet she isn’t,” this came from Jim. “I think she’s trying to be tough, but I think she’s probably scared. Besides we could use another shooter. Four would let us have complete coverage.”

  “You promise to shoot her if she gets out of line,” Eli said to Princess.

  “I want no part of this,” she said.

  “Rachel—“ Eli started.

  “Don’t,” I said. “We took a vote. It’s over.”

  Eli looked very pissed off. Thankfully Robert came back early.

  “How is our guest?” I asked.

  Robert didn’t reply, but instead rolled his eyes.

  “That good?”

  Robert was a man of few words so he hunched his shoulders.

  “You might as well call in the next person.” Four more to go. I didn’t know how I was going to make it through this morning.

  Robert came back with a light brown skinned man about my age and my jaw nearly dropped.

  “Dan?” I said, nearly bursting into tears.

  “Rachel,” he said, his face was twisted, confused. He tried to get to me but Robert held him.

  “He has to pat you down, first,” I said, getting up. Dan complied. Robert put a bully club on the table and the knapsack only contained food. Surprised he didn’t have a gun. As soon as he was finished, he rushed over to hug me.

  Daniel Ortiz wasn’t just my pharmacist he was my neighbor. When his wife died and so did my Carl, we joined together. “Rachel, oh my god,” he said. “I thought you were dead.”

  “No—“ I said and I gave him a look, I didn’t want anyone here to know the truth.

  “I thought they got you.”

  I shook my head. Many times, hoping he would get the hint.

  “I take it you know this man,” Eli asked.

  “Yes, I know Dan from Commack. He was my pharmacist and neighbor. We were together in the same militia who got overrun.” Dan looked at me because he knew I was lying. I don’t know what happened to the house in Commack. I don’t know why Dan was here.

  “So we have some bias here,” Eli said. I knew what this was about, this was about Tanya.

  “I won’t vote, but I could use someone who can help me dispense medication.”

  “Why don’t we do a vote right now,” Jim said, handing two pieces of paper to Ashley and to Eli. They scribbled the responses and gave it to Jim.

  Jim smiled. “The yays have it.”

  I sighed in relief.

  Jim gave me a secret wink. “Robert,” he said, “Why don’t you show Dan inside. I think the doctor needs a breather.”

  “Doctor,” Dan said and laughed. “You’ve moved up in the world.”

  “You have no idea,” I said. “We’ll talk, later.”

  When he was gone, Eli turned to me. “I didn’t vote against him, if that’s what you are thinking. We can use medical professionals.”

  “Neither did I,” said Ashley.

  “I didn’t think you would,” I said, and lied. Ashley wouldn’t hold a grudge against me for Tanya but Eli might.

  Robert came back.

  “Are you ready?” he asked. I wanted this to be over already.

  “This is a special case,” Jim said, “A mother and daughter. I don’t think we should turn them away.”

  Jim was right. We didn’t turn away kids and we especially didn’t separate them from parents.

  Robert let them in. The girl came first. She looked 7 or 8, messy blond hair but cute as a button and terrified. When we made eye contact she broke out into a run, screaming. The woman behind her, a woman in her thirties with a face covered in dirt and a hair that looked like it had never been washed, held a handgun. Instead of putting it on the table, she pointed it at Jim. Jim had a look of terror in his face with a hint of recognition. “I remember you!” she said. I stood up to get to Jim before it was too late.

  There was a loud bang. Jim stood there with his hand on his chest, looking for blood, but none was there. Instead the crazy woman fell to the ground, a bullet hole in her chest, blood splattered on the wall behind her and her eyes wide open. The girl kept screaming.

  “Oh shit,” Jim said. “Holy fucking shit.”

  I looked to Princess, but she was emotionless, scratched that, almost pleased. She didn’t care that she killed this girl’s mother.

  “What the fuck,” I said to her.

  “She was threatening us,” she said, deadpan. I didn’t know how to respond. Princess was a perfect shot; she could have easily winged her.

  Eli comforted the girl. Robert looked terrified. He backed up against the wall.

  “I’m so sorry,” Eli said to her. She had stopped screaming and was now crying hard. He picked her up and carried her into the store, away from the grizzly scene.

  I sat on my chair again. I couldn’t do this anymore.

  “Jim, did you know her?” I asked.

  He shook his head but he looked at Ashley. I don’t know what secret that shared but now I was too frazzled to ask.

  “I think we are done,” I said.

  “We have one more person,” Jim said and he still looked confused and still in shock “We should see her. Why don’t we take a break? Dave and Robert can get rid of the body.

  “I can’t,” I said to Jim.

  He looked at me and made eye contact. He looked up to me; he didn’t want to see me falling apart. It was Maddie and him that I would save if anything happened. If that woman fired before princess, if she hurt Jim-- I don’t know what I would do. “Who is left?”

  “It’s a woman, 30, secretary, but claimed she’s also a massage therapist. I think she could help with morale.”

  “Robert, cover the body and let her in.”

  “Doc?”

  “You heard what I said. I want to finish this but I can’t deny this woman her time.”

  Robert nodded then left the room.

  “What about Eli?” Ashley said.

  “We have three votes here, if we all like her that will be enough.”

  Robert came back a few minutes later. He had a sheet and he covered the dead woman. We would burn her body on the roof later.

  He didn’t say anything. He went to the door and opened it. A woman came in. She was about my age, chubby but short, Indian with a look of fear on her face. Robert patted her down but came up with no weapons.

  “I heard shots,” she said. I motioned to the body on the floor, blood already staining the sheets.

  “She threatened us. Do you plan to threaten us?”

  “No—“ she said. “I want to be safe from them. I’m tired of running.”

  “Nowhere is safe.”

  “Yes, but you got guns and food.
I can do massage on everyone and garden too, I’ll grow stuff.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Sachi Chandi. I was just an assistant and they said not to come in, but my family died of the flu and my father—“ she paused.

  “I know,” I said. “We all have stories. You don’t have to share if you don’t want to.”

  “I don’t,” she said, quietly.

  “Let’s take a vote.”

  Jim gave out papers. We did our thing.

  “Yes,” he said, “We all vote yes.”

  Chapter 3 Maddie waited for me behind the door. She handed me a small bottle of something and I sipped it. Some kind of booze burned my throat but calmed my jagged nerves. I didn’t want to have another crying fit today.

  Jim looked calmer than me despite being threatened with a gun. Eli hadn’t come back, so Robert worked on the fortified door’s elaborate locking mechanism. Jim escorted Sachi to the infirmary instead of Maddie. Mindy would look her over. Ashley looked like she was heading to her room. Princess left without a word, though I wondered if she was happy to get what she wanted.

  “You look like hell.”

  Madelyn “Maddie” Thomas was beyond a best friend. I couldn’t have survived without her. She worked as a teacher before and kept up the education for the three kids. Besides being a fantastic teacher, she loved to cook and made amazing meals. I wondered why she was a teacher not a chef, but her twenty years spent teaching fourth grade told me otherwise. She had planned to write a cookbook, even joked about writing the zombie survival one. She cooked for any of us, even for Dave whom I would have told to go make his own beans. Maddie was fat, but it didn’t slow her down. I could see her match Robert in the heavy lifting. Not that you could tell that to Dave who thought Maddie was a weak link. I don’t know what Dave’s problem was. No one else disliked Maddie. The home cooked meals she tossed together brightened spirits. All three kids would get the education they needed.

  “I feel that way too.”

  “Heard there was excitement?”

  I forgot about Dan. Where was he?

  Maddie read my mind. “Your friend is waiting for you in the infirmary.”

  “He okay?”

  “Anxious to see you. Eli’s with the girl. I’ll look in on her later when Rosa watches the kids. Aisha is watching them now.”