The Dead Divide Us

by Vincent S. Tobia

  “Come on you smelly freaks!” Robert yelled.

  They came around the corner of the truck slowly; Robert noticed again the blonde man’s limp jaw swinging wildly off of its face. ‘How would he even bite me now?’ Robert mused. Taking another quick look, he couldn’t see a tongue on the poor bastard. ‘Maybe he swallowed that when I hit him.’ He thought, gagging on the idea.

  Robert reached to the Bronco’s spare tire carrier and unlatched it. The tire carriers were basically heavy as hell with wide bars that swung out completely to one side. With all of his strength, Robert swung the bad boy directly into the fat lady and the blonde man. The force of the heavy bars and full size spare tire sent them flying. Both went to the ground, the large lady landing on top of and pinning down the blonde man. They started flailing around instantly.

  “I got it.” Jan yelled out as he rounded the other side. In a non-stop motion he raised the rock with both hands and drove it down onto the large woman’s head; remembering to turn his own head away this time to avoid any projectile brain matter. Her forehead split right open, and since she was elevated on top of the blonde man, the force of Jan’s rock actually broke her neck as well. Her head snapped down past her own shoulders and the actual sound of her neck breaking was indescribable. She was instantly still.

  Robert approached the bloody mess; bat in hand.

  “Wow.” Robert said mildly as he observed the large lady’s corpse.

  “The skinny guy is all yours.” Jan said as he gathered himself. Something in his voice suggested he was beyond disgusted.

  The blonde man twitched and pulled furiously underneath the fat woman. He was trapped and Robert thought, ‘We could just leave him here. He isn’t hurting anyone anymore. His fucking jaw is broke anyway.’

  Then the blonde man locked his eyes with Robert and he started to moan loudly. The moan was so human, so sad, yet so evil and utterly angry. Vomit started to spill out of the blonde man’s broken mouth and that’s when Robert knew he had to finish him off. ‘It isn’t right to leave a person like this. I HAVE to kill him.’He justified in his mind, surprised by his own thoughts.

  Robert lifted up his bat and swung onto the blonde man’s head; crushing the top of his skull. His moaning stopped instantly but the blonde man’s vomit continued to pour out of his open jaw in a slow forming puddle of black bile.

  4

  The steady ticking of the Bronco’s engine was the only noise breaking the silence that had fallen around them. As it permeated the post trauma fugue that enveloped both men, Robert realized the truck was only running because of the whack Jan had given the starter. He suddenly became overwhelmed with the feeling that they were running on borrowed time. Not just with the faulty truck but themselves as well.

  The silent exchange of words between the men motivated them both to get back in the truck and leave the bloody mess behind. As Jan and Robert left the woods, the entire experience weighed heavy in their minds. Jan Goodman sat there, not speaking, as Robert finally turned off the side road and back on to Route 9. Jan didn’t even put a wad of chewing tobacco in his mouth; he just gripped the now blood and flesh coated rock while he stared out the window. The snow was falling heavily outside the walls of the forest and Jan missed his family. He wondered if they were okay back at the Colton Fire Company.

  Carefully guiding the truck through a snow filled one-lane highway, Robert finally broke the silence.

  “You know those people weren’t okay, right?” Robert blurted out, feeling awkward.

  “I know.” Jan said simply.

  “Well, we did what was right. You know?”

  “I do.”

  The truck slipped a little in the ever building snow. Robert pulled a tight counter steer to the left and the truck quickly righted itself. He was used to driving in snow but if the storm kept up he didn’t know if anyone was going to be driving around out there.

  “Hey how do you think my family is doing? That fire company setup looked ok to you?” Jan suddenly asked.

  “I think they’re safe yeah. Those guys had that place pretty secure by the looks of it.” Robert replied.

  “But you don’t trust that Major Frost?” Jan asked, already knowing the answer.

  Robert turned his head, taking his eyes off the road.

  “No, he seems to know that I know more than I admitted. I think he sensed that I had already encountered one of the infected, Carl.” Robert said.

  “Yeah, now that you mention it, that Major Frost is a professional, he’s probably handled situations like this before; maybe even some situations that weren’t made public.” Jan said.

  “Maybe.” Robert said, taking a look at his surroundings. They were only about ten minutes from his parent’s farm house.

  “Frost has probably dealt with many people, in a lot of different ways. I’m not saying I trust him. I just kind of have to rely on him.” Jan said.

  Robert finally realized just how worried Jan was for the safety of his own family. Of course Jan had to hope that Major Frost was on the level. He left his family under Frost’s care.

  “Hey I want to thank you man for coming out here with me. I’d be stranded back there if you hadn’t come with.” Robert told Jan with sincerity.

  “Don’t thank me. I love you guys. Growing up, your house was a second home for me. You, Paul and your parents made me feel like part of the family.” Jan said.

  “I’m glad you feel that way. We enjoyed having you around.” Robert said.

  Jan put down the large rock he had been holding on his lap; all the while seeming to not notice the dredges of the infected speckling it. He unzipped his jacket a little, letting the cool air rush around his chest and then turned a stalwart face towards Robert.

  “I don’t remember, it was a terribly confusing time for everyone, but I still want you to know that I’m sorry about Felicia.” Jan said.

  Robert’s mind went blank. For a moment he was stuck in a dark nothingness. It wasn’t very often that Robert thought about his dead twin-sister, Felicia Landry. It hurt him too much to think about her. After the cancer took her during their senior year of high-school, Robert became a professional at hiding his emotions.

  Robert graduated in a high-school class of three-hundred teenagers; but to him, he felt like he graduated alone, his twin sister was supposed to have been there too. Forcing himself back into reality, Robert put up the mind-block he had become so accustomed to using.

  “Thanks, you did a lot for us during that time.” Robert blandly told Jan.

  “Like I said, I feel like a part of your family too.” Jan said.

  “You are.” Robert said, his confidence returning.

  As the Bronco hit another patch of ice and snow, Robert counter steered once again for another small victory over the winter elements. His confidence rose even higher as the road that turned off to Rita and Thomas’s farm came into sight.

  5

  The driveway wasn’t too bad to navigate. Robert had feared that it was going to be treacherous, it was a very rocky dirt driveway, but the Bronco made it up the hill just fine. There was also more tree overhang then Robert remembered, so the driveway wasn’t as badly covered in snow.

  Jan leaned forward as the truck now left the small tree surrounded entranceway and entered the farm area.

  “I haven’t been up here since we helped move them.” Jan said.

  The farm was a wide stretch of land, carved out of the forest. The medium-sized brown farmhouse laid nestled back closer to the tree line, where a large hill backed the entire farm. The aged off-white shutters of the house gave it a real sturdy and old-time feel. Robert noticed some smoke coming out of the chimney. His father had started up the fireplace no doubt, fine time for a fire during a cold winter’s fury. Set in front of the house was a large fenced in area for the horses.

  Rita and Thomas had only two horse to tend to, one that came with the property and her name was Sundance. She was a golden-oldie for sure; a little nasty at times but if y
ou were gentle and treated her right she usually came around to like you. Her white mane contrasted well with her yellow hair and white spotted face. The other horse was a new little girl, not yet three years of age. Shadow was a horse that was as black as a moonless night. Shadow’s fur was so dark that even in low-light it seemed to glisten in shiny white flashes. None of the horses were out though; they must be in the stables which were off to the right off the farmhouse.

  Robert drove the truck up past the rather large chicken coop and parked her next to their parents old Scout Truck. The plow was already attached to the Scout; it had gotten a lot of use this winter season already.

  “So do I kill the engine?” Robert asked Jan.

  “I might be able to get her started again with the rock, but I’m not sure.” Jan responded.

  “Alright, let’s just go in. Make sure they are okay and get them out of here and down to the fire company. I’ll leave the truck running.” Robert said, as he looked at his gas gage. Little under a half tank, plenty of fuel to burn.

  Robert exited the truck and that cold winter smell filled his lungs yet again. The entire farm was covered in a sizeable amount of snow. Robert noticed what looked like deer tracks in the snow, over by the water well pump. Near the stables though, Jan noticed a different set of tracks in the snow.

  “Hey look at these.” Jan called over to Robert.

  There were a few foot tracks leading to and from the wooden door of the stable. At times the footprints looked bunched together and staggered.

  “Let’s go check up on your folks.” Jan said, not liking what he saw there in the snow.

  Robert and Jan walked up the wide staircase and up onto the large wraparound porch of the house. As they passed the big living room window, Jan looked into the dark room. On the opposite end, the kitchen window blared in the white light of the winter day. Robert knocked hard and quick on the front door.

  “Hey Mom, Dad. It’s Robert.” He called out. Robert and Jan were silent, a few seconds of listening for a response and they were both filled with dread. All they could hear was the falling snow around them. The roof of the large porch shaded them well, too well for Robert’s liking actually. It just seemed too dark at the moment.

  Robert was about to knock again, Jan was already thinking of breaking down the door, when they heard a quick few footsteps from inside. Then they heard the door unlock.

  “Mom!” Robert exclaimed with joy, fear now fleeting from his mind.

  “Robert, oh my goodness.” Rita Landry said, with tears filling her eyes. They met in the threshold for a strong hug. Jan simply stood idly by, smiling at the sight.

  “We were so worried. Our television is broke. Paul called us to see if we were okay here. Your father and I didn’t even know what was happening; we’ve got the old radio tuned on in the kitchen….” Rita was blabbering on until she noticed Jan Goodman was also standing on her porch.

  “…Jan? What a surprise! Are you okay? I mean your family, where are they?” Rita asked.

  “It’s good to see you Mrs. Landry. Fran is back at the fire company with the two girls.” Jan said; now back to his jolly ways.

  “Susie and Carol? The little ones.” Rita asked.

  “Yep.’Cept they ain’t so little anymore. Susie is almost in junior high school.” Jan added.

  “That’s wonderful. Come in, come in. Please.” Rita said, backing up and motioning them to come inside.

  Robert looked over to his truck, still running.

  “Ok, but we can’t stay long. We are here to take you and dad back to the fire company.” Robert said.

  “Come in, we’ll talk. Get out of the cold already!” Rita said with motherly charm.

  Robert and Jan entered Rita and Thomas Landry’s farmhouse.

  Standing in the foyer, the warmth of the house felt good to both Robert and Jan. Before them was a large staircase that led straight up the second floor. A picture of each of Rita and Thomas’s children hung on the wall heading up the staircase. Paul and Roberts’ pictures were taken recently. Paul with his family; Ruth and the boys. Robert’s photo had him standing next to his Bronco. The picture of Felicia was taken shortly before she had been diagnosed with brain cancer. In her photo she was holding her brass trumpet; it was her high school band picture. Robert didn’t like the picture of Felicia, she looked too happy. He felt it wasn’t fair to her, seeing her so happy in that photo, knowing that her days of joy would end soon, and so terribly. Plus, looking at that picture of Felicia with her trumpet, Robert could recall vivid memories of Felicia practicing the instrument. He could still hear her trumpet, blaring away the tune “This Could Be The Start of Something New“. Robert quickly changed his frame of thought, the walls. The walls and moldings on the inside were a bright white, a contrast from the outside of the house. Robert wasn’t sure he’d ever noticed that great contrast before.

  “Please take off your jackets and make yourself comfortable.” Rita said, moving past the stairs, toward the kitchen.

  “We can’t stay here long, Mom. I just said that.”

  Robert and Jan both kept their jackets on and followed Rita into the kitchen.

  “Robert! And is that Jan Goodman?’

  Jan leaned forward, reaching over the kitchen table and shook Thomas Landry’s right hand.

  “Hello Mr. Landry. How goes it?” Jan said, again in his jolly tone.

  “Fairly well Jan. It’s good to see you both are safe.” Thomas said, sitting at the kitchen table. The kitchen was an old style farmhouse setting indeed. This was the one room in the entire house the Rita and Thomas deliberately did not remodel. The off white sink, old fire-view stove, classic refrigerator with icebox built into the bottom. There was even still a large ancient cutting table built on top of a series of waist high drawers. But the most impressive part of the old style kitchen was the large stone fireplace built into the north wall. A medium fire now roared there. A pot hung over the fire, cooking something delicious for sure. But what?

  “I’ve got beef stew over the fire, plenty of it boys.” Rita said, cheerfully.

  Before Robert could remind his mother again about the need to get them back to town, Robert noticed the radio sitting on the center of the kitchen table. It wasn’t turned on.

  “Hey did you guys listen to the radio?” Robert asked, quickly.

  Robert’s father reached for his pipe with his right hand, the pipe was already packed and ready to smoke.

  “Of course we did, but for the past hour all we can pick up is a recording of some person reading off safe points in the area. Colton Fire Company is on the list.” Thomas said, while filling his immediate area with pipe smoke.

  “Is it really that bad Robert?” Rita said her son, worried.

  Robert looked at Jan and they both raised an eye to one another.

  “Yea it’s bad.” They both said.

  It was then that Robert had finally noticed something different in the kitchen; his father. Thomas was sitting close to the fire, but not close enough for him to be sweating as bad as he was. Robert could swear that his father’s face was flushed now, different from when he had entered the room.

  As Thomas’ pipe continued to billow out smoke, a lit ash flew up out of the pipe and into the air. Robert watched as this hot ash danced around the air, back and forth like a leaf on the wind, and slowly crash land onto Thomas’s lap. The ash landed on Thomas’s left hand.

  “Ouch!” Thomas yelled, pulling his left arm up from underneath the table.

  That’s when Robert and Jan saw it. There was a rather large bandage underneath Thomas’s sleeve, just below his left hand. The bandage even showed some red, the increasingly seen color of blood.

  “Here let me help you with that Hon.” Rita said, trying to block the boys’ view.

  “Wait a minute.” Robert said and his mother stopped. Robert walked over this father and took hold of his left hand.

  “Jesus.” Jan said, already fearing the worst.

  Robert pulled ba
ck his father’s sleeve to reveal the large blood stained bandage.

  “Dad, Mom, why didn’t you mention this?” Robert asked, as he then pulled the bandage back halfway. There was a huge chunk of flesh taken out of Thomas’s arm.

  “Hey! That hurt!” Thomas yelled, pulling his arm away from Robert.

  “How did you get that bite? That looks like a bite!” Robert asked, now frantic with fear.

  “Dear, this is why I’m afraid we can’t go with you.” Rita said.

  “What?” Robert said.

  “The bleeding has mostly stopped but I fear that your father is getting sick. I’m going to have to take care of him here.” Rita said. She did consider herself a good mom-doctor.

  “How did you get bit Dad?” Robert asked again.

  Thomas exhaled slowly, but Rita was the one to speak.

  “We heard a few noises this morning, wasn’t that long ago actually. Well the horses were in their stable and I could hear Sundance making a fuss in there…” Rita said, but was cut off by Thomas…

  “Some bastard broke into the stables; he bit my arm when I tried to kick him out.”

  Robert and Jan both felt sick. It was surely one of the infected freaks that had given Robert’s father that terrible bite. Robert figured that being bit by one of those things and living through it didn’t mean you’d live for too long. Or you’d become one of them.

  “That fucker might even still be out there.” Thomas blurted out.

  “You mean he’s still in there? In the stables?” Jan asked, bewildered.

  Just then, seemingly out of nowhere, a loud horn went off. It was coming from the front of the house. Everyone in the kitchen snapped to attention, all were very confused about what they were hearing. Then the horn stopped suddenly.

  “All right, you in the house. Come out.” The voice called out, it sounded like a voice that was being pumped through a mega horn, like one in those old police movies.

  Robert and Jan quickly made their way to the front door and peeked out from behind the small curtains behind the glass window.