Zombie Wild West

by Eric Baker

  Moving to the side, Josh shuffled his feet as fast as he dared. Looking down, he saw the body of the zombie he had dislodged lying face down in the dust of the street below. Then it moved, arms coming up, pushing away from the ground, and then it stood. As his blood turned ice cold, he watched the zombie stumble back in the hotel.

  ____

  Jackson was leaning forward with both hands against the door. The screams from the men had only lasted a second, but he would remember them forever. In his lifetime, he had shot a few people, always in self-defense. He had even ordered the beatings and worse of countless others that had crossed him. But he had never had to look an innocent man in the eyes as he sealed their fate. Even worse, a man that had just been covering his own back. Even if it was one of those blasted deputies.

  The room behind him was quiet as he turned to face them. Women had their faces covered with their hands, a few quiet sobs the only sounds being made. Jackson couldn’t bring himself to look them in the eyes. The door behind him shook with the attack from the other side, bringing him back to the present. They needed to leave this place.

  With as much force as he could muster, Jackson got them all moving again.

  “Everybody out of this room. That door won’t hold long, and the sacrifice those men just made will be wasted. Out the window… now.”

  There were no more screams from the women, no pushing, no emotions boiling over. Everyone got in line, climbed out the window and jumped to the other side.

  Jackson was last to leave the room, and not a moment too soon. The door to the bedroom had been splintering and breaking for the last few minutes. He could see faces through the breaks, and they could see him. Which only caused the zombies to get even more riled up.

  Stepping through the window, Jackson caught a motion out of the corner of his eye. His heart leaped into his throat as he almost fell, trying to grab his weapon and keep his balance at the same time. A hand grabbed him and pulled him back.

  “I’ve got you, Mayor.”

  Jackson turned toward the voice and realized it was Josh. Relief flooded his body, causing him to sag. One of them had made it. His emotions surprised him, making him wonder at the emotion itself. When had he gotten so sentimental? He shrugged off the thought. He was only human, after all.

  Jackson opened his mouth, intending to say thank you. For pulling him back, for being alive. But he stopped by the sound of the door in the bedroom giving way, crashing to the ground in splinters. Bodies fell into the room, trampled underneath the feet of those that came behind them.

  Jackson and Josh had glanced into the room at the sound. Then they looked at each other. A simple nod passed between them as they set their focus on the other rooftop. Then they jumped.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Sheriff Eli Roberts wasn’t the kind of man to just wait for something to happen. He knew that about himself, accepted it, and even at times made rash decisions because of it. Like kissing Daisy earlier.

  Laying on the floor of the saloon, he once again looked down at the woman lying on his shoulder. Her hand was on his chest, and she was sleeping, if not peacefully, at least it was somewhat restful. He watched as she let out a deep breath, her hand clenching. If not for everything going on in town, Eli could have stayed like this forever.

  As it was, he felt like it had been forever since they had all lay down for some rest. The plan was to wait out the dawn, then join forces with other survivors. The only problem with that plan was that it was just the second part of his personal plan. First, he needed to get everyone asleep, then he would make a run to his office. More guns, more men, and more chance of survival.

  The major drawback he was having now was that Daisy wouldn’t move. At first, he’d been happy when she lay on his arm, letting him hold her tight. Ten minutes later, his arm fell asleep. He’d tried shifting her to the side a few times, but she hadn’t been willing to move. Once she even woke up enough to ask if he was all right and he pretended to sleep.

  Trying once again to shrug his shoulder and get her to move, she sleepily rolled over and away from him. He lay there for a while longer, letting her fall into a deeper sleep. And letting the pins and needles in his arm fade away. Gritting his teeth and clenching his eyes, he fought to keep from making a sound at the pain until it faded enough for him to move.

  Rolling away from her to his side, then his knees, he watched and listened for anyone to wake up. Standing, he stretched his back, praying the popping wouldn’t wake Daisy. She never moved.

  His biggest fear right now was that he wouldn’t be able to move the two tables barricading the door without waking everyone up. Studying the situation for a minute, he tackled one table at a time.

  The first table he moved was the last they had put into place. It was upright and still had the fingers of the zombie from earlier laying on the front edge. Lifting one corner, he pivoted the table out a few feet. Moving to the other side, he repeated the pivot. The only sound was a slight scuffing of the table turning on its one foot.

  He then turned his attention to the table on its side that was pushed up against the door. Moving to the side of the table that would provide his access to the open door, he lifted and attempted the pivot maneuver once again. He moved too fast, and the legs of the table thumped into the upright table. Had the tables not been so heavy, there would have been a scratching across the floor that would have woken the dead. As it was, the thump was all that happened.

  Eli set down the table and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Hardly any sleep, the horrors of the previous day and everything to come had him on edge. He looked at the gap he had created to the door and hoped it was enough.

  He looked around the room once more to make sure everyone was still asleep. Then he saw the eyes looking at him from across the room. Doc was watching him, concern and fatigue making him look even older.

  Eli raised an eyebrow at him and lifted a finger to his lips. He pointed to himself, the door, and then his badge. Last, he pointed down, making it plain he was coming back. Doc didn’t look happy about it, but he nodded. Eli smiled his thanks, put his hat on his head and tapped his finger to the brim in salute.

  Moving around the table, Eli opened the door. The lock was busted from his earlier entrance, but the door still made noise as he pulled before it hit the table and stopped. Eli looked at the small space he had left himself. He didn’t want to move the tables again, so he sucked in his gut and slid sideways into the gap.

  His back to the saloon, Eli leaned forward and looked out at the street. It was empty. Not even a straggler. Sliding farther out, his belt buckle caught on the latch and he paused. Bringing his left hand to the buckle, he pressed it toward his stomach. It rattled, metal on metal, before it released. He stepped onto the porch and pulled the door closed behind him.

  Eli stood still and let his eyes unfocus as he stared straight ahead. There was the barest hint of light in the morning sky. Without focusing he let his peripheral vision do the work. If anything moved, he’d have a better chance of seeing it like this than by actively scanning the area. A full minute passed before Eli felt he could move.

  Looking left and right, he selected a bench on the porch with a tall back. As quietly as he could, he lifted the bench and set it down in front of the door to the saloon. If a zombie came to the door, it would have to move the bench or go over it. If needed, it should make enough noise that Daisy and the others would hear and be ready. It shouldn’t come to that, though, as he only planned to be gone a few minutes.

  Staying in the shadows, Eli headed for his office. Where were all the zombies? Had they left? Eli kept expecting one to grab him from a storefront as he walked by, but they never materialized. A few times he thought he heard noises coming from up the street, toward the hotel. But in the predawn light, it was difficult to make out anything at the far end of town.

  Reaching the office, he tried the door handle, but it was locked. Taking a key out of his pocket, he put it in the lock and turned. The
click of the lock was quiet. The gunshots from the direction of the hotel were not. It almost sounded as if a dozen weapons had discharged at the same time, more of an explosion than weapons fire. Whatever they were doing at the hotel, it was keeping the zombies occupied. Right now, that was helping Eli immensely. He prayed, though, that they were all safe and not doing anything that would get them all killed.

  Turning back to the door, Eli opened it and stepped inside.

  “Freeze! Are you a zombie?”

  Eli almost laughed out loud. He recognized the deputy’s voice as the one belonging to Jase, obviously not the brightest one in the bunch.

  “Jase, if you shoot me, I will come back as a zombie and eat you first.” Eli deadpanned the retort as he realized just how close he had just come to being shot. “Besides that, how do you know they’re called zombies?”

  Jase stood up from behind a desk in the office and smiled sheepishly at the Sheriff.

  “Aw, come on, Sheriff. I was just making sure. ‘Sides, I didn’t think zombies would have a key. Least wise, I hoped they didn’t, ‘cause that would mean you were a zombie.” Jase smiled as he put away his weapon. “And my girl brought us supper ‘fore it got dark and everyone holed up in the hotel. She told us all about what happened at the saloon. Sounded pretty tense.”

  From the hallway behind him, there was a scrambling noise. Another weapon popped out from around the corner, followed by a nervous and sleepy-faced deputy.

  “Sheriff? When did you get back? Wait… did I hear somebody say ‘zombie’?” Ricky was still half-asleep, and he was way beyond his normal confused demeanor.

  “Calm down, and keep it down. I guess you haven’t figured it out, but those things out there are attracted to noise and movement. So, no hollering or shooting.”

  As if in response to his statement, shots could be heard from outside. He wasn’t sure, but he would bet they came from the hotel. They weren’t close enough or loud enough to be the saloon.

  “Time is running short. I’ll fill you in, but you need to get yourselves decent. You have one minute. Go.”

  Eli just shook his head in exasperation as he waited for his deputies to get themselves together. They weren’t what he would have chosen, given the choice. But when he first came to town, they were all he had, so he had made the best of it. He’d inherited them both from the previous owner of his badge. That owner was also uncle to the two men.

  When Eli took over, he had promised both of their mothers they would keep their jobs. Since they weren’t the best shots, and their personalities made them more of a target, the best he could do was make them jailers. Fortunately for Eli - and the inmates - they typically only had a few drunks and the occasional gunfight.

  Jase and Ricky came back into the front office, somewhat put together. Jase sat down and put on his boots. Ricky was still buttoning his shirt. Eli sighed. At least they had been quick.

  “Are you the only two here?” Eli knew most of his deputies, being volunteers, were probably tending to their own families. But he had hoped for more.

  Jase and Ricky looked at each other and shrugged. Eli knew that look. Sighing again, he took off his hat and rubbed his hand through his hair.

  The volunteer program he had instituted when he took over only had a small number in it. After training and a testing period, they then had the ability to make arrests on their own. It gave more men pride in their town, gave him more eyes around town, and let everyone know the law was on their side.

  The problem with a volunteer program, though, was that they weren't always around when he needed them. Yesterday morning - had it only been a day? - when the first of these zombies showed up, it seemed like every deputy in town had turned out. Now… well, he’d have to make do with Jase and Ricky.

  “Alright, men, here’s the situation. I only have a few minutes, and then I need to get back to the saloon. I need you to gather all the ammo and weapons we have and pile it up right here.”

  Eli pointed to his desk and looked at the two men. Jase and Ricky looked at each other in confusion. Eli waited two seconds before he clapped his hands together to get their attention.

  “Hey! Let’s move! Everything we have, right here on my desk. Pronto!”

  To emphasize the point, Eli walked over to the rifle case behind his desk and unloaded it. He leaned the rifles and shotguns against the wall where he could see them and grabbed boxes of ammo. By the time he had unloaded the case, Jase and Ricky had made a couple of trips to the back. They had stacked even more pistols and ammo beside his, creating a mound of weaponry.

  Stepping back, Eli took a quick survey of what they had. It wasn’t the best news, but it could have been worse. Over the years, the Sheriff’s Office had acquired quite the eclectic assortment of weapons. Derringers, pistols of all types, rifles, shotguns, knives… was that a stick of dynamite? Eli shook his head, trying to decide where to begin.

  He picked the best for his and Daisy’s use. Sorting through the pile, he pulled out four decent pistols and belts to go with them. Turning to the deputies, he handed them each a belt.

  “Load these up for me, and the ammo loops, too. Make sure not to use any old ammo. We can’t afford any misfires. Then load the rest of these weapons and belts. And fill those ammo pouches.”

  Jase let out a low whistle as he looked over the pile of weapons.

  “We going to war, Sheriff?” Both men looked at him with wide eyes.

  “Pretty much. We’re taking our town back from the zombies. Now let’s get to it.”

  The two men reached for a box of ammo, obviously having done this before. While they were not the sharpest men around, give them a task, and they jumped to it. And usually with good results. Usually.

  While they worked, Eli gave them a quick recap of what had happened at the mine. He left out the part with the Indian, Takoda. There were still plenty of people prejudiced against the Indians, and he didn’t have time to get into it. He also told them his plan for getting rid of the zombies in town.

  Jase whistled in amazement at the plan, while Ricky just stared at him like he was crazy.

  “Sheriff, all due respect and all that, but are you out of your mind?”

  Eli had been having similar thoughts, but he honestly couldn’t come up with a better plan. It would be impossible to go through the town, building by building, without a lot of people getting hurt. And each one hurt by a zombie just added to their numbers. No, it had to be all at once.

  “Look, men, I know it sounds crazy. And the Good Lord knows I haven’t stopped praying for some miracle, some sign, that something else would come up. But it hasn't happened. Besides, I’ve already sent word to the hotel. They'll be ready. But we won’t be ready unless we finish loading up.”

  The two men took the hint and turned back to their task. By the time Eli finished loading his personal weapons and the extra two belts, the deputies were already making quick work of the rest of the weapons. Eli picked up two rifles and loaded them, dropping more rifle shells in his pockets. He grabbed the four belts he had chosen and slung them over his head to keep his hands free. It was cumbersome, but he could still move with them.

  Grabbing up the two rifles, Eli looked around once more to make sure he wasn’t forgetting anything. He grabbed two boxes of ammo and stuffed them, barely, into a pocket. They would be fine there until he got back to the saloon. Just as he was about to head for the door, he stopped. Shifting both rifles to his left arm, he reached down once more. Picking up a large knife, almost a machete in its length, he tested the edge with his thumb.

  Looking at the two deputies, Eli gave them a nod of thanks.

  “Deputies. Be ready. As soon as the sun hits Main Street, that’s when everything starts. Don’t let me down.” Eli moved to the front door as he talked.

  “How will we know you’ve started, Sheriff?”

  Eli turned and smiled, holding up the two rifles in his left hand.

  “I’m pretty sure you’ll know.”

 
Eli turned back to the door, opening it enough to stick his head out and look around. Only, he didn’t get far. A weathered and bloody face was looking at him. Eli let out a grunt of surprise, then reflexively brought up his right hand to ward off the hand that was reaching through the gap to grab him.

  Having forgotten about the large knife in his right hand, Eli brought it up, the blade bouncing off the door frame. It then bit into the zombie’s hand. The zombie pulled back, pulling the blade with it. The blade continued to cut through and out the other side. Seeing the blade come out of the zombie’s hand, Eli put even more force into lifting his hand. The blade entered under the zombie’s chin, and then the tip poked out the top of his head.

  Only a moment had elapsed since Eli first opened the door. The only sound made was the grunt that Eli had uttered when he first saw the zombie. Eli stared at the remnants of the man before him in shock over what had just happened. Then the zombie fell backward, pulling the knife from Eli’s hand. He let it go and watched the body as it crumpled.

  “Wow.”

  The voice from behind him brought Eli back to reality. Eli shut the door and took a few deep breaths. Looking back at his two deputies, he saw on their faces a mixture of fear and awe.

  “That’s what we’re fighting.” Eli’s voice came out hoarse and raw. He cleared his throat, trying to swallow his heart back into its normal spot. “We can’t let them take over. Be ready.”

  Eli opened the door, and this time looked with more care through the gap. Then he headed out.

  ____

  The first salvo of gunfire from down the street at the hotel caused Daisy to sit bolt upright on the floor and grab her pistol. It was so loud and different sounding that she couldn’t tell if it was one weapon fired close by or a lot of them fired at a distance. She waited for the sound to fade before lowering her pistol and looking around. The place next to her, where Eli had been asleep, was empty.