George took off his baseball cap, his little hands shook has he adjusted the back. "Someone's coming, ain't they Faye?"
"Hurry."
George placed the hat on my head, while I held my hair. Heart pounding rapidly, I quickly looked in the mirror at my plain reflection as I ordered to George. "Radio Dodge. Tell him we may have trouble."
George picked up the pink radio.
TWELVE - DODGE
It didn't take long for me to remember why Tyler and I butted heads all the time. In the first few weeks after our reunion and after the gratefulness of his being 'alive' started to fade, my 'Tyler' reality came forth.
"Tyler," I said his name, trying not to lose it. Hand over the steering wheel, looking forward, focusing on the empty road while he rambled on insidiously.
"I'm telling you."
"Tyler."
"It was too fast. Bet me. Bet me it was a means of population control."
"Ok," I held up my hand. "Let's say for a second, hypothetically that it was deliberately released as a means to control the population. Don't you think they would have tested it? Or at least been aware of its lethality? Better yet if it was population control, don't you think it went a bit far killing off all the women?"
"They didn't know."
"They would have tested it."
"On who?'
I shrugged. "I don't know."
"Just think about it."
"I do. Every time you bring it up which is every time you see a picture or a billboard."
"Why are you being mean to me?" Tyler asked. "You always were."
"I'm not being mean. Really."
"I just don't think it was nature."
I huffed out, thinking, 'here we go again' when the radio hissed out static. Just before I could even register my happiness over the interruption, or before I heard George's voice, Bud whispered out a worried, "Dodge."
I sensed it in the way he said my name and my eyes immediately glanced up to the mirror.
'We have trouble," said George.
No shit. I thought. There in the rearview mirror I saw the motorcycle and the car. We hadn't seen anyone in months. Then again, we really hadn't left the safety of the community around Faye's house.
Seeing people was a bit disconcerting, especially since they seemed to follow us, but more than that was the fact that the motorcycle pulled up to Faye's car, riding alongside and looking in.
Finally I put on my turn signal and slowed down, pulling over.
Stay in the car, Faye, stay in the car. I thought.
Once stopped, I checked my pistol, secured it within reach and looked at Tyler. "Go in the back with Darie. I need Bud ready to roll if there's trouble."
"What do they want?" Tyler asked.
"I don't know."
Bud said, "Do you think they saw Faye?"
"She's wearing a hat, but she's not hiding that she's a woman too well." I opened the RV door and stepped out.
The car pulled up and parked just on the other side of the road and the motorcyclist parked his bike next to the car. I thought all was good until I noticed Faye pulling close. I tried not to show the cringe as she parked between us and only about ten feet back,
Was she nuts? She certainly wasn't thinking.
Again I pleaded in my mind for her to stay in the car.
There were two men. The one who drove was about my age, and the other maybe in his late twenties.
Surely there were more. Why would they drive two vehicles if there weren't?
The older of the two seemed hospitable enough as he made his approach. "Hank," He held out his hand. "Boy it's good to see people. This here is Powell."
Powell kept looking at the car. "Got a little kid in there." He stepped closer to Faye.
"Can you not ..." I stopped him. "I'm little leery. I mean, we don't know you."
Hank nodded. "Makes sense. Saw you guys ride by our camp. Saw the gasoline cans."
Hank's voice faded to the back of my head, my focus was on Powell who kept looking at the car. And then the car door opened.
While Faye kept her distance and wore that damn hat, I wanted to scream. What was wrong with her? Why would she get out? I was going to kill her and I readied for trouble.
Powell kept staring.
Then finally, I realized Hank was asking me something.
"I'm sorry, what?" I questioned.
"Gas. Can you spare any gas?"
"Seriously?" My eyes went back and forth between the two men. If they hadn't seen people in a while, then why were they acting so casual? Something really was up.
"Seriously," Hank said.
"My man, there are gas stations everywhere that have reserves. The reserves are filled."
"There's no power."
"Go to Home Depo, grab a generator and a pump, then suck it out like us."
"Why are you getting so upset?"
"It's just that, this is feeling awfully uncomfortable." I told him. 'I mean, you follow us, you shake hands and you keep looking at ..."
"That a woman?" Powell asked, "You got a woman."
There it was.
Powell took two steps toward the car. "Hank, he got that woman the radio called out about."
I reached out and grabbed his arm. "It's not a woman." I made eye contact with him, staring him down, trying my best to look intimidating. After all, I wasn't a small man. It had to work to some degree
"Looks like a woman." Powell said with a snicker.
"It's not."
"I can smell a woman."
I laughed. "You're out of your goddamn mind. Smell a woman. That's a man."
"I'm telling you ..."
"Powell." Hank silenced him, "If the man says that's not a woman, it's not. Got it?"
"But ..."
"Got it?"
"Fine."
At that point I was done and ready to go. My eyes kept on moving, looking for more people hiding in the bushes. I shouted to Faye. "Wills. Back in the car, we got to go."
Faye's back was to us, she nodded and got in the car.
"Where you headed?" Hank asked.
"West. Now if you don't mind." I grabbed the RV door.
"What about that gas?" Hank asked. "Looks like you got plenty. How about a can till we get to the Home Depo?"
My jaw twitched and I assessed the men. Again, I kept waiting for someone to come from the side of the road hiding there waiting for the opportunity to ambush us. "Stay here." I instructed and walked over to the car. I stood by the driver's window, while reaching up to the roof, my voice was low. "Don't let on I'm talking to you. But what the hell were you thinking getting out of the car?"
"I thought you were in trouble."
"And you would do what?" I undid the chord holding the gas can.
"Why are you giving them our gas?"
"So they go away."
"Will they?"
"I don't know. Shut the window." I pulled down the canister.
"Do I stink?"
My shock over her question caused me to pause. "What?" I whispered.
"Stink. That man said he smelled ..."
I didn't even let her finish or justify her comment with an answer. I shook my head and walked with the gas to the two men. "Here this should start a generator. Saw a sign for a Home store about ten miles back. Best of luck to you."
"Much obliged," Hank took the can. "We'll be seeing you."
"I doubt that," I said.
"You never know." Hank smiled and walked to their car "Powell."
Powell again hesitated. He was too focused on Faye. He knew. How could he not?
My plan was to wait. Wait until they got on the bike and in the car and drove off. Once they moved in the other direction and I was satisfied with that, I'd get back in the RV and move forward to our first night's stop.
But no sooner did Powell hop on his bike, and Hank open his driver's door, that we all heard it and then saw it.
A helicopter.
It flew slowly over head, circ
led and then appeared to be hovering for a moment. The wind from the blades was sharp, as tiny particles of dirt blasted against my face and eyes.
"Must be looking for that woman." Powell said snidely, then jumped on and started his bike.
"See you around." Hank got in the car, shut the door, and started his engine.
Within in a minute, they both had turned around and headed back in the other direction ... south. They did take one more look at Faye as they rode by that sent a shiver up my spine.
Before getting in the RV, I walked back to the car. "Don't ever get out of the car again. Please." I told Faye firmly.
"Dodge," George said excitedly. "You see them choppers? They rescuing us?'
"I doubt it." I replied. Knowing full well, the choppers weren't good news. They moved on, but I was certain they'd be back.
"What did they want?" George asked. "I mean they were looking at us."
"Yep." I nodded. "Looking for her. Stay ..." I pointed, "out of sight."
"Dodge, wait." Faye called my name as I took a step away.
"What Faye? And please don't ask me if you stink."
"No, those men. You think they'll follow us?"
"I don't know," I exhaled. "They went in the other direction. Let's just hope it stays that way." With a tap to the roof, I walked back to the RV.
I just wanted to get moving and hopefully, that campground was as remotely located as Bud kept saying.
It had to be.
THIRTEEN - FAYE
A part of me thought Bud was out of his mind and that map of his was too old - until we pulled through the gate. Of course the hidden paradise campground was marked on that the gate's entrance, and Dodge made it a point to pull over and remove that sign.
Dodge was paranoid and rightfully so. We had encountered that duo. I didn't see the problem with those men. Yeah, they were odd but they weren't dangerous. They just needed gas.
I tried to bring that up to Dodge, but he blew me off. I guess he wanted to settle for the night. The campground was really nice even with the overgrown grass and the apocalypse looking grounds. The playground was still viable because it didn't have grass, it was mulch and while it was still daylight, the boys ran to the swing set.
Bud was saying people retreated there when the virus hit and we saw the campers and tents when we arrived. Bodies remained, some wrapped, some just laying on the ground, dead in and on sleeping bags, their corpses showing signs of the sickness.
Those poor people, they came to find refuge from the sickness only unable to outrun it after all.
Personally I would have stayed in my own home, my own bed. Not in some pop up tin can or tent.
Although the cabins were nice the main luxury cabin sat center of the compound. Bud made a bad joke. "Bet me it's available."
Dodge laughed and so did George and Darie. Me and Tyler sought the humor.
It felt secure there, safe and hidden. Not a soul was around, yet Dodge felt the need to go check the grounds. I could only imagine the pressure he was feeling knowing that he was stepping out of the sanctity of my neighborhood and he had to watch out for me.
And then my mind raced with neuroticism. I couldn't shake what the one man had said. Combine that with the fact that it was inane, I was bothered even more. How could I worry about something so stupid in a dead world, yet I did. No matter how barren and different life was, a part of me slipped back to the mindset of life before the virus.
It made me worry more. Even with a hat and baggy clothes, how could Dodge protect and hide me if someone could catch my scent?
They could only catch my scent if ... I smelled.
The thought of that made me cringe.
I washed, I did. Every chance I had. Granted taking full baths were few and far between but not a part of my body suffered from a lack of cleansing.
Perhaps I was ill or it was an after effect of the sickness.
They all acted like I was crazy, I probably sounded it.
I asked Darie. "Do I smell?
He giggled and said. "Yes, you smell through your nose.'
"No, Darie, do I ..." I lowered my voice as if it were a curse word. "Stink?"
He laughed,
I asked George.
He replied. "You're silly."
Tyler's response was a question. "Are you worried?"
"Yes."
"That's funny that you're worried about that." And he walked away.
Dodge firmly told me, "There are other things to worry about."
I asked and they all told me I was silly, yet not a single one of them said, 'No you don't smell."
Bud, I never got to ask him. He made it abundantly clear to me that he was not interested in discussing the matter when he told me he was getting the well pumps working and we'd have water soon.
Until the water was ready, I kept my distance. I was a bit ashamed.
I sat on the side porch of the cabin by myself, watching the boys until they were done playing and Bud called them for supper. Tyler was off working on some project, I could hear him singing.
I enjoyed listening to him. The sun was just starting to really set when Dodge startled me and sat next to me on the step.
"Hey," he said.
I jumped a little and moved over.
"I brought you dinner. Canned stew." He handed me a bowl
"Thanks." I moved even more out of his way. "I'll eat in a few minutes." I set the bowl on the step next to me.
"Faye, what in God's name is wrong with you? You never miss eating with the boys."
"Truth?"
"No less."
"I'm a little embarrassed."
"About?"
"The fact that I .... That I smell."
"Oh my God." Dodge gasped out. "You cannot be serious?"
"I am, Dodge. I stink."
"Faye ..."
"No. I asked and everyone laughs or says I'm silly but no one will say I don't stink."
"Is this all still over what that asshole said?"
"Yes." I nodded. "He said he smelled me." I shuddered. "For a woman, that's just horrible to hear."
"You realize the world pretty much went to shit. Right?" Dodge stated. "People died. Nearly everyone. Worrying about body odor or smelling is absolutely absurd."
I gasped. "So I do stink."
"Stop it."
"You're not answering. That man said he smelled a woman."
"And he probably did."
I hurriedly covered my face.
"The whole goddamn apocalypse can smell you."
I just wanted to die, right there and then.
Dodge continued only this time with an air of hostility, "You wash Faye, you wash all the time. You use that stupid purple soap, and that blue powdery smelling deodorant, not to mention that spray for bugs. It ridiculous."
"You sound mad."
"It makes me mad. We can cut your hair, dress you bad, hide your breasts but we can't stop you from smelling like a woman."
"In a good way not ..."
"Faye." He barked. "This is not important. Do you think I care if I smell?"
"No. But in case you're wondering you don't."
Dodge growled. "Why is this a concern? There's no reason to try to smell good."
"You're wrong," I told him. "Everywhere we go, everything smells bad. The world has gone so wrong, and we are reminded not only by what we see, but by what we smell. A good smell is just a tiny deviation that is needed. Also smells can trigger a memory, good or bad. You smell roses you may think of your grandmother, or honey and think of a friend. You smell rank body odor, you may think of that boy who beat you up in eighth grade gym class..." I paused when Dodge just glared at me. "Not that anyone beat you up in eighth grade gym."
I playfully nudged him.
Dodge folded his hands, elbows resting on his knees. "Faye, I like the way you smell. Don't get me wrong, I do. It makes everything wrong with the world a little more tolerable at times. But right now, you're the only one that smells like th
at and that worries me. I can't keep you safe if they can lock onto your scent."
Heavily I exhaled in revelation of what he was saying. It wasn't that I was trying to smell feminine, it was just the things I was accustomed to using were feminine. "I'm sorry. I didn't even think about it."
"Yeah, well. Neither did I." Dodge looked at me and smiled with a closed mouth. "Honestly, I didn't until that guy said it and all of a sudden I noticed the powder smell. And it pissed me off that I missed that. I didn't even think of that. That won't happen again."
"Dodge, you don't have to do this. You don't have to stress out to keep me safe. I am not your responsibility."
"I know I don't have to do anything. It's what I want to do." Then Dodge did something odd. He reached over, out of the blue, yet so naturally he rested his hand on mine. "I just want you to feel safe, that's all."
I looked down at his hand, felt the roughness of his skin, then as I felt the security of that hand, I slipped my fingers in between his. 'More than you realize, I do. I feel very safe."
Dodge smiled and chuckled almost nervously. He stared at me for a second, brought our joined hands to his lips and kissed the back of my fingers before releasing the hold. "Good." He cleared his throat. "And now that we established that you don't stink." He reached over me and grabbed the bowl of food, then placed it in my hands. "Eat."
I laughed, not loudly, but an airy laugh that escaped my chest. I enjoyed that moment on the steps with Dodge, and then I enjoyed my canned stew
FOURTEEN - DODGE
The helicopter made three passes around the camp, waking me up just after dawn. I didn't get too much sleep but got more than I did the night before.
Tyler was on watch, he said he'd stay up all night and sleep in the RV during the day. Bud offered but I hated that he was wearing himself down. He needed rest and for as much as he tried to deny it, he wasn't a spring chicken. Hell, he had more than a decade on me and I was beat. Tyler could do it, in my mindset, all he had to do was sit on the porch, listen and watch.
In the months since being together the boys had taken a liking to me and when they slept, they slept in my room. The cabin didn't have lots of room options for them so they slept in bed with me. It was a full size bed, big enough for me and two small boys. But it didn't quite work out that way. George was comfy and near the center, shoving me nearly to the edge while Darie sandwiched between us. Darie however, sometime during the night, decided to be acrobatic and I woke up to his little foot in my face.
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