Zombie Farm

by Crisp, M. L.

  “Yeah, Mike, I remember him, his granddad and my dad were pretty good friends back in the day. They were both farmers way back when.”

  “I know, Mike tried to make a go of farming, didn’t turn out so well.”

  “Yeah, I knew I wasn’t cut out for it, so I didn’t even bother.”

  “You stayed in Mangum though.”

  “Oh, I left for awhile, but big city life ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

  “A couple of months ago I would have said you were crazy, but I didn’t know how good me and Mike had it.”

  “None of us knew how good we had it.”

  Allison sat in a chair beside the card table, Scott reappeared with a white T-shirt, a pair of blue coveralls, work boots, and a cooler of beer. He sat the cooler down, and handed Allison the clothes. “They’re not exactly stylish, but these should fit ok.”

  Allison took them and scurried back inside, and came back out in the coveralls. Melvin whistled, Scott clapped. Allison blushed, “hey, at least it covers up my tummy roll.”

  Scott laughed, “isn’t that in style now, that singer that came out last year, what’s her name…oh yeah, Madonna, she kind of has a roll like that.”

  Melvin shook his head, “flash in the pan, I guarantee you, if this shit hadn’t happened, or if it gets sorted out soon, in ten years nobody will remember her. That other chick, Cindy Looper, she’ll still be around.”

  Allison’s eyes widened, “Cyndi Lauper, you’re a fan of hers Melvin?”

  “Nah, if it ain’t Willie and Waylon, I don’t like it, but my granddaughter loves that girl. Loved her anyway.” Melvin said, and sniffled a bit.

  Allison wanted to change the subject quickly, before they were all bawling over what they had lost. “So you don’t like Madonna huh?”

  “Pretty girl, but all that blatant singing about sex, it’s just unnecessary, the public would have gotten tired of that quick.”

  Scott cracked open a beer, “she’s ok, but I guess I’m more into country myself, I was planning on going to the Alabama concert next month. I guess that‘s unlikely now.”

  “That ain’t country son.” Melvin said.

  “How you figure that Melvin?” Scott asked.

  “No cowboy hats, and the drummer looks like he should be in one of those acid rocker bands.”

  Scott shook his head, and silently mouthed “acid rocker” to Allison. Allison grinned and spoke, “how about The Judds Melvin, what do you think of them?”

  “Now they’re fine young ladies, and they’re country enough. But I get confused on which is the mama and which is the daughter.”

  “How about you Allison, what’s your favorite music?” Scott asked.

  “I guess I’m a rock chick, Journey, Foreigner, The Cars, Joan Jett, all that stuff. When I was your age I was listening to Kiss.”

  “When you were my age, like you’re so old. I listened to Kiss too, but it’s just not the same since they took off the makeup, they were cooler when I didn’t know what they looked like.”

  “Too true.” Allison agreed.

  “Steaks are done!” Melvin announced. He set paper plates on the table and placed a steak on each. “We got steak sauce and ketchup here if you want some.”

  “If you did your job right I won’t need any steak sauce, but who puts ketchup on steak?”

  Scott smirked, “this fucker, just watch, he drowns his steak in that shit.”

  Melvin was doing just that, patting the bottom of the bottle, trying to get more ketchup to come out. “You’d like it if you tried it.” He said.

  “I’ll take your word for it.” Allison said. They ate in silence for a few minutes, Allison broke the silence. “So, you said you would answer some questions.”

  “Shoot.” Scott said.

  “Well, last news I heard was that it was the bite that caused it, then we lost reception.”

  “Media got that wrong, a bite from one of those things will turn you into one quicker, but anybody that dies turns. Whatever it is, we all got it.” Melvin said. Allison sat silent for a moment, as that news sunk in, and then she spoke.

  “Is there any more word on what caused all this or what the government is doing to help?”

  “Besides some crackpot theories, nobody really knows what caused this. Most people blame the Soviets, I’m sure they’re blaming us. Who knows what goes on behind the iron curtain. As for the government, I’m not sure if it’s even up and running anymore, last word we heard before the radio and TV ceased broadcasting was that President Reagan had a heart attack, Bush was at some foreign dignitary’s funeral in Germany. Tip O’Neil, the Speaker of the House, stepped up to say according to the constitution he was next in line. The attorney general, said ‘not so fast’ the country voted last year, and clearly wanted a republican. So last we heard, they were busy fighting over who was in charge.” Scott said.

  Allison rolled her eyes, “so that’s it? That’s not much more than I had already heard. What about the director of FEMA advising people to seek refuge at the nearest military base?”

  “That’s something else they were arguing about, who’s idea that was. It was a clusterfuck, of course infected people got in. Most major military installations were overrun within days. All the folks from here that went to the Air Force base in Altus are probably dead now.”

  Allison sipped her beer, taking it all in. “Ok, so nobody is in charge, and nobody knows how this happened. What about the theories you mentioned?”

  Scott glanced at Melvin, “well, there’s all kinds of theories out there. Aside from the obvious religious ones. There’s the one about it being caused by the hole in the ozone layer. Water fluoridation. A mutant strain of crack cocaine. Signals in music videos. And, uh…Melvin here has his own theory.”

  Melvin put down his fork, “it’s that goddamn New Coke!”

  Allison scrunched her face, “excuse me?”

  “It’s gotta’ be that, everybody in the world wanted to try it. I don’t know if Coke was behind it or were just patsies, but that’s it, I’m convinced of it!”

  Allison didn’t know what to say, Scott winked at her. “I told you there were some crackpot theories.”

  “Call me a crackpot all you want, I’m just glad I never tasted that shit!”

  “You weren’t even a little curious?” Allison asked.

  “Hell no! I grew up on Coke, I stocked up on the real thing. I bought out the market here and one in Altus too. Half my garage was stocked to the ceiling with original Coke.”

  Allison was silent for a moment, then changed the subject. “What about the religious aspect? What do you think of that?”

  Scott shrugged his shoulders. “There was a lot of talk about that of course, I mean, the dead are rising and Oklahoma is the buckle of the bible belt. I don’t know though, I believe in God and everything, but unless I see Jesus, then I think this is man made.”

  Allison pulled another beer from the cooler and pulled the tab off. She took a long drink, and stared in the direction of all the moaning for a few moments, and then looked back. “I’ve never been much of a believer really. Honestly, all that talk about fire and brimstone my grandmother used to go on about just sounded silly to me. But now…I mean, I would like to hear a rational explanation for this, but so far I haven’t. No offense Melvin.”

  Melvin gulped down his last chunk of steak, and belched, “none taken. But I can tell you this, I ain’t worshippin’ no God that would do this. I watched my friends and neighbors being pulled apart like warm bread, and they weren’t guilty of nothing. Oh, this town had its fair share of Peyton Place crap, but these were good people. If this is God’s judgment, all I gotta’ say is he better hope there ain’t nobody sittin’ in judgment of him.”

  The table was silent for several minutes, then Allison spoke, “I was just curious is all. I take it you’re a non-believer Melvin.”

  “I never gave it much thought to be honest. I just lived my life as best I could, and if it’s good enou
gh for an invisible man in the sky, great. If it ain’t, well then, it ain’t.”

  Allison nodded, “I know exactly what you mean. Sorry for opening up a can of worms, it’s just that all this has me questioning my own belief, or lack of it. But there are more immediate concerns. How did ya’ll two survive in a town overrun by zombies?”

  “Well, a lot of the towns people went to Altus when FEMA said to go to the nearest military base. The mayor encouraged those that stayed to isolate themselves in their homes. The two of us manned our stations around the clock. The virus, or whatever it is, spread among the residential areas. Infected must have come in somehow, we tried to rescue the survivors, but all we did was lose the other firemen, and police, we‘re the last living civil servants in Mangum. We fell back here, and until you showed up and tripped that alarm, the creatures pretty much stayed in the residential area. Some would wander out occasionally, and we would behead them with a fire ax. So we pretty much had the run of the town, we gathered as many supplies from the local stores as possible, and waited for word from the government that hasn’t come.” Scott explained.

  Allison put her head down, “I’m sorry I put you guys at risk.”

  “Oh, hey, no, don’t feel like that. We’re public servants, really, it’s our job. Frankly, we were excited when we heard the alarm, the boredom was killing us. You can only play so many games of checkers, or twist around a Rubik’s Cube so much before you go bonkers. I wish the firehouse had invested in an Atari or an Intellivision or something.” Scott said.

  Melvin stood up and walked to the edge of the building, “I ain’t mad at ya’ little lady, but we do got us a problem. Them shutters ain’t gonna’ hold forever, they weren’t designed to be constantly beat on.”

  “We can always bring some supplies up here, set up some tarps. If they break in, we can retreat up here.” Scott offered.

  “That would just be temporary, and ‘sides, I don’t want to live on a roof.”

  “Guys, I don’t plan on staying here forever, I need to get to Oklahoma City and see if I can find my parents. I know it’s a long shot, they were at the fair when this broke out. But if they’re alive, I need to find them.”

  “Well, none of us are going nowhere today. I guess we oughta get cleaned up and head back in. Maybe they’ll simmer down if they can’t see or smell us.” Melvin said.

  Allison started cleaning up, put her hand on Scott’s shoulder. “Hey, um, your idea about setting up some partitions in the bunk area, I think that’s a good one. Will you help me move the mattress back upstairs?”

  “Are you sure Allison?”

  “Yeah, I think I can trust you guys.”

  CHAPTER 6

  “Let me see that foot.” Scott said.

  Allison extended her leg, and Scott cradled her foot in his hands. He carefully removed the bandage, “looks great, almost as good as new.” He said.

  “Wow, it only took a week! I guess it really wasn’t as bad as it looked.” Allison said.

  Scott disposed of the bandage in the wastebasket next to him. “Not at all, but I do notice something here.”

  Allison craned her neck, “what is it?”

  Scott took on a serious expression, it looks like a…tickle spot!” He said, and began tickling her foot.

  Allison yelped with laughter, “ha, ha, ha, stop, ha, ha, ha, stop, ha, ha, ha, ha!”

  Melvin looked up from his game of solitaire, “Geeze, why don’t you two get a room?”

  Scott stopped, and Allison quickly pulled her foot back, she was blushing. Scott handed her sock to her, “um, just keep an eye on it, but it looks good to me.” He said, shooting Melvin a dirty look.

  Allison hurriedly put her sock and shoe back on and stood up. “Guys, I think I’m going up to the roof for some fresh air.”

  Scott watched Allison go upstairs, once she was out of sight, he reached over and pushed Melvin’s cards to the ground.

  “What the hell…?

  “Why the fuck did you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “You know what you fat bastard, that whole ‘get a room’ bullshit. You know how sensitive she is to that shit. Something happened to her, she won’t say what, but you don’t need to upset her like that!”

  “Christ kid, you ain’t being exactly subtle with your flirting and puppy dog eyes.”

  “Flirting? I’m not…”

  “Like hell you ain’t kid, and in case you ain’t noticed, lately, she’s been flirting back.”

  Scott started to protest, then stopped. “Really? You think so?”

  “Kid, I know so. I wasn’t always the old fat guy you see before you. When I was your age, I got plenty of poontang.”

  “Jesus! Come on, that’s not what I’m…”

  “I know, I know, you 80’s generation boys are all too sensitive for that kinda’ talk, raised on Donahue and Alan Alda. But just the same, you dig her, and I’m telling ya’, she digs you.”

  Scott grinned, “digs?”

  Melvin threw up his arms, “tubular, rad, whatever fucked up word your generation uses for ‘like’ these days!”

  “I don’t think anyone really says ‘tubular’, at least not in Oklahoma. ‘Like’ works, you really think she likes me?”

  “Kid, I don’t think it, I know it. The first couple of weeks she was here, she was polite, but standoffish. Last few days have been different. I know flirting when I see it, and it ain’t just you anymore, she’s flirting back.”

  Scott sighed, “so what should I do?”

  “Do I have to draw you a map? Go talk to her, I know she’s been through a lot, but we all have. Just go up on the roof, talk to her, get the lay of the land.”

  “You really think I should?”

  “Kid, if you don’t, I will. It ain’t like she’s got all that many options.”

  Allison stood at the edge of the roof, looking into the sky, she tried to ignore the stench from below and tune out the pounding and moaning. She probably shouldn’t have left so abruptly, Melvin was just kidding around. But he wasn’t wrong, the old guy was perceptive, there was something between her and Scott, she could feel it.

  She had been letting down her guard a little bit the last few days. Not really on purpose, but it was obvious Scott was crushing on her. He was just a kid in so many ways. Yes, he was younger, but also a bit immature, even for a twenty two year old. But was that so bad? She found it kind of charming, and he was so goddamned good looking! She smiled to herself, she felt shallow thinking that, should things like that even matter now?

  Then there was Mike. Her beloved Mike, taken from her by that fucking psychopath. Mike’s body was still out there, wandering around, looking to feed. Or was it? Had somebody put a bullet through his head by now? She had thought about going back to do it herself, so he could truly be at rest. But that would be suicide, and pointless, what made Mike, Mike, was gone.

  Was innocent flirting betraying his memory? It hadn’t been that long, but in this world, where death was literally right outside their door, how long was long enough? Is flirting ever really innocent? She rolled her tongue over her broken tooth. She would never get used to it, it felt so strange.

  “Penny for your thoughts.”

  Allison turned around and saw Scott walking toward her. “I don’t think money is worth much these days.” Allison said.

  Scott stood beside her and looked down at the crowd amassed below, “just as loud and smelly as always huh?”

  Allison smiled a closed mouth smile, “I guess, I wasn’t really paying attention, just thinking about things.”

  Scott nodded, and gazed at her. “You don’t have to keep your mouth closed like that, you have a beautiful smile.”

  Allison blushed, “with this broken tooth? You can’t be serious.”

  “But I am.”

  Allison gazed into his eyes, “I need to tell you why I’ve been so standoffish with you guys…”

  “That’s ok, you don’t owe us an explanation.”
/>   “I think I do, ya’ll saved my life! There was a man that I escaped with. I think he killed my husband, at the very least, he killed an old man right in front of me. He was going to rape me, I barely escaped. I got lucky really.”

  Scott’s jaw dropped, “that’s horrible, no wonder you were afraid to sleep around us!”

  Allison smiled at Scott. “Man, Melvin sure knows how to clear a room!”

  “Yeah, uh, look, sorry about Melvin, he doesn’t know when to keep his trap shut sometimes.”

  Allison turned toward Scott and took his hand. “Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”

  Scott gulped, “wow Allison, I mean…I don’t know what to say.”

  Allison looked into his eyes, “you don’t have to say anything.”

  Scott leaned forward to kiss her, and Allison pulled away. “I’m sorry Scott, I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet.”

  Scott looked confused, “maybe I didn’t…what exactly are you ready for?”

  Allison turned around, and pulled his arms around her, “this, this is what I’m ready for, just hold me, I need you to hold me. Is that enough for you?”

  Scott beamed, “it’s enough.” He held her, and they watched the sun set over the horizon.

  CHAPTER 7

  “Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!” Melvin screeched as he ran, huffing and puffing, up the stairs. Scott looked up from his bunk, Allison laying beside him. “Damn Melvin, I told you we wanted some private time up here.”

  Melvin was out of breath, “kid, you can spoon with your girlfriend later, we got bigger fish to fry!”

  “We weren’t even…”

  “Christ, shut up kid, you two need to come downstairs now! We’ve got radio contact with the military!”

  Scott and Allison looked at each other, and they both quickly got up and followed Melvin downstairs.

  “…I repeat, this is First Lieutenant Sheila Nelson, is anyone out there?”

  Melvin pointed at the radio, “see, I told you so!”

  “Have you talked to her?” Scott asked.