"What was that?" Jenny's doctor-beau Jake queried.
Everyone jumped up and began scanning the area. Although it was still light enough outside to see, there were many shadows forming in the twilight and Charlie was certain most of them were moving.
"Did the zombies follow us after all?" Jenny hissed as she scrambled to reach under the chair she'd been sitting on to retrieve a rifle.
"We double checked and they didn't follow," Darrell replied slowly, still scanning the surrounding area. "But I think they're out there now."
Charlie saw Dexter emerge from the apartment building, as if on cue. "We got problems?" he bellowed when he reached the group.
Darrell put a finger to his lips. "Keep it down, Dex! We have movement all over the place and we're trying to figure out what it is exactly."
At Darrell's rebuff, Dexter's eyes narrowed. "Ok, well stay here if you want, but I would suggest everyone get inside now. Once we know what's out there we'll figure out how to deal with it."
For once, Charlie couldn't find fault with Dexter's logic. "I agree," he interjected. "Let's go!"
Everyone followed after Charlie and Dexter. Once inside, Megan bolted the doors and slid the reinforced metal bars in place across them both. Fortunately, no one was at the houses next door, even Rose and Kevin were inside the apartment helping with the dinner dishes. Dexter ran upstairs to confer with the men watching on the roof. Charlie decided to follow Dexter, but at a slower pace. Something was nagging him, but he couldn't put a finger on what it was exactly. Deep in thought, he almost ran into Judith.
Startled, he jumped back and his frown creased into a wide smile. "Sorry, should have watched where I was going," he said with a shake of his head and a chuckle.
Judith touched his arm gently. "It's ok; I was coming to look for you anyway."
At Charlie's questioning look she continued. "Do you have time now to talk or does it need to wait?"
"Can it wait? Something strange is going on outside and we're trying to figure out what."
At her alarmed look, he hurried to reassure her. "I'm sure it's probably nothing - false alarm probably - and I should be back in a few minutes. Can it wait until then?"
"Of course," Judith replied firmly with an emphatic nod of her blond curls. "Let me know what you find out?"
Charlie was already on his way upstairs and waved a hand in the air. "Sure thing! Be right back!"
Judith watched him disappear up the stairs and sighed. She hoped what she had to tell him could wait a little longer. If not, they could be in a lot of trouble.
Charlie reached the attic ladder and scurried up the rungs. He carefully walked toward the rectangular hole cut in the roof and used the small step ladder to ease himself up and out. Dexter was looking across the street through binoculars and the other two men were walking along the edge of the flat roof.
Suddenly Dexter pointed. "Look over there! See the dogs?"
There was barely enough light to see by and he could faintly make out what looked like dogs sniffing around. He started to reply, but what he saw next made him grimace in disgust. A group of about twenty zombies appeared from behind a house and for a second, the dogs and zombies stared at each other. Then total chaos erupted as the dogs attacked. Dogs and zombies literally tore into each other. There was another yelp like the one they heard before, and Charlie was grateful that a dog had cried out earlier or they may have all been ambushed. The dogs were actually pushing the zombies back and the mass of fighting bodies disappeared back behind the house.
Dexter gave a low whistle. "Have you every seen anything like that? Listen at 'em! They're still goin' at it!"
"No, and if I didn't see anything like that again it would be too soon," Charlie muttered. "I'm going back down, are you going to stay up here for awhile?"
Dexter nodded emphatically as he readjusted the binoculars. "You betcha! They might come back. Tell Rose I'll be down in about thirty, ok?"
"Will do." Charlie lowered himself back down and took a deep breath. The thought that had been at the back of his mind suddenly came to the forefront, stopping him in his tracks. He quickly hoisted himself back up through the hole.
"Dexter, let me run something by you," he said quickly, eyes glinting.
"Shoot."
"Ok, after we heard the dog yelping and now we see them fighting the zombies, do you think the dogs are capable of being infected? All those packs of dogs, are they infected or are they just wild? I think it's something we really need to find out, don't you?"
Dexter put down the binoculars and rubbed his chin. Charlie could barely make him out in the gathering darkness. "Yeah, that gives me the creeps; we do need to find out. Know how many times we've paid those packs no mind and went around them? If they are becoming infected, they could take us out easy when we're cleaning up the town."
"Let's go down and talk to everyone while we're still all in one place," Charlie advised. He rubbed a hand through his hair. "I think everyone should stay here tonight too as a precaution."
Dexter nodded. "Agreed, let's head down."
Charlie led the way and once they reached the second floor, he began knocking on doors. Dexter went down to the first floor to do the same. Charlie was hoping he was wrong, but if he was right, it would make everything they were trying to do much more difficult. How many more enemies would turn up that they would have to fight? At that moment, Charlie felt overwhelmed and anxious. What else could possibly go wrong? When he finished knocking on the last door and asking the residents to please go downstairs for a meeting, he turned and saw Judith waiting for him at the end of the hall. With a grim smile, he headed in her direction. His smile faded when he saw the look on her face.
"Are you all right?" he asked, concern etched on his face. He reached out to stroke her cheek with the back on his hand.
Judith gave him a small smile and reached up to grasp his hand. "Dexter gave me a quick update when he came down. I'm going to hope it's not true."
Charlie nodded, and then turned his full attention to her. "You said you had something important to tell me?"
"You're not going to like this," she said with a sigh. "You know our water is gravity-fed from the treatment plant, right? So we're still able to get all our drinking water from up there."
At his nod, she continued. "Travis has been sweet on Bitsy for a long time and he was thrilled to see her back. He went to pick her some flowers and being young and puppy-love stupid, he walked clear up to the plant trying to get enough of them together. What he saw there has me extremely worried."
"What did he see?" Charlie prompted.
"Bodies - lots of bodies. Charlie, Travis thought that some of them might have been in the water; he was too spooked to get close enough to be sure. Maybe I'm being silly, but could those bodies contaminate the water and could we become infected? Do you think that it's a possibility?"
Charlie stared at her in horrified surprise. When it rains it pours, he thought grimly. He grabbed her by the arm and steered her toward the stairs.
"Let's get downstairs pronto," he said through clenched teeth. He had wondered what else could go wrong - well now he had his answer.
****
Once suited up, Mick and Jeff waited for Cindy to unbolt the door. They were planning to clear a path to the other building and cover the bodies of the people who were with the children so they wouldn't see. Soon as they got the all clear from upstairs, they set to work, using their hooks to drag the nasty zombie bodies out of the way. When they reached the other building, they quickly moved and covered the bodies still clustered under the window. Then they hurried back to Dave's Place.
Mick was relieved to have that part of the job done, although they would have to go out again soon to permanently remove the bodies. After stripping off the soiled hazmat suits and throwing them in a plastic bag to be disposed of later, they were ready to go.
Mick keyed up Lindsey. "Is it still clear outside?"
"Good to go," Lindsey replied
. "Don't see a single thing moving."
"Ok, give the kids a yell and tell them to head down."
"Will do. Good luck, we'll be watching!"
Mick nodded toward Lilly and Jeff. "Let's go, Jeff - you lead and I'll follow with Lil between us."
Cindy threw the bolt again and opened the door. Cautiously, Jeff stepped out and looked around. Mick could hear Lindsey on the bullhorn and went through the door in time to see the boy's head disappear from the window.
"Jeff, let's hurry it up a little," Lilly said nervously as she glanced at the dead bodies on either side of her.
They all quickened their pace and once they reached the door, Jeff quickly knocked. "We're here, come on out, it's safe," he said in a calm, reassuring voice.
To Mick's relief, the door slowly opened. Lilly glanced around Jeff and smiled, holding out her hand. "Let's go," she said softly. The little girl glanced up at the boy, who nodded his head. She smiled shyly and reached out to take Lilly's hand. The boy followed behind.
Without another word, they turned and trotted silently back to the building. Cindy still had the door open and smiled brightly at the two newcomers. Once inside, she closed and locked the door.
They all turned toward the children. Mick thought it was obvious they were brother and sister. Both had freckles across their cheeks, with light brown hair, and bright green eyes. Curtis sported a flat top while Amy's hair flowed down her back, although it was a tangled mess at the moment. Both were also on the thin side - too thin for Mick's liking. The boy spoke first. "I'm Curtis - I'm twelve - and this is Amy, my sister - she's seven. Thanks for coming to get us; we were really scared over there."
Cindy reached into a backpack she had brought downstairs and handed both children bottles of juice which they immediately drank right down.
Curtis wiped his mouth and said, "Our parents decided to get out of town, we brought other people with us - they're the ones you all shot."
Mick grimaced. He had hoped the kids didn't know what had happened. He started to reply when Curtis held up a hand.
"You did them a favor, we know that - but it's still hard to accept what happened - at least for awhile," he said in a shaky voice, glancing at his sister who gave him an encouraging nod as she wiped a tear away. "There were 51 of us at the armory and food was running short, so our parents and a few others decided to take a chance and head this way, from your lights at night they knew someone was over here. We almost made it here before suddenly zombies were everywhere and Dad said it was like we were being herded this way."
Mick felt a shiver run up his spine; he'd thought the exact same thing and now Curtis was confirming his worst fears.
Without a word, Lilly walked over and grabbed both children, giving them a long hug. Both of them clung to her, and Mick could hear Amy crying softly. After a moment, Lilly pulled back and looked at them both. "We will do our best to take care of you and keep you safe, this I promise. Now let's go upstairs and meet the rest of the group, ok?"
At their nods, everyone headed upstairs, but not before Cindy gave each child a packet of peanut butter crackers to tide them over until they could get a proper meal. Mick watched Lilly hover protectively over the children and glanced at Cindy who gave him a smile and a nod. She'd noticed, too. Looks like the children were going to be a godsend for Lilly, who needed someone to love and care for. Maybe they could fill the hole in her heart and help her heal.
Once upstairs, Curtis and Amy were in danger of being mobbed. Lilly shooed the curious children away and only after both had a chance to clean up and get a meal did she allow any interaction. Soon all the children were headed up on the roof to show Curtis and Amy where they played.
"Kids certainly are resilient," Lilly replied with a shake of her head as she watched them disappear up the stairs.
"They sure are," Cindy agreed, wrapping an arm around Lilly's shoulders. "They've really taken to you."
"And I to them," Lilly said with a laugh. "They need someone to help them right now and I plan to do just that."
Cindy gave her friend a squeeze. "Well, they're in great hands." She released Lilly and headed toward the kitchen, eyeing Mick as she passed him. "Going to start dinner, who wants to help?"
"Don't think that was a question," Mick said with a laugh as he joined her at the sink. "I'd be glad to help."
Cindy grinned and handed him a large pot. "Good idea, fill this up, please?"
Mick and Cindy worked quietly together, comfortable and at ease in each other's presence. Mick had his head in the refrigerator looking for the butter when he felt a tug on his shirt at the elbow. He straightened up to see Amy standing beside him.
"Curtis forgot to tell you something," she said shyly, shifting from one foot to the other. Mick knelt down so he could hear her better. "Our daddy promised the people at the armory that they would bring back help. Everyone there needs to get out because there is almost no more food and they will get hungry soon." She looked at him with pleading eyes. "My best friend - her name is Jamie - she is still there and I don't want anything bad to happen to her, too." A tear appeared and rolled down the little girl's cheek. She looked directly into his eyes. "Will you help them, please?"
Before replying, Mick gave her a gentle hug. "Tell you what," he said with a smile. "I will tell everyone what you told me and then we will talk about it and see what we can do because I can't speak for them all. Is that ok?" At her nod, he continued. "Good. Don't worry about this for now. Why don't you go back upstairs and play. As soon as I know anything, you and Curtis will be the first to know."
With another nod, Amy spun around and raced up the stairs. Cindy came over and he put his arm around her. "Did you hear?"
"Yeah, I heard," she said with concern. "That's a lot of people to rescue. Good thing the armory is not that far away."
"True, but if there are hundreds of zombies between them and us, they may as well be a thousand miles away," he said with a sigh. He turned to look at his wife. "I don't see how we can even think about attempting a rescue when there are so few of us left here and I think we are in danger ourselves the longer we stay here."
Cindy's eyes widened with a sudden idea. "We all know the zombies are getting smarter, or beginning to remember some things, at the very least." She held up a finger and tapped the side of her head. "We just need to be smarter." At Mick's puzzled look she chuckled. "Look, they seem to seize an opportunity when they see one, right?"
"Right," Mick said agreeably. He still didn't know what she was getting at.
"What if we create an opportunity - a diversion if you will - and while they're dragging themselves off in one direction we go the other way to get those people out of the armory?"
"That could work I suppose," he said reluctantly. He was terribly frightened that anything they tried would go wrong and they would end up dead - or worse. He could hear the kids racing back down the stairs, they sounded like a herd of wild ponies. As the line of children, including Curtis, passed him he turned back to Cindy.
"Too bad there's no way to talk to the people over there."
To his surprise, Curtis skidded to a halt directly in front of him. "Oh my gosh, I forgot all about it!" Curtis yelled, smacking himself on the forehead. He quickly pulled out a walkie talkie. "Every day at 3pm sharp, Sullie will turn the walkie talkie on for two minutes only, they're trying to save the batteries." He handed it to Mick. "I hope they're still listening for us."
Mick glanced at the clock. They still had an hour and a half. He patted the boy's shoulder. "Don't worry; no one can blame you for forgetting, especially after what you've been through."
Mick handed the walkie talkie back to him. "Bring it back before 3 and we'll see if we can talk to Sullie."
Curtis carefully placed it back in his pocket and smiled up at Mick. "I will, I promise!" he said excitedly. With a wave, he turned and ran off after the other children.
Cindy shook her head. "How was that for getting your wish answered? I do believe we're m
eant to help those folks over there."
Mick rubbed his eyes. "Maybe so. Let's try to get everyone together after we get dinner in the oven. I think we have enough time to discuss this before we talk to Sullie, whoever he is."
Cindy gave him a nudge. "You go on ahead and let everyone know, I'll finish this up."
Mick set off to gather everyone together for what may very well be their most important meeting ever.
Chapter 34
Charlie shook his head while Dexter paced up and down in front of the large group assembled around the lobby. Some folks were sitting on the stairs, but all were listening intently.
"We need to take these zombies out first," Dexter was saying. "We can have all the water in the world and still be dead."
Zombified (Book 1): Hudson Place Page 22