“I'm not quite sure, to be honest,” I admitted. It actually felt good to be getting it out with an impartial third party. The truth was, I was more confused about Sonya than ever. On the one hand, she'd saved my life. On the other, she was a wanted fugitive who wouldn't tell us who she was working for. Worst of all, it was clear that Felicity hated her. I didn't see that changing any time soon, not with the way things had been going. I glanced around quickly to make sure she wasn't nearby or following us, then dropped my voice to just above a whisper.
“The truth is, I'm still trying to figure her out.”
“It doesn't look like your woman is having such a hard time, if you don't mind me saying so. She seems to have her mind all made up when it comes to Sonya.”
“You can say that again,” I agreed. “They've been like two alley cats shoved in a burlap sack fighting over a mouse carcass ever since they met.”
Hudson grinned at my analogy.
“Does that make you the mouse?”
“Something like that I guess,” I said, shaking my head. “Anyway I'm not sure it matters anymore. Felicity made it really clear earlier that she doesn't want Sonya joining us for the rest of our trip.”
“Because of the military?”
“In part,” I said. “There's more to it than that, but I'm not sure I want to get into it with you just now. You've been more than an accommodating host. I'd hate to burden you with our problems.”
We reached the grow house and Hudson swung the door open, inviting me in. Inside, the air was hot and moist. Flowers grew in rows, along with tomatoes, cucumbers, sunflowers, broccoli, and other green leafy things I couldn't name off the top of my head. I walked down the first aisle fighting back the urge to reach my hand out and touch all the plants. I hadn't seen anything like it since I was a kid visiting the hardware store with my dad and I'd wandered off to the nursery. It was incredible, like a small oasis.
“Well? What do you think?”
“It's amazing,” I said without hesitation. “I can't believe you got all this stuff to grow in the middle of nowhere.”
“All credit goes to our founder,” Hudson said.
“Teddy Duds,” I parroted back.
“He was a great man. He gave us a blueprint that we've done our best to maintain. That's all.”
“You just leave this placed unlocked?” It seemed impossible that people didn’t sneak in and help themselves to a taste.
“That's right,” Hudson promptly said.
“How do you keep it all from disappearing?” I thought back to Freedom Town, all the trouble I had with townsfolk deciding they were special and that the rules didn't apply to them. I'd come to think of it as being a part of human nature, the desire to take more than your fair share and justify it later. The idea that a place existed where people did what was best for everyone out of the goodness of their own hearts was about as far-fetched as the idea of a heaven filled with halo wearing winged angels sitting on fluffy white clouds all day playing harps.
“I don't understand,” he said, shaking his head. “We maintain it in shifts. Everyone pitches in around here. Sure there are people who specialize in things, like Bart or the blacksmith, but that doesn't mean we don't all pull our weight. Even the young ones have chores. So far I haven't had any complaints, except from my head of Indian Affairs, Big Chief Pain-in-the-Ass. He's always got a wooden nickel’s worth of advice to add, but he don't mean no harm by it. He's just a contrarian at heart, I think.”
“I mean, how do you keep people from just sneaking in and taking what they want when no one is looking? It's not like there is a lock on the door.”
Hudson smiled, as if he was expecting me to tell him I was just kidding. When I didn't, I saw something flash in his eyes for a moment. It looked like pity.
“Shucks,” he said, taking off his hat for the first time to reveal a bead of sweat forming on his brow. “No one here would do anything like that. It'd be a scandal. Besides, everyone would know right away who did it, now wouldn't they?”
That didn't seem to stop Tyler and the others back in Freedom Town, I thought.
“I can't imagine having to live like that,” he added, “worrying all the time about my neighbors.”
“Then you're luckier than you know,” I laughed, but he didn't join in.
“I'm sorry you've had it so rough,” he said in earnest. “It's hard enough fighting zombies without having to battle against each other.”
“That's how things are now,” I said matter-of-factly. “You get used to it.”
“I hope I never have to,” Hudson disagreed. We stared at each other in uncomfortable silence for such a long time that it made me want to jump out of my skin and run screaming down Main Street. He spoke first.
“Whew! It's hotter than a bonfire in the middle of July in here. Let's get back out where we can catch a breeze before they find us melted away to nothing but puddles.”
I was glad to have a reason to move on. I didn't want to think about what he'd said. It made me sad and angry at the same time, but it wasn't his fault. It was just how things were. And wishing they would change was a waste of time.
I followed Hudson outside, but we didn't head back right away to the saloon. I could still hear the far-off sound of music coming from it, along with hooting and shouting and laughing. I didn't see any cause for alarm. Hudson walked up a dirt trail that snaked up toward the row of houses against the mountains. I didn't hesitate this time. We reached the top and sat on the ledge, looking out over Gold Strike City and the darkness beyond. The stars shone bright, and a sense of calm came over me. There was just something comforting about Hudson's presence as we sat there. I could see why the townspeople kept him on as Marshal. He'd either been born for the role, or become it along the way.
“I know you've just gotten here and are still getting your bearings,” Hudson said at last, breaking the silence. “But I was wondering if you and your lady have given any thought to what comes next. What I mean is, what are your plans?”
There was no reason to lie to him. He'd done everything in his power to make us feel at ease.
“It's still a little fuzzy,” I admitted. “The truth is, we're in a bit of an awkward situation.”
“I figured as much when I found you in shackles,” he said in a soft, comforting voice. I absentmindedly rubbed my wrists at the thought.
“We need to get back to the base in Hueneme,” I said. “My brother will be worried about me.”
“Won't they just lock you up again once you get there?”
“Maybe,” I admitted, realizing he was right. I hadn't given much thought to what came next after we arrived. “But Moto will be able to sort it out. He's the highest-ranking officer there, since General Conrad died anyway. They'll have to listen to him.”
“Sounds like a risky plan,” Hudson said. “Just getting to him will be a challenge. You'll have to cover a lot of dangerous ground between here and there.”
“Don't remind me,” I said, a note of sarcasm creeping back into my voice. “I'm trying not to think about it.”
“Well, what if you didn't have to go?”
I turned and gave him a hard look.
Here it comes, I thought. He's going to give me the big pitch now.
I thought back to John giving me a similar speech in New Lompoc, trying to convince me to join his band of white supremacists in their fight against the Unity Gang. John had a charismatic nature to him and a voice like melted butter when he wanted something from you. That all vanished like dew in the heat of the morning sun as soon as you told him no, and out came the angry, vengeful tyrant willing to sacrifice anyone or anything to get his way. In the end, John had been a coward who'd left his best men behind to die in a zombie horde when they needed him most, fleeing to save his own life and running down anyone who got in his way. The Marshal didn't seem anything like that at all, and neither did the people we'd met. Still, I was wary of people trying to sell me their version of what I should be or how
I fit into their grand design for the future. I braced myself for a big pitch, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach.
“Hold on now,” Hudson said, waving his hands defensively. “Hear me out. You owe me at least that much.”
“I'm listening,” I said unconvincingly.
“What if you and Felicity were to stay here for a while.”
I shook my head no before he even finished speaking.
“Just a minute,” he argued. “I'm not talking about a permanent living situation. I'm just talking about taking a break until you can both get back on your feet. That's all. You look worn through, and she seems about ready to snap. It'd just be temporary, and it'd give you more time to work out a plan.”
“I'm sorry,” I said, standing up again. My defenses came up like a steel wall shutting him out. “That's not going to work.”
“Why not?”
“I’ve already told you,” I said, the anger starting to show through again as the feeling of being tired crashed back over me, making my eyes burn. “I need to get back to Hueneme. For all I know, my brother thinks we're both dead. He's probably worried sick. I can't even imagine what went through his mind when that train rolled in without us on it, much less when they told him the train had been ambushed by a zombie horde and they left without us. If it was me I'd be planning a rescue right now, or at least a search party.”
“What if we sent word to Hueneme that you were okay?”
I stopped and let the words sink in. The thought had never occurred to me.
“How?”
“We've got experienced riders,” he said calmly, still sitting, his body language relaxed and cool like we were two old friends having a heated debate about our favorite sports team. “They can take him a message, let him know where you are and what condition you're in. Unlike you, they won't have to worry about being taken prisoner by the military. All they'll have to do is stay ahead of the zombies.”
I thought about Bad Bart and his gang. Would they be able to take word to Moto? And what would happen then? Would an armed escort arrive and take us back into custody?
“I don't know,” I said, feeling skittish at the idea, but wanting to believe it would work. “What about Sonya?”
“What about her?”
“Will she be staying too?”
“That's a choice she'll have to make for herself,” Hudson said, “but something tells me she won't be hanging around long, no matter what happens. She's clearly got her own mission in mind. Besides, it's not like she would fit in here the way you and Felicity already do.”
“Don't you have to put it to a town vote or anything?”
“Not exactly,” he said. “You will have to sign up for weekly chores and pitch in, but I don't see that as much of a problem. You can even keep the house you're in now for the time being.”
“We'd have to work on patching up the holes,” I said absentmindedly as I considered his proposal for the first time. It wasn't just a good offer, it was a great one – almost too good to be true.
“What's the catch?”
“I don't understand,” he said. “What do you mean?”
“Why would you want us to stay here with you? What's in it for you?”
“Not everyone thinks of life in those terms, Xander,” he said, sounding a little sad to have to explain it to me. “You two just seem like a good addition to our little town. As an actress in a town full of performers, Felicity fits right in. And you're strong, and loyal, and brave. Plus you know a lot about running things. You could come work for me if you like. I could use an assistant deputy to keep things running smooth.”
“I thought you said you could trust people here,” I argued. “Why do you need another deputy?”
“Oh it's not for protection or enforcing rules or anything like that,” he chuckled. “I meant for helping manage town affairs, although I'm sure you'd be great in some of our performances too. I’ve got a good feeling about you. I’ll bet you could put on one hell of a show with that blade. I think Greg even has an old Samurai costume locked away in his stuff somewhere. The kids would go nuts for that!”
“I could teach them self defense as well,” I said, feeling my guard come back down as the idea of sticking around began to set in. “Not to mention Tai Chi. Felicity was a teacher back in Freedom Town. She was really good at it too.”
“We'd be more than happy to have her join our school,” he said warmly. “So what do you say?”
I looked back down at the town below as I thought over what he was suggesting. Everyone was laughing and having fun. They moved in big circles from performance to performance like they were taking in all the attractions at a traveling carnival.
These are good people, I thought. And we really could use a break, just to catch our breath. Plus he makes a good point. If we try to go straight to the base we might not be able to get to Moto before we're taken back into custody. Who knows? They might even blame us for more stuff that we didn't do, like helping Sonya spring us from the train. And it sorta solves the problem with trusting Sonya as well. Whatever her plans for us are, I'm sure they don't include sitting in an Old West town in the middle of nowhere. Even if she tells her “partner” where we are, the military will be here by then. Worst case scenario, we can sneak out of town if we have to and hightail it to safety without her ever knowing we'd gotten away.
“Okay,” I said at last. “We'll stay for now.”
Hudson practically jumped to his feet, his eyes dancing with excitement, as if he was drunk again on fermented prickly pear fruit.
“You serious? That's great news! The others will be so happy.”
“I've gotta ask my wife still,” I warned, backtracking on my original answer just slightly. The truth was after the conversation we'd had in our noisy wooden love nest earlier, I was sure Felicity would be thrilled. She'd all but said the same thing Hudson was saying, nearly word for word.
“Of course,” Hudson quickly said. “It's only right for a man to consult his wife.”
“I think she'll be an easy sell. It makes sense what you said, and it solves a number of problems in the equation I've been wrestling with.”
“I'm sure she'll agree,” Hudson said confidently. “You just have to explain it to her is all. I'll help if you like.”
“Thanks, but I don't think that will be necessary,” I said with a smile. I was really warming up to the idea of having a few days to catch my breath. “I'm pretty sure she'll want to stay. After all, a town full of actors and artists all practicing their trade is about as close to paradise as she's gonna find this side of Heaven.”
“I can't wait to see her face when you tell her,” Hudson said, looking like a kid on Christmas morning unwrapping all his presents to find he's gotten everything on his list, more than the guy in charge of law and order in a small town. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all,” I said. I really liked him. He was one of the most genuine people I'd met since Z Day, and that meant something to me, especially after all the people I'd met who were hell bent on doing us harm or forcing us to be part of their evil designs. “Let's go right now and tell her the good news. She's going to be relieved to see Sonya go. You're right about that.”
He wasn't looking at me anymore. The smile had gone from his face along with all the color in it. His eyes were locked on the horizon.
“That ain't right,” he said in a voice barely above a whisper.
I turned to look back down at the town. Everything looked the same to me. People were still caught up in their performances. Quickly my eyes jumped to the saloon. It was still there in one piece, looking as solid as when we'd left. I looked back across the crowds to make sure there were no zombies among them. Not a thing looked out of place. I could feel the panic rising up in me, but I didn't know why. Hudson just stared slack jawed into the distance. I turned and followed his line of sight until I saw it. Off in the distance there was a huge plume of black smoking rising up in the sky. It coiled up in thick black tendrils like
shadowy fabric climbing toward the stars and obscuring the moon.
“What is it?” Hudson's voice was low and filled with apprehension. “What's out that way?”
“Freedom Town,” I said with a gulp. It was the only thing that made sense. We were too far away to see Barstow, and I couldn't imagine any other towns close by. Something must have happened there since we left.
“Look,” Hudson said, pointing a finger toward the defensive fence line down at the edge of town where we'd come in.
“What is it?” I asked, trying to adjust my eyes. There were figures moving in the dark, but I couldn't make them out.
“There's somebody down there,” he said, growing more agitated as he spoke.
“I can't make them out,” I said. “What are they doing?”
“They're cutting the barbed wire fencing,” he said, disgust rising in his voice. “They're taking down our defenses, leaving the gate wide open for someone to drive right on in!”
“But who would do that?”
I didn't have to wait long for an answer. The wind shifted, and I heard them coming from somewhere close by. The familiar sound of motorcycles reached my ears, and my mouth fell open.
“They've found us,” I said in shock, feeling the dread descend back over me like a scratchy old coat that I'd grown used to wearing.
“Who found you? Who are they, and what do they want?”
“Alphas,” I said. “They've come to collect the bounty on my head.”
Before he could respond, I pulled my katana from my back and began running down toward the commotion as fast as my legs would carry me, the uncomfortable cowboy boots pinching my feet the whole way.
Chapter Fifteen
By the time I reached the bottom of the hill and began charging back toward the saloon, the entire town was in chaos. Greasy-looking bikers raced through the streets throwing Molotov cocktails into wooden buildings, and setting them ablaze like dry kindling. The sound of women and children screaming was drowned out by the roaring of loud engines as the motorcycles greedily revved their motors, sending a cacophony of echoing chaos reverberating off the mountain walls.
Zombie Attack! Box Set (Books 1-3) Page 42