by K Helms
“Some. I found quite a few of the Lumbee Indian tribe down in North Carolina. They are a tough and smart people but they refused help, I couldn’t blame them. They didn’t seem to need any help anyway. Then there was a government installation in Kansas that was full of elitists.
“Who were these elitists?” Death asked.
“Politicians, heads of state, corporate heads…that part I expected but some of the people there surprised me.”
“Who else was there?” Death asked with open curiosity.
“Eco types… uh…naturalists, Green Peace douche bags...you know.”
“What? You’ve gotta be kidding me. They are polar opposites in politics and beliefs,” Nan said with doubt.
Arlington shook his head. “Apparently not; see, they both wanted to be dominant, and that power came at the expense of the common man. They were both extremely rich and powerful sects and when this plague began the rich right wanted to look after themselves because they were rich and therefore better than us…” he paused “the rich left wanted to look after themselves under the guise of being champions for the planet. They had long thought that the human race should be no more than a few million and that would mean the extermination of billions; so who do you think would make the cut? Them, not us, I am sure of that much…”
“So you are saying that they played a role in this?” Death asked.
“I’m not saying that they didn’t…who knows? The only thing that is important now is us, and we need a place to start.”
“Easter Island!” said Nan suddenly. “That would be a good place for a settlement.”
Arlington smiled. Women had a different way of thinking than men did. Where man’s thinking was more linear and straight to the point, women often thought in parallel lines, multi-tasking their thoughts and often spoke in rabbit trails.
“Not bad, it’s definitely worth considering. If you think of any other possibilities then throw them in the hat too.”
“Do you know anything about the cattle mutilations and crop circles? I think those phenomenon are fascinating,” she asked.
Arlington was quiet for a moment as he gathered his thoughts and tried to put them into the correct words. “The mutilations were actually to give abductees food that was palatable to them; think of it as ordering a steak take out.” He paused for a minute then continued, “The crop circles were guideposts. Sorta like road signs for the other ships that could be viewed from the air. I have no idea what the codes are translated into, but I don’t pretend to know everything.”
“That sounds way too simple,” Death said.
“Well the Grays dumbed it down for me, I’m sure,” Arlington said nonplussed.
“Sometimes the simplest answer is the best one,” Nan added.
“I suppose…” Death said, not entirely convinced.
“I get you, Death, trust me I get you. Before all this weirdness happened I was a huge conspiracy nut. I had elaborate theories for pretty much everything…and most of them were basically crap.”
There was another moment of silence and Arlington brought the subject back to safe harbors. “What about Alaska? It’s remote, would have plenty of strategic positions and plenty of wild game.”
“Ohhh, I hate the cold,” shivered Nan.
“Do you know what I hate?” asked Death Wagon dryly.
Arlington raised an eyebrow speculatively. “What’s that?”
Death straightened up in his seat. “I hate when people use the word ‘passion’.”
“What’s wrong with passion?” asked Nan coyly.
“There’s nothing wrong with it… depending on the context. I’m talking about when someone says something like ‘I volunteer at the animal shelter; it’s my passion,’” Death said in a mocking tone, sarcasm dripped from his lips “but if you actually knew the truth then the last time they did anything like that it was ten years ago.”
“That’s sort of cynical isn’t it?” Nan asked.
Death shook his head. “It wouldn’t be so bad if they told you something realistic and not some load of bunk to impress you.”
Arlington laughed. “I get you. You never hear anyone say, ‘Getting high; it’s my passion.’.”
Nan giggled and added, “…or internet porn…it’s my passion,” She saw Death look at her with surprise and her face flushed.
“I’ve never heard you talk like that before,” Death said in fake shock and brought a hand to his heart mimicking Fred Sanford.
“Saying something that embarrasses me… it’s my passion,” said Basil sarcastically from his pilot’s seat behind them.
The three at the table looked at each other for a moment and burst into laughter. As it died down another round of awkward silence fell over the group of virtual strangers until Arlington broke it. “You know what I hate?”
“What?” Death asked expectantly.
“Awkward silence,” he said and Nan nodded in agreement.
“I was kind of expecting a joke there, Arlington,” said Death in disappointment.
Arlington looked chagrined. “So after we go to the mines and leave the note for your friends do you want to check out Easter Island?”
“Yes!” shouted Nan enthusiastically.
“We’ll need weapons, ammo, food, water…” Death muttered sourly.
Nan interrupted him, “We have all that at the mine.” She reached over and rubbed Death Wagon’s shoulder “C’mon Death, It will be like a tropical honeymoon.
“Killing zombies on my honeymoon…it’s my passion,” Nan said sweetly. “It’ll be romantic,” she added with a singing lilt on the last word.
Chapter 62 – Bludglutton
Graylocke Castle,
Plane of the Ark
Graylocke was a beautiful castle and they decided to stay for two days while they planned their next course of action. Mariel had agreed with her husband, Regeliel that they should seek out the Gemini for any additional insight that he might have.
Bodie had seen some of the women at Graylocke and had been amazed at the size of them, as well as with their perfectly proportioned beauty. “I could climb them like a tree!” he had told Daniel as they had sat and dined their first night.
On the morning of the third day they set out for the counsel of the Gemini. Mia was amazed at the size of the Nephilim steed, The Baluch. It stood at least ten feet tall at the shoulder and resembled a hornless rhinoceros. The hide of the great beasts was thick and hard, but the Nephilim still covered the vital areas with steel plated armor that shined in the sun like beacons. Despite the Baluch being numerous, they made the trek on foot, at Mia’s request.
Regeliel made camp close to a place he called, ‘Bimini Road’. They had marched for hours and the day was coming to a close. The gate had changed them and that change, whether visible or not, had left them feeling exhausted, but that weariness was rapidly leaving them and they wanted to press on even though Regeliel advised them that making camp for the night was best.
“On the morrow we will set out for the Grove of the Gemini,” said the knight as he breathed life into the tinder for the fire. The flame caught and he slowly fed small sticks into the growing flames.
Daniel growled low in his throat.
“What is it boy? Is Timmy stuck in the well?” asked Bodie in his gruff sounding voice. The squat, powerfully built dwarf hunkered down by the dog and the flames revealed the number 47 emblazoned on his forehead, only now it was surrounded by various other facial tattoos.
The large wolf, who answered to the name of Daniel Tyson, bared his fangs and Bodie thought he was grinning, but the hunger in that toothy grin gave him the creeps.
The moon was full and riding high in the night sky. “I need to run,” Daniel said.
“Aye lad, that ye do,” agreed the giant knight in absolute understanding. “Run, my friend, and we will meet on the morrow.”
Mia curled her body around Mick’s side and immediately fell asleep, snoring softly. Mick was always amazed at how
easily sleep found her and how he had to force that relaxation into his mind before he too found that same somnolence.
Daniel trotted off into the shadows and howled long and forlorn into the nightscape.
“I don’t think he should be runnin’ off by himself,” worried his dwarven friend.
“He will be well,” assured the knight. “The Lycans have no natural predators.”
“He isn’t going to eat us while we sleep is he?” asked Mick.
“They are omnivores, but they are renowned for their loyalty. His instinct is to guard his people,” answered the knight.
“Good. I don’t have any silver bullets.”
Regeliel looked puzzled.
“Never mind,” Mick said as he stared into the leaping flames over crackling twigs.
He looked up at the sky. It had been clear just minutes before, but now the piercings of white was closed off by a thick band of dark clouds and the night became a deeper shade of dark that’s silence felt almost muffled, like it did when it snowed. The only sound was the crackling of the fire and Mia’s soft rhythmic breathing. She was Mick’s sleep remedy; listening to her sleep was like melatonin to his worried brain, and soon exhaustion claimed him and he joined his wife in those hallowed halls of sleep’s dark keep.
Regeliel was the last to sleep. He thought of Mariel and that one day, there would be none of these troubles or wars to be fought and then they would belong to only one another. The knight sighed heavily, wistfully as he watched the ashes from the fire rise on the thermals, fluttering like butterfly bones upon their pyre. His eyes grew as heavy as his heart from leaving his queen so soon after being reunited, but soon the king dreamed of Mariel’s sweet face and that would have to suffice, for now.
The mist that crept into their camp had a reddish tint to it like a thin layer of fog set to ambient lighting. It remained close to the ground and traveled serpentine between the sleeping forms. It passed by the knight in perfect silence, and then passed Bodie’s husky body that snored loudly with each inhalation. The dark skinned woman had her face pressed against the man’s chest. He had remained unchanged as he passed through the gate, and his athletic wrestler’s physique shielded her with an arm beneath her neck and its hand resting on her head.
The mist writhed and hovered above Mick’s sleeping form. His lips were parted slightly as he breathed. The unformed mist began to coalesce into one of substantial form and a smooth red skull, revealing the Bludglutton and it glowed softly above the sleeper’s face.
Slowly the Bludglutton became more and more solid as arms formed and braced themselves on either side of Mick’s head. It leaned closer and made not a sound as its hinged jaw swung open. It breathed in deeply and a ribbon of gray-white ether flowed from Mick’s parted lips into the gaping jaws of the red crystal skull. The ribbon filled the skull but its color remained unchanged by the new presence within as it was filled. The skull closed its jaws with a light click as the crystal teeth touched.
The Bludglutton rose and peered down at the shriveled husk of dry skin that draped over even drier bones. Mick’s eyelids were sunken and indented; with no fluids within the eyes, they too had shriveled. The dry flesh was pasty white, like tissue paper and Mick’s lips had receded revealing his teeth that were set in hardened gums. The Bludglutton turned its attention to the woman who still slept and leaned toward her.
With a howl of fury a half-lupine, half-human figure speared into the side of the Bludglutton’s body and pinned it to the ground. Daniel’s jaws snapped ravenously as they tore at the bones beneath its black leather armor.
Mia woke with a start as the Lycan’s jaws clamped down on the forearm of the Bludglutton with a loud crack. The wolf growled savagely with each bite. Mia clutched at her husband trying to awaken him.
“Mickey!” she screamed, but Mick’s head only rolled to one side at an askew angle. She jumped to her feet, her eyes wide in horror and backed into the knight. Mia stared at her husband’s desiccated corpse in the weak light of the dying embers of their campfire and collapsed to her knees.
The knight and dwarf rushed past Mia, protecting her. Bodie watched as Daniel gnashed his two inch fangs into the bones of the assassin.
As they hefted their weapons the Bludglutton dissolved back into mist with an anguished moan of pain and ethereally snaked its way back into the shadows. Daniel raised himself to its full height and crashed after it through the tall weeds that circled their camp.
Regeliel turned to Mia and stared at his friend, Mick lying lifeless in the grass. Mia’s mouth worked slowly, but no words came out.
The knight pulled Mia to her feet and cradled her against him, shielding her eyes from the visage of her dead husband. He too felt a great sorrow fall over his heart, but he knew that his pain was nothing in comparison to hers. He had no words for her. There were no words.
Bodie looked up at the knight in bewilderment.
“The Gemini will help us. Gather our packs, we must leave now,” said the knight quietly as he rocked the woman in his arms.
“We can’t just leave him there,” Bodie said.
“Daniel will guard him, trust that. We will bury him after we go to the Gemini.”
They left Mick lying silent and still beneath the stars that again peeked through the clouds. Daniel had returned and sat on his haunches behind the dead man. His teeth were bared and looked even longer and sharper than they had before, like ivory daggers that dared the Bludglutton to return.
Chapter 63 - The Great Easter Island Turkey Shoot
Easter Island
A runway crossed the southern part of Easter Island slanting down from west to east, while a large residential grid-work of streets, homes and other buildings crossed the upper and middle part of the island. A large dock of piers was situated on the eastern side and they could see small, moving dots. As they hovered over the runway, they saw the dead wandering to and fro spread out to cover the entire island.
“I thought Easter Island was deserted,” Arlington said.
“Looks like this is the part that the Discovery channel never showed,” agreed Death.
“There must be a thousand of them,” Nan said in disappointment
Basil ears perked up like a Doberman's, “Two thousand and twelve, actually.”
“Thanks for the update, buzz kill,” Arlington said.
“Why don’t you blast them with your lasers or whatever other science fiction gadgets you’ve got?” Death asked.
“I believe you are thinking of Star Trek,” Basil said in a bored tone of voice. “The only weapon we have is defensive. It’s an electromagnetic pulse which would permanently disable the electrical system. If you are still thinking of inhabiting this parcel of land then I do not recommend it.”
Basil settled the ship at the southern end of the runway and the dead immediately began to change their courses and converge on their position.
“That can’t be good,” Death said, shaking his head.
“It’s the ship,” Basil explained, closing his eye and continued talking with his eye closed. “I believe it is the frequency of its vibrations, they are drawn to.”
“Great. So every time we’re in this tin can they’ll be swarming all over us,” Death said with a grunt of disapproval.
Nan’s eyes widened. “What if we use that as an advantage? What if we just hover offshore, you know lure them out into the tides?”
“It’s not like they are gonna drown,” Death remarked dryly.
Nan ignored the comment. “Once we’ve baited them off shore then we could set down on the beach and then we could easily pick them off as they struggle through the surf to get to us. It would give us plenty of time to kill most, if not all, of them.”
Basil’s eye shot open, the crimson orb flashed with excitement. “Yes, that is an excellent trap, and it is a trap that we could repeat if need be as they would unwittingly follow the vibrations again.”
“It’s too bad there wasn’t a high cliff and we could re
ally Wiley Coyote them,” Arlington said.
Nan looked back at Death in triumphant vindication. “Well…?”
“Sometimes I forget how smart you are,” Death said with appreciation. “Sorry.”
“I’m not sure how to take that, but thank you…I guess.” Nan said, crossing her arms in front of her.
“Yeah, I guess that didn’t come out quite right. I think it’s a good idea and we should try it,” Death consented.
Arlington nodded to the Anubis at the helm and Basil flew the ship about one hundred feet off shore and hovered there. The dead howled and changed their course as the group inside the ship waited. The dead surged into the surf, floundering, but most kept their footing, as they trudged offshore toward the ship.
“It’s working,” exclaimed Nan.
“Yes, ma’am, it is,” Arlington said and patted her on the back. “It’ll take them awhile though, they ain’t real fast.”
“I suppose we should get the rifles ready for this turkey shoot.” Death muttered.
The dead continued to file into the surf. Many wore Hawaiian style shirts, but they couldn’t be sure if the patterns were of tropical flowers or dried blood stains. Some were knocked down by the breakers, but they immediately rose and floundered onward.
The ship hovered in place for almost a half an hour before they reached the distance of the ship. Basil guided the ship back to the beach and settled lightly upon the sand. The heads of the dead and their flailing arms were all that could be seen in the neck deep water.
They exited the ship and assumed shooting positions. Laptu ran past behind them, hooting like a hyper active kid and darted for a cluster of bushes.
“Pooping?” Nan asked.
“More than likely; he’s pretty regular,” Arlington answered.
They opened fire on the dead, placing their shots carefully. Nan was a little squeamish at first and followed her first few shots with Ewww or Yuk! But then she started competing with her husband and found that she was killing more than he was.