by Steven Pajak
I was surprised that so much of Route 20 had been cleared of the vehicles that blocked much of the road only a few days ago when I navigated it in Kappy’s Jeep.
On both sides, east and west, vehicles that once clogged the blacktop were now either pushed off into the ditch or the emergency lane in many places. Where the ditches and emergency lanes were filled, cars and trucks were flipped onto their sides in an attempt to clear the road.
I wasn’t sure what to make of this development. What would prompt people to come out onto the road and take the time and effort to move the vehicles?
I guess it could suggest that people realized how important quick travel into neighboring communities could be. According to Phil, it could also be dangerous.
The night that I returned home and encountered the Providence roadblock came back to me. If I hadn’t been a resident of their neighboring community, what would they have done? Sent me away? Worse?
That had been just a day after this whole snafu had begun. Given the developments of the last few days, I shuddered to think what those at Providence would do to anyone they considered unfriendly or hostile now that the world had changed.
The road was intermittently lit with the occasional street lamp but I could see Alex was watching the road and his surroundings intently. As we passed the first exit ramp after leaving Randall Road behind us I noticed Alex’s grip tighten on the wheel and he increased his speed, putting a potential ambush point quickly behind us.
I don’t think he was on edge because he’d heard any of the conversation with Phil but more the fact that we were out at night in potentially dangerous surroundings for the first time since the crazies appeared. Those things were still mysteries to us.
After twenty minutes of driving without incident we all started to relax a bit. We’d passed downtown Elgin which I felt was the biggest threat. If there were marauders who were indeed preying on road travelers, I expected ambush points at the main interchanges of Route 25 and 31.
I saw Kappy’s restaurant about a quarter mile ahead of us because his sign was on, shining like a beacon in the night. I hadn’t thought much of Kappy because I’d been so busy. It was only days ago that he saved my life, but it seemed like much longer.
“Alex, stop at that restaurant there on the right,” I said.
Although this was certainly not a planned stop, there was no way I could pass Kappy’s without stopping in to see him. I owed him. And I wondered if he’d accept another invitation to join me and become a member of our community. He had to be lonely in there.
“You hungry?” Alex raised an eyebrow. And there he went scratching his beard. He hadn’t done that in the last twenty minutes and now it aggravated me.
“I need to see a friend,” I said.
Alex slowed the UPS truck as we neared and came to a stop at the entrance to Kappy’s. He did not pull in; we sat idle.
“This place is lit up like a Christmas tree. Is he trying to attract them things?” Alex said.
Charlie crouched beside me again. “What’s going on, boss?”
“I need to check on someone,” I said.
Alex was right. Kappy had every light in the place on, including the massive sign. I wasn’t sure what to make of that. I surveyed the parking lot. The John Deere I’d rode on still sat against the sign post where I’d crashed. The heap of dead crazies that I’d picked off from Kappy’s roof littered the ground around the green machine.
A light blue sedan was angled in front of Kappy’s place about ten feet away from the door. The driver’s door stood open. From this distance the car appeared empty. A man’s body slumped over the hood of the vehicle. I couldn’t tell if it was human.
More bodies lay together on the west side of the building next to the dumpster and grease trap. The way they huddled made me think of images I’d seen of concentration camps during World War II. I hoped those were crazies piled up out there and not people.
“What the hell happened here?” Charlie asked.
I glanced at him and saw that the rest of the men had gathered around him and were trying to get a look out the window. Their eyes were wide and I saw concern on their faces. This worried me because I knew what fear could do to men in combat.
“I don’t know yet.”
I asked Alex to pull the truck in closer to the blue car. I wanted to get a better look. The man slumped over the hood of the car was definitely a crazy. His skin was filthy with dried blood. His left hand was severed at the wrist and his pants were filthy with excrement and urine. He was still alive; his body rose slightly each time he took a breath.
“Jesus Christ,” Alex breathed.
Aside from those crazies we’d executed at the front gates less than an hour ago, none of these men had come face to face with the abominations. They certainly hadn’t seen any in this sort of condition.
Sliding the door open as quietly as I could, I stepped out of the truck, snagged my go bag and slid it over my neck and shoulder. Taking up my SKS I said, “I want Iggy to come with me. Charlie, I want you and Ken to come out here and keep a look out. The rest of you stay in the vehicle.”
“What are we doing?” Alex asked, subconsciously scratching his beard again.
“I have to go inside for a minute,” I said.
“Is that a good idea?” Charlie asked.
Charlie and Ken exited the truck and now stood beside me. When I looked at Charlie his eyes were locked on the pile of bodies to the west.
“No, but I have to do it anyway. Are you going to be okay out here?”
He looked at me now. “Yeah, I’m good, boss.”
I stared at him.
“Seriously, I’m good. Do what you need to do.”
I nodded my head. I had no doubt he could handle this.
“Listen to me good, gentlemen. Keep your eyes and ears open. If anything happens out here, blow the horn and I’ll come running. Don’t hesitate to use your guns, and if any of these fucking things moves, shoot. I mean it. Am I clear?”
Heads nodded. I was sure Charlie would do what he needed to but I had reservations about the others. They were not tested and I hoped they wouldn’t have to be tonight.
“Watch the road, too. These things aren’t the only things we have to worry about,” I said.
“What does that mean?” Iggy asked. His large brown eyes bore into me.
“People. They may want what we have.”
“Are you serious?” he asked.
“I’m dead serious. If anyone else comes into this place you set up a defensive perimeter around this vehicle and don’t let them come close. I don’t care what their intentions are.”
I stepped in front of Iggy and made sure we had eye contact. “I need to know I can trust you, Iggy. I need to know that you’re not going to freeze up if something happens. I can’t have you hesitating if confronted by a threat, whether it’s human or not. Can I count on you?”
He swallowed hard. “You can,” he said after only a brief hesitation.
“Good,” I said, although not convinced. “And I meant that for all of you. This isn’t a game. Things can get serious real quick. Take a life to save your own.”
They were all silent, taking that in. I had no idea what they were all thinking, but I was pretty sure I’d made my point. I expected trouble and we needed to be prepared.
“How come they haven’t gotten up?” Alex asked. He came out of the driver’s side to stretch.
“I don’t really know. I think they…regenerate or something while they sleep. But they will wake if they hear a loud noise.”
I remembered the alarm at the Dunkin’ Donuts. The alarm had brought them running, just like a dinner bell.
“Should we kill them now, while they’re sleeping?” Charlie asked.
I had already considered this. My concern was that a gunshot would wake the others and possibly draw further unwanted attention. I didn’t want to make trouble; we wanted to avoid it if possible.
I shook my head. “No
t unless we have to. Keep your eyes on them. Iggy, let’s go.”
“With you,” Iggy said.
He carried his shotgun at the ready and followed, staying several steps behind and to my right. That was a good sign. He wasn’t crowding me and he kept his gun pointed safely away from me.
As we passed the blue vehicle, giving the crazy on the hood a wide berth, I focused my attention on the front of Kappy’s place. All of the lights burned brightly but the shades were pulled down. I could see clearly enough through the smoky plastic film to verify that no one moved around inside.
The front door was unlocked and that surprised me. Kappy had been vigilant and never would have left the door unlocked. I remembered him checking the lock often; something was definitely wrong.
“Keep your eyes open,” I told Iggy.
I pushed open the second interior door and stepped into the place. Iggy and I both stood still and looked around. The place definitely appeared empty. I listened carefully trying to capture any sound that might betray someone or something lying in wait, but I heard nothing.
“This is creepy,” Iggy said.
I didn’t say anything but I was thinking the same thing.
We crossed the main dining area and made our way toward the kitchen. My eyes kept moving from booth to booth, expecting someone or something to emerge from the confined space. Nothing did.
We stopped in the small corridor that led to the kitchen to our left. On our right were three doors—two restrooms and Kappy’s office—and straight ahead was the rear entrance.
I pointed toward Kappy’s office first and Iggy nodded his head. We moved together and I was happy to see that Iggy naturally turned to keep an eye on our six.
I pushed the door open slowly and entered the office. It was empty. Although a bit disorganized, everything seemed to be in order. Kappy’s personal bathroom was also empty.
Back in the hall we checked the bathrooms; both were empty. The smell of pine was strong. Kappy must have recently cleaned them.
Together we moved into the kitchen. The bright fluorescent lights gleaned off the stainless surfaces.
I found Kappy spread out on the green tiled floor, his back against one of the huge refrigerators. Dried blood covered his lips, chin, and neck, and his white apron was stained with it as well.
“No, Kappy,” I said.
I set my bag down on a chopping block and set my SKS beside it. Slowly I approached my friend and knelt down beside him.
“What are you doing?” Iggy whispered.
“Be quiet.”
Kappy was definitely infected. His eyes were closed but they moved quickly beneath his thin lids. He was dreaming. A long scar branded his neck from ear to shoulder, a dark scab formed around yellow pus. I was assaulted by the smell of feces and urine.
There was no way to know when Kappy had turned. It could have been after I’d left or it could have been much more recently. He didn’t appear to have any other marks on his body. Perhaps the scratch on his neck was the initiation point. My wife had been scratched by one of those things, too, and had become infected soon after.
“We should go,” Iggy said nervously.
He moved from side to side like a child who had to use the bathroom.
“Stop doing the pee-pee dance and call Charlie in here,” I said. I didn’t turn to see if Iggy obeyed my order. I heard the kitchen door swish open and then closed again. Now I was alone with Kappy. Well, I was alone with the thing that had once been a good friend to me.
“I’m so sorry, Kappy.”
I should have made him come with me. He’d be alive right now. Rage built up inside me and I did my best to push it away. Kappy had saved my life. He gave me food and shelter, gave me his damn Jeep. And then one of those Godforsaken things took his life.
I wanted something to strike. I wanted to step outside and lay waste to all of the crazies that slept outside, regenerating their rotten bodies. But those actions would not bring Kappy back. And I would probably end up getting someone hurt, or worse, dead.
The kitchen door swished open and I stood. Charlie stopped just within the threshold. His eyes were glued to Kappy.
“Don’t worry about him,” I said.
I walked over to the butcher block and leaned against the thick wood. Charlie continued to stare at Kappy for a moment longer and then he looked at me. “What are we doing, boss?”
“We’re going to take what we can from here. Kappy has a fat pantry and I know he wouldn’t mind if we borrowed some supplies.”
“Who’s Kappy?” Charlie asked.
I ignored his question. “Tell Iggy and Ken to join me in here. Have Alex and the rest of them get the truck ready to load. I want you on watch.”
“Whatever you say, boss.”
He remained in the kitchen a moment longer. His eyes went back to Kappy. “What about him?”
“I’ll take care of him. Do what I asked, Charlie.”
Without another word Charlie backed out of the kitchen and the door swished almost noiselessly in his wake.
While he was gone I started to go through Kappy’s kitchen and take inventory. There were two large pantries stacked high with canned and boxed goods. On stainless steel shelves stood huge jars of mayonnaise and mustard, enormous cans of tomato sauce and Ketchup. I might as well have been at my local Meijer.
I pulled open the walk-in freezer and stood speechless. The stainless steel walls gleamed under the light. The black metal shelves were piled with boxes of lamb, beef, pork and chicken. There were crates of fish, shrimp and shellfish on beds of ice. I saw several white five gallon buckets, plastic containers filled with pre-made sauces, sliced vegetables and stocks. This was much more than I expected to find and quite a wonderful surprise.
Iggy and Ken returned a short time later with a two-wheeler in tow. Under my direction the two men started stacking and porting supplies from Kappy’s kitchen back out to the UPS truck. I noted the pleasure in their eyes when I started pointing out boxes I wanted them to take.
We worked for the next twenty minutes in relative silence so that we would not wake the sleeping Kappy. It was a bit difficult maneuvering around his body but Iggy helped Ken move the butcher block and one of the other shelving units once we’d cleared it of its contents and that gave us the room we needed to avoid Kappy easily.
Once we had most of the dried goods carted away and stacked in the truck we started on the meats in the freezer. Iggy and Ken had just left to unload their haul of meats when I heard the horn blare sharply three times. I dropped the case of pork chops and sucked in a surprised breath.
Turning quickly, I ran from the freezer and stopped in my tracks. Kappy’s eyes were open and he stared straight ahead. As he turned his head to look at me I heard the first gunshot outside, followed closely by a series of shots.
Kappy looked at me with that dull look but his face didn’t change like the rest of them when they saw fresh meat. I don’t know if he recognized me; I thought that was pretty doubtful, but I held out hope.
“Kappy?”
At the sound of my voice Kappy’s eyes changed and he rolled sideways onto his knees. More gunfire erupted outside. I had no time for feelings right now.
“I’m sorry, Kappy.”
I pulled my 1911 from my hip holster and shot him twice in the top of his head. His body fell forward and I cringed at the cold, wet smacking sound his face made as his flesh struck the tile.
Without looking at my friend, I holstered the 1911, grabbed my go bag and SKS, and made for the parking lot, shouldering my bag. A moment later I slammed out the front door.
A shotgun blast to my immediate left drew my attention first. Charlie stood with his 870 and shot again from the hip as a group of four crazies rushed him. They’d been piled up next to the dumpster but now they rose up like an angry mob. Charlie shot again as I shouldered the SKS and started to fire into the approaching group.
Our shots were wild and within seconds the creatures were upon us. I
had just enough time to watch Charlie slam the butt of the 870 into the jaw of one of the crazies before I had my own troubles to worry about.
Shifting my grip on the SKS, I grabbed the barrel and swung my rifle like a baseball bat, connecting with my assailant’s face. The ugly bastard’s jaw shifted, hanging askew. He took two awkward steps backward but that gave me just enough time to pull my 1911 and fire two more shots into his brain.
I turned back to the group and fired the remainder of my rounds from the 1911. Two more went down and didn’t get back up.
Suddenly my body was jarred to the right as one of the dumpster monsters tackled me like a professional linebacker. I hit the ground forcefully, bit my tongue hard enough to draw blood, and smacked the side of my head against the black top. Although I’d lost my breath I had the presence of mind to grab the thing’s neck, just barely stopping it from taking a bite out of my face.
With all the strength I could muster, I choked the thing and pushed his head back at the same time. His eyes glared at me from behind thick, greasy bangs. His face was blood splattered and his breath stank like rotten meat. His teeth gnashed and clattered and he grunted as he fought against my death grip. My arms were aching and would fail me soon.
Although I was focused on my attacker I could hear other scuffles around me as my men fought for their lives. I thought I heard Iggy shout in pain. I even thought I heard a child crying out. I had to help them.
Yellow spit dripped down from the crazy’s lips and splashed on my neck. My stomach churned but I fought the urge to vomit.
With one last surge of adrenaline I dug down deep and pushed like I was bench pressing weights. I heard a deep grunt issue from down in my belly. I tried to twist to my side, hoping gravity would help get him off me but he was immovable.
Just as my grip loosened on his neck, the monster was tackled off me. Two bodies rolled to my right. I rolled with them, got to my knees quicker than I thought I was capable. Charlie had managed to get on the thing’s back, hooked it with a choke hold, and it was trying to stand.
Getting to my feet I yelled, “Get off, Charlie!”
He looked at me with wild eyes that seemed to ask ‘are you crazy?’ but he let go after only a moment’s hesitation. He obviously had no idea of my intentions.