Mad Swine: The Beginning

by Steven Pajak

  As the crazy turned on Charlie, I loosed a war cry and charged the monster. I built as much speed as I could in the short distance, tucked my shoulder at just the right moment and slammed into him. We both left the ground for a moment, carried by the force of momentum. The dirty thing flew into the blue sedan, bounced off the right fender and rolled to the side.

  Although I stumbled, through luck or the graces of some unknown deity, I managed to keep my feet under me. In one fluid movement, more graceful than I thought myself capable of, I took a giant jump step and kicked the thing as hard as I could. I felt his ribs crack against my shin and pain reverberated up my knee, into my thigh.

  The thing rolled and I kicked him again and again. I went for the head next, punted him between the eyes. His neck snapped back by the force of the blow but still he was breathing. Out of breath now, but my rage still burning, I grabbed it by its filthy jacket and pulled him to his feet. I swung him with all my force, really putting my body weight into it, and slammed him headfirst into the grille of the sedan.

  Grunting like one of the crazies, I pulled him back, ready for another round. I saw that the skin of his forehead had peeled back, and white bone poked through. His left eye was a bloody mess. I was out of control and I couldn’t stop myself. And then Charlie rescued me again. He grabbed me from behind and held tight even as I tried to throw him off.

  “It’s me boss,” he yelled. “It’s Charlie!”

  I ignored him. When he’d first jumped me, my grip had loosened on the crazy. The thing was now trying to crawl away from me. I reached out and snaked one of its ankles and tried to pull him back.

  Charlie got his arm around me in a chokehold. He was still screaming in my ear, “Stop it, Matt, let him go!”

  I fought to keep hold of the thing but I was winded and my body was too exhausted to cooperate. Finally, I went to my knees and then bent forward on my hands.

  I sucked in great gobs of air, and I felt Charlie’s arms unlock.

  “Mike, kill that,” Charlie ordered. On his knees next to me he squeezed my shoulder and said, “Take it easy, boss. We got them. Just relax.”

  I pushed him away. “Watch the road.” My voice was thick and my throat burned something fierce.

  Charlie hesitated and then got to his feet. He said, “Iggy, watch the road. Ken, you and Mike check our perimeter and make sure we’re clear.”

  I tried to stand but my legs were shaky. When Charlie offered me help, instead of childishly pushing him away again, I let him steady me.

  I took another deep breath and walked over to where my weapons lay on the ground. I picked up the 1911 and popped in a new magazine before holstering it. I tossed the empty into my go bag and snatched up my SKS.

  My body swooned a bit. My face was hot, sweat dripped down from my temples and neck, my legs ached, and every time I took a breath, a stitch tore at my left flank. I rubbed my eyes with my forearm and finally took a look around.

  Dead bodies littered Kappy’s parking lot. By my count, at least twelve crazies were finally put to rest, including our friend who’d been sleeping on the hood of the sedan.

  “Sound off,” I said, my voice a bit too loud.

  “Iggy okay.”

  “Charlie okay.”

  “Mike okay.”

  “Ken okay.”

  “John okay.”

  “Alex, all good.”

  I nodded my head. All of my men were unscathed. A shaky sigh escaped me. Still trying to get myself under control, I walked over toward the truck.

  To Charlie I said, “What happened?”

  Charlie shot Alex a dirty look before finally turning to me. “I was helping load the truck and John shouted that someone was coming. I dropped what I was doing and I saw those people approaching.”

  Charlie nodded to my right and I looked in that direction. I hadn’t seen them until now. A man, woman and young boy sat on the ground next to a tipped shopping cart. The boy was huddled against the woman. The man was holding a dirty piece of cloth against his head. They all looked at me with fear in their eyes.

  Charlie continued. “I shouted for them to stop and not come closer. They kept coming anyway. I hit the guy to let him know I was serious. I had it under control. Then this…guy over here starts blowing the horn and woke the dead.”

  “He told us to blow the horn if we saw anything,” Alex said, jumping down from the truck. His face was pale and his hands were shaking.

  “I told you I had this under control,” Charlie said turning on the man. Although Alex was bigger than Charlie, I saw fear in Alex’s eyes.

  “Okay, okay, guys, cool it,” I said. “We’ll talk about this later. Right now we need to get this truck loaded and moving. Charlie, send Iggy, Mike and John to get the rest of that meat loaded. Alex, make sure our load is evenly distributed.”

  After staring daggers at Alex for another few seconds, Charlie turned away. Alex stood where he was, absently scratching his beard.

  “Go on, Alex,” I said. As he started to move I called to him, “And do me a favor?”

  He turned back expectantly. “Sure.”

  “Shave that damn beard.”

  After a second his hand slowly dropped to his side and he smiled. “Yes, dear,” he said and went on about his assigned task.

  I dug into my bag and pulled out a bottle of Mountain Spring water and approached the trio. They were obviously scared and I tried my best not to look menacing. I kneeled in front of them and held out the bottle of water to the child. He was about six or seven years old, just about my daughter’s age. His dirty blond bangs hung down over his brown eyes, which shifted to his mother for a moment and then locked on mine.

  “It’s okay,” I urged gently. “Take it.”

  I smiled at him as his hand slowly reached out and took it. He tried to open it and after a few seconds his mother reached down and helped him.

  To the man I said, “Where did you come from?”

  He pulled the cloth away from his forehead exposing a cut above his right eye where Charlie had struck him. “We came from Route 59.”

  I looked at the shopping cart. It was from Wal-Mart. “You came from the mall?”

  The man nodded. He prodded his cut again with the cloth and then finally put the dirty rag into his coat pocket.

  “Are there still supplies there?” I asked.

  He shook his head.

  “We’re not going to hurt you.”

  The man just looked at me.

  “What’s your name?”

  He hesitated. “Ron.”

  “And what’s your name, buddy?” I asked the boy. He held the water bottle close to him as if it could protect him.

  “Wesley,” he said in a small voice that reminded me of my son Mark.

  God, I missed Mark’s little voice so much.

  “You’re a brave kid, Wesley.” I smiled at him. I wanted to hug him and tell him I’d protect him, that I wouldn’t let the bad things get him.

  He’s not Mark, I told myself.

  “And your name?” I asked the woman.

  “I’m Anna.” She hugged Wesley closer to her bosom.

  I turned back to question the man. “Okay, Ron. May I ask why you approached my men?”

  Again he hesitated. Before he could respond Anna said, “We’re hungry.”

  Ron glared at her.

  “Why are you wandering out here?” I asked. “It’s dangerous, as you can see.”

  Anna ignored her husband’s angry eyes and said, “We were visiting from Wisconsin. We…lost our car. We haven’t eaten in a while now. We just want to go home.”

  I felt sad for these people. I remembered how I felt when this all started. I’d been away from my family, away from home. All I could think about was getting back to them and getting home. I’d made it, although my family had not.

  These people had no shot at getting back to their home. Although the roads were clear on Route 20, I very much doubted the highways would be. And Wisconsin was a long w
ay away.

  Standing up, I righted the shopping cart and started to pick up the few supplies they had and put them back in. The man stood, too, but he only watched me with weary eyes.

  When I was finished I said, “Why don’t you go inside? There’s food in there.”

  They all just looked at me as if they didn’t comprehend my words.

  I held out my hand to the boy. I said, “Come on.” To my surprise he took my hand. As we walked I looked over my shoulder to see that Mom and Dad were following. Charlie looked at me curiously as we passed him and entered Kappy’s. I winked at him to let him know everything was okay.

  I herded them into one of the booths that Kappy and I had sat in a few days before. Under the bright lights I could see that the family was exhausted. I had no idea how long they’d been out on the road but that sort of living had taken its toll on them, for sure.

  “Ron, come with me a second,” I said.

  He slid out of the booth and followed me toward the kitchen. Mike and John passed us with a stacked two-wheeler. Iggy must be in the kitchen deciding what to load up next.

  We stopped at one of the tables closest to the kitchen and sat down. Ron was nervous and he had every right to be. He’d risked his family by revealing themselves to a group of armed men. He had to have been desperate, though, or his better senses would have kept them behind cover until we’d gone.

  “How long has it been since you’ve eaten?” I asked.

  Ron shrugged his shoulders and looked down at the table.

  “Tell me how long, Ron.”

  He looked up at me. “Three days now. I think.”

  I let out my breath between clenched teeth. I knew what I had to do here.

  “Ron, would you and your family like to come with us?”

  His eyes shifted to his family, then back to me and then down at the table. His breathing increased and I could see his wheels were turning. He had shown poor judgment in exposing his family to me and my men, and he probably didn’t want to make that mistake again.

  “What do I have to give in return?” he asked finally.

  “You’ll have to contribute to the community,” I said.

  He eyed me cautiously. “Would my family be safe?”

  “As safe as the rest of us.” I didn’t understand his question.

  His eyes squinted and his forehead creased. “The men won’t hurt my wife? They won’t touch Wesley?”

  “No, of course not.”

  My stomach churned at the man’s implications. I was almost insulted, but the guy had been through a lot and I immediately forgave him.

  “Ron, I don’t know what you’ve been through but we’re not that kind of people. I personally guarantee you that no one will hurt your family. You’ll have a place to live and food to eat. All we ask in return is that you stand with us and defend the community.”

  Tears started to fall from his eyes. His hands clasped each other. He was clearly a man without options; his fate, as well as that of his wife and child, was now in the hands of strangers.

  “Are there other families there?” Ron asked finally. Tears continued to roll down his cheeks.

  “Yes,” I said. “There are a few kids Wesley’s age. I know some people who will gladly take you in, two nice women who will be happy if you and your family stayed with them.”

  I truly had no idea how Kat and Sam would feel about me volunteering them to adopt this family but I strongly suspected they’d be open to the idea. I knew I could find other alternatives if they weren’t. Whatever it took, we needed to help these people.

  “Why are you doing this?” Ron asked.

  He wiped the tears from his cheeks and looked into my eyes. For the first time I saw something other than fear in his eyes. Perhaps a glimmer of hope.

  “I had a family, too,” I said. “I lost them to those things out there. I know that my wife and my children would want me to do this because it’s the right thing to do.”

  Ron reached across the table and grabbed my hand. Dirt and grime covered his thin fingers but his grip was strong.

  “You are an angel,” he said.

  I shook my head. “I’m just a man who believes in doing what’s right.”

  I stood up from the table and Ron got to his feet as well.

  “Come on in the kitchen and get something to eat for your family and think about my offer. I really hope you come with us, Ron.”

  He followed me into the kitchen and spent the next few minutes in the refrigerators preparing a quick meal for his family while I spent the next half hour checking on the loading process and generally making sure things were going smoothly.

  Charlie had taken up sentry duty. He wandered over toward the old John Deere, clearly still upset with Alex. Although we’d made it through unharmed, things could just as easily have gone the other way. I knew that bothered him. I decided he needed some time alone so I let him be.

  Alex took to his task of organizing the load. His years of experience certainly paid off. We’d hit the mother lode at Kappy’s. As more and more boxes were rolled out I started to worry we’d run out of space. But with simple reorganization, Alex easily cleared up the space we needed.

  Kappy’s had not been on my list of places to visit on our supply run, but now that we were here it certainly changed my plans. I had once said I was optimistic, but I realized now that I’d been too unrealistic. Originally I thought we’d make one good supply run and get enough supplies to last us for a while, maybe until this damn thing was over. I saw now that we’d have to make a series of supply runs over the next couple of weeks if we were even going to put a dent in the lists that Kat and Ravi put together.

  We were fairly well off on our food supply now, thanks to Kappy, but we had no medical supplies. I also promised Bob I’d look into some weapons and ammo but that had to be scratched. There was no room for anything else and I didn’t want to test my luck on Route 59 tonight.

  I’d also have to figure a way to get some larger vehicles to haul our supplies, too. Thinking back to the trucks I’d seen at the Providence roadblock we were again woefully underprepared, and that fact reflected poorly on me. I was their leader and I needed to get my shit together and start thinking more clearly. This shit was really happening and things were going to get worse before they got better. This shit was real.

  About two hours after leaving our home, we were ready to head back. Our supply run, although not a complete success, was far from a failure. There was that.

  I was happy to see that Ron and family had gathered their meager belongings and sat waiting for me by the blue sedan. When I approached, Ron put down the bag he’d been holding and came forward to meet me.

  “We’d like to come, if your offer still stands,” he said.

  I smiled. “Of course. We’re glad to have you.”

  He got choked up again and tears formed in the corner of his eyes. Before he broke down I grabbed his shoulder and gave it a good squeeze.

  “Don’t give it any more thought. Be strong for your boy. You’ll be helping us as much as we’re helping you.”

  Now he smiled for the first time. When he smiled, his whole face lit up and did my heart some good.

  “Get them in the truck,” I said to him. I turned around and addressed the men. “Listen up everyone. This is Ron, Anna, and that handsome little fellow there is Wesley. They’re going to be joining us. Make them feel welcome.”

  The men clapped them on the back and gave Wesley high fives as the family made their way to the UPS truck. Once they were in, the rest of my guys clambered in after them. It was a tight fit with all of the supplies but they managed.

  Before I stepped up into the truck Charlie touched my elbow. I turned to face him.

  “Sorry I let things get out of control, boss.”

  “Don’t apologize, Charlie. You were great. Even when things fell apart you handled it well. You got the job done. You saved my ass.”

  “You saved mine first,” he said.


  “Then we’re even.”

  His eyes glanced over toward the new members of our community that now sat in the back of the truck. When he looked at me again, he said, “I think you did a good thing, boss.”

  “You too, Charlie. You didn’t shoot them.”

  Soon we were on the road again. As Alex drove us down the all-too-quiet Route 20, Ron told us about his experience with a group of men who’d blocked Route 20 where it intersected with Route 59. He told us they’d taken his car and supplies and that he and his family barely escaped. The men had tried to have their way with Anna.

  As he spoke, I felt anger again creeping up inside and I cursed myself for feeling this way. I had never felt hatred so strongly in all my life.

  Since my wife had died and my children had been torn apart by their teacher, my view of the world had changed. So had my emotions. I didn’t like the person I had become.

  CHAPTER 14:

  Demand

  Comedian stood in front of us with both hands raised and outstretched. He stood about fifteen feet ahead of the Providence roadblock and he didn’t look pleased to see us. Two men stood behind him on either side. Both men had AR-15 carbines but Comedian seemed to be unarmed.

  Although the roadblock had been busy earlier just before we’d left, it was deserted now. The three large SUV’s cut across Route 20, blocking the entrance to Providence’s main access road as well as access to our own community.

  There was no way around, at least not by vehicle. On foot you’d have to navigate thick trees and ponds. If you did make it to Randall Oaks, you’d have to scale the eight foot brick fence that surrounded our community.

  “What the hell is he doing?” Alex asked. He slowed the UPS truck to about five miles an hour before finally coming to a stop just a few yards from where the men stood.

  “I don’t know,” I said.

  I had an idea, though, and I didn’t like it.

  All evening something had bothered me about the way they’d lined up the trucks and then diverted them onto the access road. Phil had been cryptic in his answer, but he confirmed that they had not all been Providence vehicles.