“I wondered when you’d show up?” she smiled at him. He was gasping trying to catch his breath.
“How?” he managed.
“Easy. They walked up here like they owned the place. They weren’t armed. So, I fired a few rounds over their heads to get their attention. Then, I cuffed them. Then Wolf came in and drug the one on the left to the ground. Then, you showed up. I got this.” Katie explained, still smiling.
“Well, you’re quite the bitch, ain’t you?” The older one said.
“I’ve been told that. I get it from my dad. You’re going to love him when he gets here.” Katie said. Zack took off his gear and dropped the weapons. It took a couple of minutes before he was able to talk.
“I thought I told you to stay away.” Zack told them.
“Yeah, well we was thinkin’ you’re hiding something.” The second one said. Zack took a closer look, the second was younger and obviously, the daughter.
“True, I am. I’m hiding what we have because it’s not your business.” Zack told them and looked at Katie, “Take Kenna into the house so that I can shoot these two and be done with them.”
“We didn’t hurt nothin’. Please, mister, why do you wanna kill us?” the older one asked.
“I don’t, that’s why I didn’t just shoot you this morning. Damn. Why didn’t you listen to me?” Zack asked.
“We was looking for that no-good husband of mine and his even less good sons.” The older replied.
“Why?” Zack asked.
“That’s kinda personal, mister, and we don’t know you that well.” The younger one piped up.
“Humor me. I’d like to know what was so damned important about them that it was worth dying over.” Zack squatted and looked them into the eye. He wanted answers before he made up his mind about these two.
“Well, it’s hard to explain.” The younger one said, lowering her eyes to the ground.
“Try it. The truth may set you free.” Zack said.
“I’ll tell you!” the older one spoke up, “That bastard and his boys were having their way with us! He wasn’t like that when I married him, but he changed. What we was wanting to make sure of is that maybe they were gone.”
“Wait, what?” Zack was unsure he’d heard correctly.
“It was either that or they’d beat us.” The younger one said, “Step-father shouldn’t want to have sex with his step-daughter.”
“Dude, that’s just disgusting!” Zack swore, “Are you telling me the truth, because if not, I’ll shoot you and leave you in a ditch.”
“They wouldn’t care. I heard them talking the other night about raping some woman.” The older said.
“This is bullshit.” Zack said, stood, walked behind the women and drew out the Ka-bar fighting knife his father-in-law had given him.
Walt and Tanith
Hardin County, TN
Walt slowly woke up and didn’t know why. The sun beaming through the small sunroof told him that it was afternoon, yet aside from the drumming of the boat’s diesels and a small rocking motion, nothing had changed. Then it dawned on him what his senses were trying desperately to tell him; the boat was underway. Tanith handed him a cup of coffee as he made his way past the galley.
“Thanks, I need this.” He kissed her and made his way up to the flybridge where Norm was navigating around a bend in the river. He looked over at Walt and nodded.
“Where are we?” Walt asked, standing against the rail and sipping his coffee.
“We’re about an hour out of our first hurdle; Pickwick Dam.” Norm told him.
“That didn’t take long.” Walt replied and Norm chuckled.
“You do realize you slept about six hours and we’ve been running pretty fast the whole time you were out?” Norm asked and Walt was shocked.
“I didn’t even know we were moving until I woke up. Do you have any idea why the GPS still works?” Walt asked.
“I wondered that very same thing aloud a little earlier and your son, Nate, explained that the satellites are hardened against solar flares, so the EMP thing didn’t even phase them. If that’s the case, then most other satellites are still running as well.” Norm explained. Walt nodded. It made sense. It also made sense that Nate would know that.
“We need to come up with a plan for Pickwick.” Walt said.
“Your dad and I were discussing it. There are several marinas in Pickwick Lake, so there should be plenty of options. The problem is going to be getting to them. If worse comes to worse, we’ll have to walk it. That could take some time and more importantly, we’ll have to leave what we can’t carry.” Norm said and Walt grunted. That was going to suck because it would mean leaving most of their supplies behind and he had a feeling that they were going to need it.
“There’s got to be a way.” Walt said and went to find Nate. If anyone could come up with ideas, it was usually Nate.
When he asked his son about the problem, Nate, who’d been working with a couple of dead cellphones, paused for a minute.
“It would help if there was power in the lock system. I watched them run through a complete cycle a couple of years ago on a field trip.” Nate said and Walt got excited because he knew that Nate, much like his Grandpa Brad, never really forgot much thanks to some form of eidetic memory crossed with something called hyperthymesia. With an eidetic memory, commonly called a photographic memory, a person can recall things after barely glancing at them. Hyperthymesia is when a person can recall every single day of their lives. While neither Brad nor Nate were extreme cases of either, they displayed a lot of both. The specialist that Brad had seen had told him that it was like he was a human VCR, except that he could recall things at will. Specific things. The guy had wanted to do a study, but Brad wouldn’t have it.
To some people, having such a thing was a gift, but to Brad it was a big curse because not only could he not forget the good things, like when his mom bought something called Fizzies, that made water a flavor carbonated drink on the same day that he and his brothers launched water rockets from the front yard in the 1960’s, but also the bad days, like when his best friend was ran over from his father’s car or getting picked on from the neighborhood bully. In this case though, with Nate, it might turn into a plus, if they could determine whether or not the lock controls still had power.
Walt ate an MRE and mulled over their current situation. If they couldn’t get the lock to work, for whatever reason, then they would lose some supplies and be on foot. Not a good place to be with a baby and young kids in a world full of whatever it was that was making people completely insane. There was too much risk of being attacked by one or more of them and it would be impossible to try and run. To Walt, their only choices were to try and get the lock working or find a running vehicle, and neither seemed very likely.
Going back up to the flybridge, he found Norm sipping on a cup of coffee and monitoring the controls. Taking a seat on the L-shaped bench seat, Walt looked out over the water.
“So, how many more dams do we have to go through?” he asked Norm.
“Well, after Pickwick, there’s Wilson, Wheeler, Guntersville, Nickajack, and finally Chichmauga, in Chattanooga. So, five more times.” Norm looked over his shoulder at Walt, “Don’t look so down; we can do this. I figure, if we have to put ashore at Pickwick, that inflatable boat you see back there will be just the ticket. Might have to make two runs to get everybody and some supplies, but it’s doable.”
Walt thought about it and nodded. He hoped that wouldn’t be necessary.
“I talked to Nate. He went on a field trip and watched them run through a couple of lock cycles.” Walt said.
“So?” Norm asked.
“So, Nate has an eidetic mind. He remembers things in detail.” Walt answered. Nor looked at him and scrunched up his forehead.
“Kinda like one of those photographic memory things?” Norm asked.
“Very much like it. All he had to do was see them do it once and the entire procedure was memorized. He saw
it twice, so I’m positive that he knows how to work it. But it’s only if the dam has power.” Walt said and Norm sipped on his coffee and thought for a moment.
“Even if the turbines were fried, and hopefully not all of them were online, they probably have some sort of backup power.” Norm said and then thought about it some more.” You know, if this works at Pickwick, it should work at the others. The Tennessee Valley Authority built and runs those dams. If memory serves me right, they’re all hydroelectric. If this works, we could take the river past Chattanooga.”
“How far past?” Walt asked and Norm shrugged.
“Past Knoxville.” Norm said.
“We don’t need to go that far.” Walt said and Norm went below and quickly returned with a road atlas and flipped through it to Tennessee.
“Where did you say your father-in-law lives?” Norm asked.
“Cleveland, just east of Chattanooga.” Walt found it and pointed it out on the map. Norm fished through the Tennessee River Navigational Charts, from the Army corps of Engineers until he found what he was looking for.
“We’d better hope Nate can actually do this and that we can gets the locks working. From what I see here, we follow the river to where the Hiwassee empties into it, then take the Hiwassee straight into Bradley County and into Cleveland.” Norm said and Walt leaned over his shoulder and looked at the map.
“Be a hell of a lot easier, and safer.” He commented.
“Providing the dams aren’t over-ran with infected.” Norm reminded him.
Fifteen minutes later they rounded a bend in the river to see the concrete monstrosity of Pickwick dam staring them in the face.
Walt spotted the locks right away, there were two of them; a large one that was obviously for barge traffic, and a smaller to the right, next to the shore, for smaller craft. Norm spotted it too and slowed the boat as he steered if that way. Walt went below and retrieved some weapons for he and Norm and reminded everyone to grab theirs, just in case.
Fortunately for them, the lower gate, the one they’d be entering, was open, so all Norm had to do was ease the big boat in, bringing it to a stop in the middle. Walt spotted a metal ladder built into the wall to allow access that also had a ledge with a cleat on it for tying off boats. Walt pointed to it and ran to the bow of the boat to secure a line to it. Norm easily guided the boat over as Walt tossed over a foam fender to keep the boat from crashing into it and secured a line to the cleat quickly. Tim and Lexi saw what their father was doing and quickly did the same with the midships and aft fenders. Norm secured the engines and kept the generator running.
Making his way into the salon, Walt found everyone waiting on him. Why he was the assumed leader was beyond him and he didn’t like it, but he went ahead anyway.
“Okay, I’m going to climb the ladder and scout around. Dad, do you want to follow me and secure the ladder?” he asked and Paul nodded.
“Lexi and I can follow Grandpa and make sure the crazy people stay away. No offense, Grandpa, but we’re better shots.” Tim smiled and everyone chuckled.
“That works. Then Nate comes up after them and we make our way to the lock house.” Walt said.
“What do you want me to do?” Norm asked.
“What I’d really like you to do is stay with the boat, just in case this all goes to shit, but I just might need some mechanical assistance so, your choice.” Walt said.
“In that case, I’m following Nate. If it starts going to shit, I’ll di di mau back here as fast as my old ass can move and get the boat out of here.” Norm said.
“Hopefully, it won’t go that way, but I agree. Tim and Lex, you guys make sure he gets back here and then get the hell out of Dodge. Radios, everyone.” Walt said and the pair nodded.
Walt slung his rifle across his back and started ascending the ladder, hoping like hell there wasn’t anyone waiting at the top. He quickly scaled the ladder and brought the rifle around to bear, but found no targets. He signaled Lexi and she started up the ladder while he covered the area. The thousand waiting insane people he’d envisioned in his mind’s eye failed to produce themselves, but that didn’t make him feel any better about it.
Lexi was suddenly at his side, followed almost immediately by Tim. They both instantly took a knee and started covering the area, their rifles following their heads. Walt leaned over the side and signaled Nate to head up. Nate quickly climbed the rungs and was on top in a flash, anxious to get this done. Paul was next and Walt realized it was getting a little crowded. Norm followed Paul, as planned, but it took him a little longer, thanks to an aggravated hip that he knew would have to be replaced if the world ever returned to normal.
The space between the lock and the building that controlled it was a little over a hundred feet and Walt led the way in a low walk, followed by Paul. Walt had whispered for Nate to stay where he was until they at least had the control room secured. Walt made it to the door and ducked down beneath the sight of the door’s only window, with Paul piling up on the other side. Walt placed his hand on the door knob and was surprised when it twisted, apparently unlocked. Suddenly he really wished he’d taken the time to take a leak before climbing the ladder. He looked at his dad and counted to three with his fingers and quickly yanked the door open. His father rushed into the room, covering all areas, followed immediately by Walt.
Surprisingly, the room was void of anyone. Walt and his father quickly cleared the two offices, the breakroom and the bathrooms before coming back to the main control room. Walt opened the door and motioned for Nate and Norm to hurry, providing coverage until they made it. Once they were in, Walt locked the door behind them and grabbed for the radio clipped to his belt.
“Okay, we’re in. We cleared the building and there’s no one else here. Give us a few to figure things out.” He radioed.
“Take your time, dad.” Lexi responded sarcastically and Walt grinned. Teenagers, always in a damned hurry except when you wanted them to do something.
Norm started looking around and immediately spotted a metal file cabinet with a horizontal door that flipped upwards and then back, except this one was open to reveal several thick printout folders that proclaimed to be barge and boat passing’s. At the far right a thick red notebook sat with EMERGENCY written on its bind in dark marker. He quickly snatched the book out and started reading through it.
A scream pierced the silence, it wasn’t close but it didn’t sound like it was that for either. Walt’s radio crackled.
“Did you guys hear that?” Lexi asked.
“We heard it. Keep your eyes peeled and let us know if you see anyone.” Walt answered.
“It says here that the locks have an emergency generator that’s not set to go off when the power dies.” Norm said.
“Why not?” Paul asked and Norm shrugged.
“Just a guess, but I’d say they’d only fire it up during a power outage if they needed to use the locks. There would be no need to have an auto start. Waste of fuel.” Norm said and Paul agreed that it made sense.
“Let’s just hope that it didn’t get fried.” Walt said.
Nate thumbed through the notebook, carefully scanning each page. Another scream, this one closer.
“Might want to hurry up in there.” Tim radioed.
“See anything?” Walt asked.
“There’s a group of people walking down the road, but they aren’t close yet.” Tim answered.
“But they’re headed this way?” Walt asked.
“Yep. I can’t tell if they’re any of those crazy people.” Tim answered.
“Don’t shoot until you know for sure! I’ll be right out!” Walt said and left the small group to figure it out while he went to cover his oldest kids.
A short jog took him to where Tim and Lexi had taken a knee and were watching the approaching group. He sighed as he took a knee next to them.
“You know, one of you should be aware of your surroundings while the other watches the group.” He admonished.
“We�
�re aware, dad.” Lexi said as she stared down her rifle’s scope.
“And?” he asked.
“Still not sure.” Tim answered.
“One way to find out.” Walt said as he sighted in to the right of the approaching group and squeezed off a round. The round impacted the road in front of the group, which stopped immediately. Walt waited to see what they were going to do for a few seconds and seeing them doing nothing, started to stand. An older woman from the back of the group let out the blood curdling scream and the group started running straight at Walt. Walt was re-aiming at the front of the group when Tim and Lexi opened fire, startling Walt and causing him to miss. Requiring the target, he dropped the man and went to sight in on another when he noticed that all the targets were down. He Lowered the rifle and looked at his kids.
“Thanks guys. Now we’ve got to hurry, pretty sure that’s going to draw some attention. You guys keep watch, I’m going to see what’s going on.” He’d taken three steps when he heard a deep rumble from somewhere underneath the parking lot. Hoping it was the generator, he trotted toward the door.
Once inside he found a very happy Norm, Nate was acting like it was no big deal, as he flipped the switches to close the lower gates.
“I can’t believe he did it!” Norm exclaimed.
“I can’t believe that the generator worked.” Walt said. Just as Nate was reaching for the controls to raise the water in the lock Norm stopped him.
“I need to get back to the boat and redo those lines first. We’re tied to a cleat that’ll likely pull the one on the boat off. Or worse.” He started making his way to the door when Walt told him to radio when it was done. Norm nodded and continued out the door.
Walt kept looking out through the windows, knowing that at any minute someone, infected or not, was bound to show up after all the shots they’d fired. Nate stayed at the control console, patiently waiting.
Three Days From Home Page 21