Eric found a place to wait and watch. He was pretty proud that he had been able to provide some meat for the family in the past few months. Turned out, he was a pretty sure shot. Who would have ever thought, that his two little girls being able to eat would depend on his hunting skills? He settled in.
The edge of the patch of woods and the open meadow beyond were barely within Lee's view. There was an owl hooting, somewhere in the trees. In the morning quiet, he thought he heard something else. Is that voices? It was muffled and distant but it did sound like voices. He moved a little closer to where the woods opened up into the meadow. The grasses were tall, still golden brown, the early Spring had not greened up the wild growth. Coming across the meadow, high-stepping the grass, was a male and female. They were holding hands and came near enough now for him to see them better. The male was heavily tattooed. The female's hair was lank and dirty looking and spilled down her back. They stopped, smiled and kissed. They dropped down into the grass, no longer visible but Lee recognized the familiar sounds of laughter and lovemaking. The slim stalks swept around them. Lee remained still, after a while he saw a puff of smoke rising. The two, a little breathless, were talking again. He could hear them pretty clearly now. The male voice spoke, “Remember, I told you I saw some smoke coming from those houses on the other side of the church lot?”
“Yeah, you think there are people in there?” said, the female.
The man said between puffs, “Oh, there's someone in there, aw-right”.
“But, I thought the military cleared that place out not long ago,” she said.
“They did, I have seen all the X's on the doors. Somebody didn't go or has moved in,” he said.
“Are you gonna tell your brother and the others?”
Another puff of smoke floats up, “Don't know.”
A thin female hand raked across the tops of the grass. Her voice was a little quieter, “Well, I think you should keep your mouth shut. You know the military took anything that could be useful. Something else, some of us saw those bodies that were dumped on the far side of the church, and they didn't look like the first ones. We don't know where they came from. Those people in the division are probably not defenseless. If you go blabbing on about the place there will be questions asked, like what were we doing around there.”
Nothing said, for a bit. The male said, “You might be right. Anyways, we are set up good over there where we are. The military never raided that area. Those big ole' fancy houses still have plenty of goodies. Them that gave us trouble, we took care of, didn't we Babe?” There was more laughter and the two got up and dusted off the grass. He slapped her butt and they started moving away. Lee's mind clicked away. He had learned some things being in a combat zone with desperate people. You couldn't trust, what only your eyes could see. Sometimes the evil and degradation of humans was upholstered in the most normal looking skins.
He looked beyond them where they were headed. A small development of very large and expensive homes rose up where the open meadow ended. From the eavesdropped conversation he gathered that a group of survivors had taken up residence there. They were not a threat, right then, that could change in a blink. It would probably be a smart move, to do a little re-con and try to find out how many were in this group. He would need to talk about it with Jack and the others. There was a quick movement a few feet behind him. He turned in time to see a doe leaping along, he had no time to get a shot at her. Shortly, he heard a shot and he turned back to the meadow. The two lovebirds stopped for a moment and listened, then jogged on towards the luxury homes.
He moved back deeper into the woods, took out his walkie-talkie, “Tate, was that your shot? Did you take down the doe?”
Tate replies, “Yeah, I got her, Lee. Will you come over and help me field dress her. I will tell Eric to go get the mower and trailer so we can haul her back to the compound”.
“Sure, be there shortly,” was the reply.
Jack, an avid hunter, had always been meticulous about the way he did the field dressing of a deer. When it was done right, there was very little of a gamey taste. He had passed along his tips to the other men. They were becoming quite competent at dressing out a kill so that the family had good tasting fresh venison. The day was still young. However, it would take a good part of it to load and haul the kill and get it butchered and wrapped. By noon, Beth had a large pot on the cooker, some of the fresh meat simmered away. Later, when it had slow cooked to tenderness she added onions that they grew in the garden. She made brown gravy from a dried mix to smother the meat & onions in, with rice and some canned vegetables it would be a hearty meal. She was always pleased when they could get some protein, other than beans.
***
There was a lengthy discussion among the men, concern expressed after hearing Lee's report of possible trouble lurking nearby. Also, there was the news that was relayed to them about the gang that was operating in the northern part of the city. Once again, this was all brought up in a meeting that included everyone in the compound. There was no room for shielding the women or even younger residents from the threats that existed in this After world. Danger was something that each and every one of them had to be aware of and be prepared to confront.
Beth spoke up, “These things most certainly give me reason for concern. As long as there is no law out there, there will continue to be bad guys. They will find each other and they will join together. It's like one evil person is a magnet for others. We do know that there are many survivors who are only interested in sustaining themselves and their families. They do not wish any harm to anyone else. I know our numbers here are small. There is Jack's old fireman friend, Joel, back behind us. The friends at the lake are too far away to be helpful. But, they told us about that group from their church, that is only about three miles from us. Remember, we bartered a little with them a couple of months ago. I believe they have a few more folks in their group than we do. My point is...and believe me, I hate to say this...it may become necessary to try and form some sort of militia. Maybe we will only be able to keep the thugs out beyond certain boundaries. I believe if we do not band together for the good, the mayhem will eventually take over.”
There was a some fear laced chatting between all of the family. Jack gave Beth a look that conveyed all of his unspoken words, Oh, God, I wish we were not having this conversation and I did not have to see the fear in your eyes for this family. He smiled at her and said to everyone. “It is always smart for us to be thinking ahead and trying to head off any trouble. I am proud of the job we have been doing to keep us safe. We are going to continue that with perhaps a new determination. Meanwhile, we will start to reach out to those we can trust and discuss this militia feasibility. Lee, I think you are on target about checking out that nearby group, we need to have a handle on what we are up against. Will you plan that reconnaissance trip and choose who and how many you will need to help?”
Lee said, “You bet, Jack. I will get right on that.”
Jack continued, “Trish, would you tell everyone what you were talking to me about, yesterday.”
The family was sitting on the sofa and chairs, the younger ones scattered around the rug covered floor. Trish leaned forward a bit from her seat, Eric patted her leg and sat back. “I was telling Daddy,” she said, “I remember that there is a huge Walmart distribution plant about forty miles south. You know, it is a few miles out from Palville. That's the only city of any size, between us and there. It is not near as big as this one. It will be a risk, there might not be a thing left inside, it might be burnt to the ground. There might be people inside, like at the warehouse. Just think though, about what might be still there. In order to not go far out of our way, we will have to go through that town or at least around the city loop. There is a U-haul rental place where you get on the loop, we can pick up a trailer...”
Eric said, “We better take some bolt cutters and tools.”
“Does this sound like a good idea to everyone?” said Jack.
> There is a unanimous, Yes.
“Great”, said Jack, “I think some of the women need to go along. They think of things that the guys just don't. Beth and I will go. Trish, I need you to go, you are familiar with the layout and workings of a big warehouse. I will leave it up to you two. I suggest, because you and Eric have the young girls, that he stays. Dianne and Jason, your kids are not babies, you could come along. Dane and Cody are the oldest of the boys, I would like for you to go. That will make seven of us. One of the boys will have to ride in the back of the War Wagon.”
No one was raising an argument. “Lee, that will leave plenty of help here with security and you can be planning that re-con trip. If we leave right at dawn tomorrow we should be able to get back before dark. I want to get this trip made while things seem pretty calm around the area. Lynn, I know you and Kat and Shawna can handle the work of the day. You will have the boys to help. And Lynn...”
“I know, Daddy. Shoot first and ask questions later”.
Everyone laughed, but Lynn looked dead serious with her hand on her hip. When the big event was fresh she had a bad experience. She knew it had been fortunate for her and her girls, that her dad and Lee had arrived when they did. She would never let a nasty dirt bag get close to her again.
The plan was set for the scavenging trip to Walmart. Dianne thought, better catch the journal up tonight, lots of stuff going on. And anytime a big expedition was undertaken, there was inevitably stories to tell afterward.
Chapter Two
ADVENTURES AT WALMART
They waited until the sun was just peeping above the horizon. Trish kissed Eric and the girls, “See you this evening”. Eric wasn't showing his worry. There was always danger out there in the After world. He knew that Trish was competent and felt better now that she knew how to use a firearm. Actually, she was pretty good. Trish had worked in a high stress job. Sometimes, she had this very slight nervous tremble of her hands but when she aimed a gun she was rock steady. She got in the front seat of the wagon with her mom and dad and flashed him a smile. Dianne and Jason sat in the back with Cody. Dane and Cody made a bargain. He would ride in the very back on the trip out and Cody would ride there on the way home.
Extra guns and ammo were loaded under a blanket, with their tools and a gas can in the back. They always kept two extra tires and wheels tied on top. They had water and something to eat. They said their goodbyes, headed south. Jack eased the big wagon up on the sidewalk and they stayed there as long as it lasted. The military had cleared a path through the dead cars, so they were able to navigate the main highway for a couple of miles. They had become accustomed to seeing the slowly deteriorating vehicles lining the roads. They had been vandalized, burned and plundered. There was still gas to siphon and you could hope that some gas treatment would make it useable. They reached the turn-off of the main highway that put them on a more rural road. There were always fewer cars on the country roads. In this area, the other survivors group from the friend's church had a compound. Jack noted, I will need to talk with them soon but not today.
Their route would take them right back across the county line where Jack had originally been stranded. Was that only a year ago? Seemed like eons. He said, “we will be going close to the lake compound but there is no time to stop today. We need to keep moving.”
Beth said, “You know, we should check out those liquor stores again. We might need some bartering goods. There is no telling who will be at that warehouse.”
“That's a good idea, but I doubt there is anything there.” said Dianne. “Although, we can check under all the shelves like we did in that store last time.”
Once the country road took them to another main highway, Jack moved onto the shoulder. He tried to pay attention and not run over the debris that cluttered the pavement. They had already made a quick check of two liquor stores and a convenience store. All had been completely emptied. They didn't even have a half dozen items. There was one last store before they would travel past the small community. Jack pulled up to the beverage store. “Okay, lets make it quick,” he said.
Beth, Jack and Trish stepped through the broken front window glass. Like the other stores, this one looked pretty much stripped. Jack opened the back of the walk in cooler, which was hot and stuffy. Nothing there except a few molded packages of lunch meat, “Boy, it stinks in here!” Then he spotted a metal door with a heavy chain and padlock on it, it had been beat up but not busted. Beth stood at the cooler entrance, her hand over her mouth and nose. Jack turned and said, “Hey, tell Trish to go get one of the guys and those tools.”
It took some work, they used the bolt cutters and cut the chain. It fell away and the door creaked open. Jack swept the beam from his flashlight around the small room. Jason and Cody were looking over his shoulder and Jason exclaimed, “Jackpot!”. The room had maybe two dozen cases of liquor stacked up. Further checking uncovered some partial boxes, of cases of cigarettes. Jason swore to himself. He and Lee had both, just about weaned themselves off of cigarettes this past year. What he wouldn't have give for all these about six months ago. This was fantastic, though. A real treasure trove of bartering goods, not to mention some luxury things for the family.
Jack said, “We can't waste time here, we won't be able to get all of this but let's get all we can. When we get to the U-haul place we can put it in the trailer. If we have room, we will check on the way back home and get more.” The amazing thing was that there was a money box full of mostly bills. It was useless to them or anyone else. There were about half a dozen rolls of quarters that appeared to be the solid silver ones. Jack took those, just because...well, he didn't really know why. Maybe the kids would use them some day. They squeezed five cases of liquor in the back, Dane folded up like an accordion. Dianne would sit on Jason's lap for the next fifteen miles, so they stacked two more cases in the seat. The dumped all of the various cartons of cigarettes into a trash bag and tied them on top. When they reached the U-haul rental, they hooked up a small trailer. One that they thought the wagon could pull, even loaded. They moved the cases of liquor and the trash bag of cigarettes into the trailer.
“Let's leave two cases of liquor and three or four cartons of cigarettes in the back of the wagon,” said Jack. He placed a padlock on the trailer doors, dropped the key in his pocket. They moved around the loop of Palville, with not a lot of obstacles. Perhaps the military had been here, too. It was nearly noon when the War Wagon was approached the Walmart distribution center. There were expressions of disappointment as they saw the tall gates closed and locked. There were people inside on the parking lot, fires burned in various places on the pavement. Some people stood at the fires and some were going in and out of big overhead doors. Lots of trash was scattered around, blowing across the open lot.
Jack slowly rolled up towards the entrance. A man stood behind the gates. “We don't have room for anyone else,” said the gruff voice. Jack swung open his door and stood behind it. The man was scraggly, not very clean, a rifle was slung over his shoulder. Jack caught a glimpse of himself in the side mirror of the wagon. His gray tipped hair hung a couple of inches below his cap. He tried to keep his beard and mustache trimmed up but they were full. Some stains crossed his T-shirt, from the earlier break-in at the liquor store. He didn't look exactly A-J squared away himself.
“We have things to trade,” said Jack. “We were hoping to get some things that we need from the warehouse. Are you the boss here?”
“Yeah, I'm the boss,” growled the man. He was giving the wagon, trailer and the occupants, a good once over. “What do you have to trade?”
Jack said, “Booze...cigarettes”
“Are you armed?” said the man
“Yes” said Jack. This was the right answer in these times. If someone said no, they were probably lying. Anyone with any sense, was armed. It was better to establish up front, we are armed.
The man motioned for another armed man to come over. He began to open several locks on the gate from a key
chain on his belt, the gates swung back and Jack moved the wagon inside. Everyone inside the wagon knew to keep quiet. Jason got out and opened the back hatch. Dane, glad to be unfolded, slid out and shook his legs. Jack came around and offered his hand to the boss man. He said, “We have a case of liquor, whiskey and vodka and we have three cartons of cigarettes.”
The second man stood behind the boss and a couple of more had walked up. A quick scan and Jack estimated about three dozen people milling around. The boss pulled a fifth of whiskey up and looked at it. He checked one or two more bottles. “We got lots of cigarettes, man. Looks like you got another case of booze there.” Jack nodded yes.
The man said, “What else you got? What's in the trailer?”
Jack said, “The trailer is empty. We brought it for things we find.” He pulled a roll of the quarters out of his pocket. “These quarters are solid silver. I got a couple of rolls.” The man was not impressed, but he took the roll and Jack gave him another. Jason was watching all the lurkers. Dane stood, swaying back and forth on his heels but one hand was on a small pistol in his vest pocket.
The boss man looked Dane over good. “Hey, pretty boy, what size are them boots?”
Dane gave a bit of choking sound and said, “Size seven.” He looked down at his nice brown leather boots with turquoise inserts and tooling. They had gone into a western wear store right before Christmas, he had confiscated them for himself. “I don't think they would fit you.”
The man laughed a raucous guffaw. “Not me-e. I got a girlfriend that would be real sweet to me if I gave her those boots.”
No Normal Day II (Unity) Page 2