No Normal Day II (Unity)

by Richardson, J.

  ***

  The church already had the hospital in their compound. It was decided that the big Day Room of the fire station would be a good place for the self defense classes. Actually, the fire station was across the highway, and very close to the five acre property. They decided that it would be a good location for many of the community meetings that the town held. It was pretty central in the approximate three square mile city. The water tanker and the school bus were kept there and there was still plenty of room for other automotive supplies.

  Dianne was so good at stretching the food stores and making it taste good. She had been meeting once a week with several of the town women, to share some of her cooking tips. Since the stove in the fire house had been electric, they had to improvise cooking methods. The residents of the new town Unity had to learn to cook on outdoor propane and wood fires, anyway. Dianne had become quite proficient at that way of preparing food. You could get plenty weary of opening a can of beans and eating it half cold. Dianne showed them new ways of cooking and recipes that made their stored supplies and fresh produce taste good. All the cooks, men and women enjoyed learning from her.

  Trish had become the chief manager and planner for the community crops and stock. She was so good at the numbers and organizing. Not only did she enjoy the work at the five acre property, she started making it productive. She quickly set a system for recording who was working and how many hours. She kept up with how much each family or group was entitled to. She and Eric made sure that everyone got their share and no one got more than their share. She constantly planned ahead for what they could plant, raise and produce.

  The self defense class had just finished. Trish went over and wiped her face with a towel. She, like many of the women and men of all ages, had been attending Shawna's classes. Nicky and Brook waited for her. During the class, they sat and watched intently, their short legs swinging above the floor. Following the class, a community meeting was held. There was heavy talk of defenses, weapons and the preparations for the battle that was imminent. It was accepted that there would be a battle. They only thing to do was prepare and carry on with their lives.

  Lacey was there, and Lynn. They presented their idea and their willingness to establish and work in the school. The representatives of the groups, liked the idea of a school. There was a large elementary school nearby. However, it was outside of their boundaries, it was huge and vulnerable. They would need to find a building that was suitable, perhaps close to the fire station. Of course, there would be tons of teaching supplies at the school. After the event, folks probably did not pilfer many educational materials, not edible. Lacey and Lynn would go on an acquisition trip with some of the others in the community.

  There was no doubt that the town of Unity was becoming a picture of successful survival. They were a small island in a broken and dangerous world. There was also no doubt, they were a target.

  ***

  There were six couples in the bus. Jack was driving, Beth sat behind him. Michael and his wife, Gilley and his wife were all along. Also, the other couple of mutual old friends, from Gilley's compound, Smitty and his wife. Lynn and Lee, Lacey and Mac sat near the back of the bus. It had actually been a point of argument in the Before world. The school was only accessible from the rural road and not from the city. Many wanted a road from the city to the school. That never happened. On the short trip, winding among the cars and through a neighborhood or two, the passengers were actually having a good time. It was very rare, the first and only time in two years that the four couples who had been old friends, were all together. The two new couples were enjoying the chiding interplay between the others, the familiarity that seemed to have fell on them like an an old comfortable sweater. They laughed and picked at each other.

  The heavily armored school bus rolled around the paved “pick up your children” circle. It came to a stop at the front doors of the new elementary school building. The doors were ajar, some broken. The riders became quiet. Unfortunately this was not an afternoon get together. This was outside of their guarded borders and they did not know what they would encounter here. Beth, the three wives and Lynn and Lacey, all checked their sidearms. The men shouldered their rifles and checked their guns. They had about six of the lights that strap on your head, from a scavenged sporting goods store. The wives had taped small flashlights to the top of their wrists so their hands would be free. They formed their lines and cautiously moved into the dark school building. Immediately, the now too familiar smell hit them. The sickening odor of rot and death.

  Jack and Lee moved forward, their head lights swimming in front of them. Lynn heard it first, a low growl, “Listen...” Across the wide building entry lobby and down the darkened hall to the left, the sound came again. Lee turned to cover the right hall, his light flashing down the inky space. Jack stepped out into the left hall, Beth stepped beside him. She extended and braced her arm, gun in hand. Her light fell on the growling slobbering dog, moving towards them now. She aimed right where the light fell and fired, the dog dropped. Another followed and Jack dropped it. A shot came from the right hall, then it was silent.

  Jack and Beth backed up, “Everybody okay?” Lee and Lynn slipped back into the light. The rest answered, “all okay.” Beth said, “Lacey, have you been here before?”

  “No, but it is similar to many of the newer schools. I think if we go to the left, the cafeteria will be down at that end. We can watch for the Library sign,” said Lacey. They were hoping to find some big cans of food stored in the kitchen storage.

  Lee said, “Okay, lets move down each side of the hall. Check out the rooms as you go. Don't go near the dogs.”

  They eased around the dog bodies and moved down both sides of the hall. They stopped and peered into each room. There was one room where the smell was strong, hopefully it was a dead animal. They moved on towards the end of the hall and the swinging cafeteria doors. They all filed through the doors and fanned out. The odor was so strong that it seemed to be hanging in the air like a stinking cloud. On a long table, milk cartons and trays and remnants of meals scattered around the moldy surface. At one end of the long line of couples, was Michael's wife. She was a good steady shot. In the Before times, they would all go down to her and Michael's farm and shoot the guns. Shoot for sport and fun. She was the surest shot of all the women. Then at her end of the cafeteria, a single swinging door slammed back against the wall.

  The thing that stumbled out of the school kitchen was not a dog. A gaunt, crazed man growled towards them. Foam bubbled from his mouth, he jerked and his eyes were wild. From down the line, Gilley's wife, said, “Lord, help us...my god,... lord help him.”

  The bullet exploded from Michael's wife's pistol and the man fell, still. They all looked at each other, not fully understanding what they had seen. Smitty's wife slowly moved towards the man. She knelt down, did not touch him. He had fell against the door and wedged it open. Her eyes went to the kitchen floor and her hand to her mouth. She rose and backed up, looked at the others and said, “Hard to tell, they are mangled. Looks like a woman and small child. I think they all had rabies.”

  Her husband said, “They must have come in here after the military came through. We haven't seen any more bodies. At least, not yet.” Staying alert, they moved out of the cafeteria. They did not want to check out the kitchen because they just did not want to go near the poor decimated people.

  Lacey said, “I think I saw the Library sign, it's down that short side hall.” They kept their lines and moved down the hall, the light from an exit door at the end, illuminated their path. Inside the Library, high windows let light in. Sure enough, not a lot of plundering here. They all found some book carts and started loading books and any supplies they could find on. They were going to get whatever they could from the big library and leave. The school felt like a terrible tomb. Decorated with the art and belongings of children, their voices still echoing in the halls. They didn't want to know what lurked in the rest of the building. They
all wanted to be out and they would not return.

  They loaded their supplies, including about twenty small chairs, in quiet. It was all piled in the back of the bus. The trip back to the relative safety of Unity was not a cheerful one. They reached a small strip of modern shops, that was very near the fire station. They had chosen this place for the school because there was glass all along the front of the businesses. That would provide good light. They could take out a wall or two if needed. There was nearly always something going on and citizens at the fire station. There would be security nearby.

  They began to see Lynn and Lacey's vision of a school for the children, their mood lightened a bit. As they were unloading, Trish, Eric and their girls, Nicky and Brook, came chugging up, on the mower with the little trailer behind. They had been working at the nearby garden. Nicky sat down in one of the little chairs, she placed her feet on a stack of books and started looking through a large children's encyclopedia. Brook said, “Look, Poppa.” She gave a wooft and a hi-i-yah!, her little arms punching out and her foot stepping back. She had paid attention at the self defense class. Everyone laughed, a nice relief.

  The friends parted with some reluctance. They had shared a brief interval of old time camaraderie. The picture of the dead family at the school stuck in their minds. It was a cold splash of reality thrown in their face. They and their families, all the citizens of Unity, were still surviving. They were surviving because they had been at least somewhat prepared, they had been vigilant and they had been lucky. However, their small haven was not the big world out there. They never knew if there would be another time together, a time that they could share a laugh. Or would they have to stand together to fight for their lives.

  Chapter Ten

  ON THE WIND

  At the compound of Jack and Beth, there was still the ever present watching and guarding. The co-operative effort of the groups of Unity had made the overall security a little better. But the danger that had been with them, from the time of big event, still always hung over them. There was the vast unknown and anyone could still walk up and breach their perimeters. The summer had melted into Fall. Even though it was still hot and humid, any break was appreciated. Just the fact that the days were becoming shorter did help, not so many long hours of sun. Once in a while, there was a hint of cool in the air.

  Jason, Eric and Lee, the three sons-in-laws had become pretty close friends over the many months. Like everyone, they took their turns at the watch. The whole town of Unity, was trying to think of ways to increase the border strength. And, everyone was searching for ideas to give them weapons to fight the invaders that were sure to come. Lately, the three had been very busy on a project of their own. Jason had remembered an old book on weaponry that he read during some of his military training. What interested him was the theory of a catapult. He told Eric and Lee, “You know if we could build a catapult, we could launch those molotov cocktails that the women stored up. We could launch them a long ways.”

  Eric said, “I remember the general principle of a catapult. Do you have any ideas on how we would build one?”

  “Not exactly,” said Jason. “I was thinking that there are two sets of old encyclopedias on the bookshelves in the common room. They are old, but hey, the catapult is not a modern innovation, right?”

  Lee said, “Yeah, let's study up a bit and see what we can come up with.” Project catapult was underway. Soon, there were some models lining up on the workbench in the big garage/shop. Prototypes for the real contraption. A contraption with just the right counter weight to sling a glass bottle of fuel with an ignited tampon fuse, right down the throat of the enemy. The guys liked to call the missiles, the tampon bombs. The women were not that amused.

  The catapult was brought up at one of the many town meetings. Another offensive weapon would be added to their arsenal. After some further discussion of their weapons and vehicles and manpower, Jack brought up a very important point.

  “We can talk for hours about how we will fight the battle when it is upon us. There is one thing that we have not decided and that I think is very important. We need to decide where all capable militia soldiers will gather and how we would deploy. We need to consider our unprotected compounds and the children. The children, of course, are a great concern. I have this suggestion.

  “We have already agreed on an alert system that would let everyone know that the danger is near. I think that each group or family should decide ahead of time, who will take their children to one location. And I am not talking about just the people who are not able to fight. In my family, I have asked Shawna and David to escort our twins and the three young children. I have asked these two, for precisely the reason, that I believe they can protect them. I suggest, all that are too young or too old or unable, along with those that volunteer to insure their safety, should go to the church compound. The hospital is there. Anyone that has been working at the hospital and that has the medical experience should immediately report there. In our case, it would be Kat and also Matt. You would each decide for your groups. This plan would include Joel and his wife.

  All the representatives present agreed on this strategy. Lee spoke then, “Once everyone has been delivered to the church compound, I think a good place to deploy from, would be the fire station. All soldiers and vehicles would report there. We would load all the weapons and ammunition and leave from there, for the border. We will put wheels on the catapult. We can stow it near the stash of molotov bombs, at the station.

  The people of Unity finally began to feel that they had a good offensive and defensive plan. It was all agreed on, the representatives took the plan home to their groups. They began the job of allocating the duties that each person would take on.

  ***

  Herm, and his loud clanging bell, was part of the early alert system. Mac was one of two, Joel being the second, that knew the exact location of the hermit's shack. Mac would get word to Herm. Joel agreed to immediately bring his wife to Jack's compound to be escorted with Jack's group to the haven. The War Wagon with David driving would transport the evacuees. They would travel by Gilley's compound, loudly honking their horn.

  Gilley would gather and deliver his evacuees, in their van. Gilley's wife, Smitty's wife and family had volunteered for the evacuee duty. The wife would go to the hospital. Smitty, the grand-son and daughter would help with the security and the children. There were five young children in their group. Gilley would return for his fifteen soldiers, and report to the fire station.

  Jack, Beth, his daughters, his son-in-laws, Dane and Cody, along with Tate and Joel, would take the mean machine to the meeting point. This made twelve soldiers. Tate and the mechanics had continued to work on and improve the bad ass Suburban. They had added mounts to brace guns on the inside and hand holds on top, for someone to stand on the expanded back bumper and hold on.

  Mac would deliver Lacey to the haven. She had become so liked and good with the children. She had volunteered to help at the church group compound. The old truck and Michael's SUV would take the twenty soldiers from the church group to the fire station. The War Wagon would remain at the church compound for back-up.

  This plan got all evacuees to the safe haven and all soldiers and vehicles to the deployment station. Their fighting force would be about forty seven. Their strategy and their plan was complete.

  ***

  The last several weeks had found Mac and Lacey increasingly closer. Neither one had been anxious to get close. In the new cock-eyed world, unexpected things did happen. Just like Lynn and Lee had stumbled into each other. The pair, likely would have never crossed paths in the Before world. Even if chance had thrown them together, it did not mean they could not fall in love. Humans do reach out for mates and seem to be the most content, when in a partnership. The two cots now stretched side by side in the grocery market. The couple had both discovered what they thought was lost to them. They found the joy that comes with the tenderness and touch of someone that cares about you. That brief
ecstasy that can make even an apocalypse fade away for a moment.

  Mac pulled Lacey over onto his cot and kissed her. This woman made him very happy. A part of him would like to just stay right here and shut out the world. No such luck, though. Having something to lose had made him more apprehensive than ever.

  Yesterday, he had caught a glimpse of a red cap, skulking around the barrier of cars. The spy did not go near the market or the booth where the molotov cocktails were stored. Once again, he had left the spy alone. He did not want the gang to think they were prepared or on alert. He was going to have to try to do some spying of his own. The gang had waited longer than he thought they would, he knew that their attack must be very close to happening.

  Lacey said, “I wish you would not go.”

  “Hey, I have been spying on those scum bags for months. I will be fine.” said Mac. “You know, the people of Unity are counting on me, this is our town now. I am going to find Jack in the morning, tell him to give everyone a heads up. You be ready to move, okay? I think the battle is going to be real soon.”

  “I'll do whatever you need, Mac,” she snuggled in closer.

  The next morning, Mac rode the motorcycle to Jack and Beth's compound. He told Jack that he really believed the gang's attack was looming. “I think that you should put Unity on high alert,” he said. “I am going to get in as close as I can and try to see when they are moving. It could be that when I return, they will already be moving our way.”

  Jack said, “I will put out the warning. I think we are just about as prepared as we can get. Actually, I would like to see this done and over with. I don't want the town to get complacent.”