“Thank you Kieran,” Kofi said glancing back at him. “And we do. We have to talk.”
“Kofi, you remember Kieran, right?” Van asked sarcastically.
“Yeah, how you doin’?” Kofi acknowledged flippantly. “Van we gotta go.”
“I’m good, Kofi,” Kieran replied shifting his eyes onto the table.
“Kieran, if you want to talk more I can stay.”
“No. Go. Take care of whatever you need to.”
“You want to grab lunch some time?” Van asked vulnerably.
“I’d like that. I missed you too, man.”
Kofi refused to look at Kieran. “We’ve got to go. I’m sure you’ve got this, right Kieran?” he asked, referring to the check.
“Um, yeah, I got this,” Kieran said as a slight look of stress crossed his face.
“Good. Let’s go,” Kofi said, trying to usher Van out.
“I’ll call you,” Van concluded as he stood and left. “Did you have to be so rude?” Van asked Kofi as they walked to their cars.
“Did you have to lie to me?”
Van had no reply. “So what’s so important?”
“We have to meet with someone and you have to be there.”
“Who?”
“I prefer to let you see for yourself.”
“Then where are we going?”
“I told them to meet us at Fenga. You liked that place, right?”
Van did like it there. That was where he met the beautiful woman that took him off guard. And Van would take any chance he had to run into her again. “Ok, I’ll meet you there.”
Van peeled away. Arriving first, he took the opportunity to search the club for Lilly. Van found her with her girlfriends sitting at a table in back. The rush that he got from seeing her soothed him. He wasted no time in going over.
“Did any of you ladies need a drink?” Van asked with a smile.
Lilly turned and smiled back. “I’m sorry, I know who you are now, so I don’t know if we qualify.”
“You’re in luck then. Tonight I’m only buying drinks for the women who do know who I am.”
“How fortuitous is that?” Lilly said turning back to her friends. “I guess we wouldn’t mind a drink.”
“In that case, do you ladies mind if I borrow Lilly to help me carry them? I promise to return her in one piece,” Van added with a smile.
“You better bring her back,” one of the women said.
Lilly slipped out of her chair and walked with Van to the bar. “So, hunt any zombies recently?” Lilly asked without eye contact.
“You clearly don’t watch the news, do you?”
“Why, should I have?” Lilly asked curiously.
“No, you shouldn’t have. I was just being a smartass. I might have done a little hunting since the last time I saw you.”
“Oh Van, you really shouldn’t.”
“I’m getting that a lot today.”
“Someone else said the same thing?” Lilly asked.
“Yeah. And you know what? I quit.”
“You’re not a Samurai Zombie Hunter anymore?”
Van looked at Lilly surprised to hear her use the company’s name.
“I told you that I know who you are now.”
“You’ve been checking up on me. What’d you find?”
“That you were right. You are bad news.”
“Yet here you are talking to me.”
“My friends made me promise not to talk to you if you were bad news. I never said that I didn’t want to.”
Van felt a rush at Lilly’s acknowledgement. “Well, I don’t know how much bad news I will be now that I’m quitting.”
“Something tells me that you’ll find a way.”
“You have such little faith in me.”
“No, the opposite. I have complete faith that you will be consistent,” Lilly stated with a biting smile.
“Maybe I’ll surprise you,” he said, leaning against the bar.
“I doubt it, but you’re free to try.”
“Put whatever the lady wants on my card. She’s drinking on me tonight.” Van reached into his wallet and handed the bartender his card.
“Thank you,” she responded, warmly.
“But there is a catch,” Van said with a smile.
“Figures,” Lilly said playfully back.
“You have to go out with me.”
“I can’t make any promises, yet.” Lilly stopped talking when he saw Van shift his focus behind her. “What’s the matter?”
“I was meeting my friend here and he’s looking for me.”
“Then go talk to your friend. Maybe after I get a few drinks in me I’ll be more agreeable to certain offers,” Lilly said flirtatiously.
“In that case…” Van turned to the bartender. “Whatever the lady asks for make them all doubles. There’s a fifty in it for you if you do.”
The bartender smiled and looked at Lilly. Lilly smiled back at the bartender and then turned to Van.
“You’re just awful,” she beamed.
Van gave Lilly a devilish smile and headed toward Kofi.
“Good, I just got a call from the client. They’re already here.”
Kofi led the way to the balcony where the music wasn’t as loud.
“Van, I would like you to meet Robert Tailgate.”
Van kept up with the news, but you didn’t have to read USA Today to know who Robert Tailgate was. Tailgate was an icon. Whether or not you believed in his politics it was still off-putting to meet a celebrity in person.
“How do you do?” Van offered his hand.
“I’m well, thank you,” Robert said, standing. “I’ve been impressed by your work.”
Although he didn’t mean it, he couldn’t help himself from saying thank you.
“This is Drew Alpark.”
Drew stood and shook both Van and Kofi’s hands.
“Wonderful to meet you both,” Drew acknowledged.
“So, shall we sit?” Robert asked, pointing to the chairs.
The four of them sat down and got comfortable. Robert was the first one to speak.
“As I said, we’ve been admiring your work from a far.”
“Thank you,” Kofi said, jumping in though Robert had mostly directed it toward Van.
“What you two have done for awareness of the zombie epidemic is impressive. And the way you swing your sword… Well, I don’t think that even the Devil himself could escape it,” Robert said with a grin.
“Thank you,” Van said again, not wanting to accept the compliment.
“We could use two people like you in our organization. I know that you’re currently engaged in private enterprise.”
“We are,” Kofi said, again jumping in.
“And you are paid $2,000 a head as of late.”
“That’s right,” Kofi confirmed.
“Well how would you like to make a lot more money than that? Our organization has sponsors with very deep pockets who have a vested interest in not allowing our species to be taken down by this infestation. And they would be willing to make it worth your while to help.”
“How much we talkin’?” Kofi asked, sensing an opportunity developing.
“For now, let’s leave it at ‘more than he could make swinging a sword around all day long.’”
“Well sometimes he swings two,” Kofi corrected with a smile.
Robert smiled back. “Yes more than that too.”
“What are you looking for us to do?” Van asked curious to know where this was leading.
“Gentleman, I hate to be the ones to tell you this, but there’s a war brewing. And right now, we are outnumbered. We need an army, and we need it fast.”
“What about the US Army?” Van interjected.
“Sadly, Van, the President does not have our foresight. He sits in his gilded white tower and misses the things that you brought to light in that news story. By the time the President does what he has to do, it will be too late and our species will alr
eady be lost. We can’t depend on the US Army. Besides, this isn’t an American problem. This is a global problem. We’re talking about a world war.”
Van felt a chill roll down his spine. These were apocalyptic predictions that Robert was making. And Van understood that he was now straddling both sides of a war that could destroy the world.
“What would you want us to do?” Van asked hesitantly.
“Train others to do what you do. You don’t have to worry about recruitment. That’s what we’re good at. We need you to do what you’re good at.”
Van looked away. It was all too much for him. “We thank you for coming to us, but we will have to think about it.”
“But we do like the offer. We just need time to talk about it amongst ourselves,” Kofi added.
Van looked over at Kofi trying to hide his resentment for the words being put into his mouth. “Thank you for your time.” Van stood up and stuck out his hand.
“No, thank you,” Robert said, hiding his disappointment in the lack of enthusiasm.
“I’m sure we’ll be in touch,” Van said before turning and walking away.
Kofi was about to run after Van when he felt Robert take a tighter grip on his hand. Robert watched as Van walked away and then turned to Kofi.
“I wanted to let you know that we can use two people, but if it’s gonna be one, it’s gonna be him. Do whatever you can do to convince him, otherwise we’ll find someone else.”
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary,” Kofi offered, to assuage Robert’s fears. “He just needs time to consider it, that’s all.”
“I hope so.” Robert let go of Kofi’s hand. “I expect to hear from you soon.”
“You will.” Kofi stepped away from his chair. “Gentlemen.”
Robert and Drew both nodded their heads and Kofi walked off.
After Van had left Robert, he had headed directly for Lilly. She was joking and smiling with her girlfriends when he walked up.
“I need you,” Van said abruptly.
Lilly turned surprised and addressed Van for the benefit of her friends. “I think you have to wait for the alcohol to take affect before you make that type of statement.” Her friends chuckled.
“You asked me to do something. I’m not gonna be able to do it without you,” Van said with desperation in his voice.
Lilly turned to her friends and quickly thought of a casual way to leave. “Will you excuse me ladies, I think my adoring public waits.” The girls laughed and Lilly led Van away.
Once out of earshot Lilly spoke. “So what is this you’re referring to?”
“You said that you wanted me to stop hunting zombies.”
“Well that’s not what I said, but yes I do.”
“And I wanna stop, but there are some powerful forces that want to pull me in further. But if I could be around you, I know I could stop. And I think I need to stop, but I can’t do it on my own.”
“Isn’t there some type of anonymous group for stuff like this?” Lilly asked, uncomfortable with the spot that she was in.
“What, Zombie Hunters Anonymous? I doubt it. I’m sorry to place this on you. It’s just that seeing you gives me strength. And I know I need to be strong right now. Will you help me?”
Lilly looked up into Van’s soft eyes. “That is one hell of an invitation to a first date.”
“I’m sorry. But will you?”
Van looked into Lilly’s eyes. As unfair as it might have been to her, Van knew that her answer would change the fate of the world. War was in the wind. And her answer was the only breeze that could counter it.
Lilly looked down at her feet and came up with an answer. She rested her hand lightly on his and spoke.
*****
Chapter 12
The Winds of War
Van readied himself in front of the mirror. He felt good. He retrieved his keys and wallet and stuck his phone into his pocket. Walking into the living room a text message caused his phone to buzz. He pulled it out, checked it, and returned it to his pocket without replying.
Ten minutes later, Van pulled up in front of The Farmer’s Tart, a lunch place on the edge of Hollywood. Scanning the patrons from the host’s podium, he spotted his date. Lilly had arrived a little early and was seated in the back corner in a partially secluded spot.
“You’re early,” Van said, standing above his date.
“Yes, I couldn’t wait to get here,” she replied without standing.
Van reached for the chair across from her, then changed his mind and sat in the chair to her right. “I’m glad to see you,” he said, smiling.
“It’s nice to be seen.”
“Have you eaten here before?” Van asked, looking around.
“Yeah, I work around the corner so I come here a lot. I like it here.”
“It’s nice. So where do you work?”
“I work at Paramount Studios. But I hate it so I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“You work at Paramount? That’s cool, why do you hate it?” Van asked, intrigued.
Lilly looked at him straight on, wondering why he had just ignored her request. “Because they frown upon it whenever I take out my samurai sword. I’m looking for a new job, do you know of any?”
“Well I know one. Do you know anything about training a worldwide underground network of zombie assassins?”
“A little. Does the position require typing?”
“Hmm, maybe a little.”
“I’m sorry, I swore that I would never take another job where typing is in the job description.”
“That’s too bad because I’m told the pay is great,” Van said with a wry smile.
Lilly tried to act casual. “So, Van, gotten any interesting job offers recently?”
“That’s a strange question. Why would you ask that?” Van asked, playfully.
“Oh, I don’t know. Just kind of popped into my head,” Lilly replied, trying to keep the conversation light.
“Umm, ok. As a matter of fact I have. However, I don’t think I can talk about it because, although I wouldn’t have to kill you afterwards, I’m afraid that someone else might,” he smirked.
“Look at you delegating. You are a leader aren’t you?” Lilly joked, trying hard to hold onto the humorous mood of the conversation.
He lowered his head, unable to continue joking about the thing that weighed so heavily on him. “I’m sorry. I have a lot on my mind.”
“No, that’s ok.”
Van looked up as the waiter introduced himself and went through the specials. Although he had his eyes fixed on him, all he could think about was Lilly. There was something about being in her presence that made Van want to share everything about himself. That, of course, was not an option. He knew that telling her about Robert Tailgate and his offer would only scare her off. And if that didn’t do it, then telling her about the feeling he got from mowing down scores of zombies would. And if that didn’t kill all chances with her, telling her that he was an infected zombie absolutely would.
The waiter left. With Lilly burying her head in her menu, Van decided to do the same. The desire to share his life was making his skin burn. Letting the laminated words pass in front of his vision, all Van could think about was how good it would feel for someone, especially her, to simply touch him. Van was sure that if he could feel the touch of another person, the feeling he had of being on fire would quickly go away.
“The fish is always good,” Lilly said, breaking the silence. “But afterwards your breath will smell like fish all day.”
Van focused his mind on the menu and found the fish dishes. They looked appetizing but he continued his scan for the sandwiches. There was a variety. “I think I’m gonna have the Monte Cristo. Have you ever had it?”
“No what is it?”
“It’s a sandwich with cheese, a couple of meats and an egg, I think. And after they make it, they deep-fry it. It doesn’t stop your heart instantly but you do see a white light about half way through.”
“Wow, you really do have a death wish,” she grinned.
“I like to live dangerously.”
“So, about living dangerously, I’m curious to know exactly what you do when you go hunting zombies.”
Van didn’t want to talk about being a zombie hunter, but he wanted desperately for her to know. “Well, it’s not random zombies on the street. It’s sort of like a pest exterminator service. Someone who has a zombie issue calls up my partner, he gets the details and collects the money and I go there and fumigate.”
“Dressed in a samurai outfit carrying a sword?” Lilly mocked.
“Hey don’t make fun of the outfit. Once I didn’t wear it and I felt really bad afterwards.”
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