by Vohs, J. W.
Luke had no intention of sleeping; he just needed some time to process everything that had just happened. The hunter, Will, definitely was self-aware. He’d spoken his own name. In his mind, Luke tried to systematically and logically analyze what had transpired in those few minutes together. Will had wanted to make contact, but he was completely deferential. Luke had to accept that some of the hunters viewed him as their leader. It was easy to understand why the mindless group of creatures at the depot attached themselves to him—he’d killed their alpha, so he’d become their new leader in their eyes. But that didn’t explain Will’s behavior. It was uncomfortable for Luke to think of this hunter as an individual with a name, and he certainly didn’t want to consider all the possible implications of viewing hunters as self-aware individuals. He reminded himself that out of the thousands of flesh-eaters who’d crossed his path, only a handful seemed to deviate from the instinct-driven, mindless creatures controlled by Barnes. And Will was the most different of all. Luke closed his eyes, mentally exhausted from trying to understand what was happening with the hunters and the extent of his connection to them . . .
Luke was running in full gear—though he realized that he must have forgotten his gloves, and the helmet felt odd. He turned slightly, leapt into the air, and reached up toward the brilliant blue sky. As he caught the ball, a loud roar penetrated the padding of his helmet, and he was instantly running full speed in the opposite direction, past the wildly exuberant Notre Dame cheerleaders. The scene faded as he ran toward the goal posts ahead, and just before the field vanished, he jumped awkwardly and landed on his backside, sinking into a couch cushion and sending popcorn flying in several directions.
Somebody yelled, “Hey” but was shushed by about a dozen voices.
Luke looked at the TV, and a vaguely familiar announcer said, “With the first pick of the third round, the Dallas Cowboys select Notre Dame running back and South Bend native, William Walker . . .”
Everything went black for an instant, then Luke was dancing. He gazed into the big brown eyes of his bride, eyes that reminded him of Gracie’s but belonged to a beautiful stranger. As they slowly spun around the dance floor, the room grew hazy, and he heard a baby crying not far away. He turned in the direction of the sound, and was almost blinded by the bright light streaming in from the nursery window. A cherubic toddler was standing in his crib, squealing with delight and reaching toward Luke. The room glowed with love and happiness. Luke thought it felt like heaven and realized he’d been here before. As the room began to spin and sirens blared in the distance, Luke knew that he was dreaming, and he didn’t like where this recurring dream was headed. He ran for the window and crashed through the glass . . .
Jenkins poked Luke in the ribs. “Wake-up, sir. We’re pullin’ in to the depot.” A dazed Luke poked his head out from under the blanket. As Jenkins parked the Hummer, he looked over at Luke. “Your wife ever mention that ya rassle grizzly bears in yer sleep?”
CHAPTER 20
“I knew something was wrong the minute you stepped off that Hummer.” Gracie’s voice quivered as she wiped away tears. “I’m glad you got to talk with Jack, but I can’t believe what Barnes did to Andi . . .”
Even though they were standing in a parking lot in front of several other soldiers, Gracie broke down and sobbed on Luke’s shoulder for several minutes. Pain and loss had become the teen’s close companions over the past year, but the cruelty of her friend’s final moments was too much to bear without a good cry. Luke held her close and felt a few tears of his own slip down his cheeks. Gracie finally released one more trembling breath before asking, “Christy and David?”
“They’re fine, honey; baby’s due in a few weeks. Andi was the closest friend we lost on the lake.”
“I care about everyone back home, Luke.”
“So do I,” he protested. “But we grew pretty close to our core group during the journey from Cleveland. That’s all I meant.”
Gracie nodded and blew her nose. “Where are Andi’s girls?”
“In Vicksburg, with Carter’s mom. They’re spending a lot of time with Charlotte’s daughter.”
Gracie smiled weakly. “I bet Lucy loves that; she’s a sweetheart. How’s Charlotte?”
“I think she’s still surprised to see me alive.”
“Well, you might not be if she hadn’t helped take care of you after the bite.”
“I know,” Luke agreed. “Trust me, Charlotte will always be in my heart. I’ll pay her back by keeping an eye on T.C. for her.”
Gracie looked alarmed. “Is he on long range patrols these days?”
“Nah, Harden still has him corralled as his assistant, but sooner or later the kid’s gonna demand more action. You remember the stories about his dad—everybody says he’s a chip off the old block.”
“We should Shanghai him and take him west with us.”
“You know, I’m not afraid of hunters, or any other critters walking the earth. But, I am afraid of Charlotte. He would never admit it, but even Carter’s afraid of Charlotte.”
“She’s not the typical fighter-type, but you’re right—I wouldn’t want to get on her bad side,” Gracie replied with a bit of admiration in her voice. “She has a fierce spirit.”
Luke hugged Gracie. “Anyway, we have to go back to Vicksburg before leaving the depot; I promised Jack a longer visit while we’re still close enough. Jack also promised Andi’s girls that I’d bring them a surprise.”
“Do they know their mom is gone?”
“No, but you know they have to be missing her really bad by now.” The sadness in Luke’s voice made Gracie tear up again.
“I can’t help but think of my mom right now; I’m holding you to that promise of taking me to Israel one day.” She looked up at her husband, “What are you going to take Andi’s girls?”
“Jack said you’d think of something.”
Gracie shook her head and smiled. “Typical men. Don’t worry, I will think of something. When are we going?”
“I promised Jack I’d be back in three days. That gives him time to get some specifics about Utah for us, plus he’ll know what’s up at the Castle, and we’ll have a better inventory of the stuff around here.”
“Sound’s good.” Gracie remembered the bulldozers. “Speaking of inventory, I’ve got something to show you that might cheer you up.”
“Shouldn’t we wait until we’re somewhere private?”
Gracie sighed in mock exasperation. “Very funny, but it would be a good idea to head back to our room. We can discuss how to cheer us both up and get warm once we get there. I know the cold doesn’t bother you, but I’m freezing out here.”
The evening’s activities were drawing to a close in Vicksburg. Jack was sharing a shot of bourbon with Carter and Charlotte in their mother’s new house. Andi’s girls would be living here for the time being, so Carter had befriended a few local carpenters who were also friends of his sister. Once he’d explained the situation, they worked together to quickly finish up construction on a cabin-style home, close to Charlotte, with an extra bedroom and a plus-sized kitchen. The interstate bridge over the Mississippi was wide enough for cabins to be built along both the northern and southern railings, with a nice boulevard running directly through the middle of the settlement. In the beginning, most folks had chosen sites close to shore, reasoning that they could escape from there more easily in the event of a breach in the wall that protected them from the infected. Now that the Vicksburg settlement had survived an attack by a force of mind-boggling size, the tough survivors were confident in their location. Charlotte had initially chosen to settle in the middle of the bridge, believing that if it were attacked at one end, she’d have time enough to get her family off the other side. Now that the harsh winter was driving people from other settlements along the river to the safety and resources of Vicksburg, cabin construction had become a constant activity near Charlotte’s home. She was thankful that her mother would be able to have her own place, yet
still be so close.
T.C. was persistently trying to argue that he should be included in the bourbon-sharing. He explained how the hardships of the world caused people to grow up fast, and how he was a respected soldier under Captain Harden. “C’mon mom,” he complained, “I’m basically a man-grown.”
“You’re a man? Groan . . .” Charlotte elbowed her brother in the ribs, hard, while she kept talking. “You’re just young and dumb and full of—well, you know—just like your Uncle Carter, except the ‘young’ part.” She winked at her brother.
Carter knew what his sister was up to, and he was happy to play along. “Ya just never understood us men, Charlotte. Especially us soldiers. Ain’t no reason why we should be treatin’ T.C. like a child.”
“Fine, Uncle Carter,” Charlotte taunted, “go ahead and give your manly nephew a shot.”
“Yeah, Uncle Carter,” T.C. victoriously exclaimed. “Pour me a shot.”
“Better make it a double,” Jack advised. “A man-grown’s first shot should be memorable.”
Carter pretended to argue, “This here boy can’t drink down no double shot of bourbon!”
“Try me!” T.C. challenged. “This ain’t my first drink.”
“All righty, then,” Carter drawled as he poured a finger of his favorite adult-beverage into a tumbler. “Here ya go, son, time to join us men.”
T.C. eagerly seized the glass and mocked a toast to his elders before gulping down the bourbon with a flourish. Just as a triumphant expression tried to spread across his face, the fiery alcohol hit the teen like a freight train. For a second or two, T.C. seemed to be holding his breath. His brown cheeks flushed as he desperately tried not to choke. He finally coughed and wheezed for at least a minute before glaring accusingly at his devious uncle and scheming friend. “What the hell you guys drink that stuff for?”
“Some men-grown kinda get a taste fer it,” Carter laughed. “But it ain’t for everyone.”
Charlotte reached out and grabbed the bottle. “Here, baby,” she gestured for her son’s glass, “the second one’s easier.”
T.C. pulled back with a shocked look on his face. “You’re supposed to be a mom, you know!”
“Awww,” she cooed, “c’mere my little guy, let momma kiss your boo-boo.”
“Gran!”
Charlotte tried to get up to follow her son, but she was more than a little tipsy and teetered toward Jack. He stood and grabbed Charlotte’s hand, pulling her to her feet as she laughed. “Your momma’s gonna smack you upside the head for giving her little hero a drink,” he playfully scolded.
“I’m not worried,” Charlotte replied, glancing at her brother across the table. Carter was watching them. “I know I can take mama if I have to.” She steadied herself and stepped away from Jack. “But right now I think I’d better collect my children and get us home.”
“I think Lucy wants to stay with Greta and Cassandra,” Jack reminded her. “I’m sure that would be good for Andi’s girls.”
Charlotte leaned against the wall and tried not to look Jack in the eye. She was afraid that something in her gaze might give away their secret. “That’s right, I already told her she could stay. I guess it’s just me and T.C. then—”
“Mom, Uncle Carter is going back to headquarters to meet up with Captain Harden and get a ride in that new tank-thingee. He said I could go with him.”
Charlotte looked at Carter, who shrugged. “I do remember somthin’ ‘bout that now that he mentions it.”
T.C. continued, “Then I was going to help the captain hack into a couple computers to see if there’s anything valuable on the hard drives.”
“At 8:00 at night?” Charlotte narrowed her sapphire-blue eyes. “That’s a bit past work hours, don’t you think?”
“Come on, Mom, it’s 8:00. I can be home by midnight. Besides, you owe me after that whiskey trick.”
“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about, and midnight seems pretty late.” She snuck a glance at Jack.
“I’m expecting a report from Indiana around midnight,” Jack reminded her. “I could walk him home afterwards.”
“Fine—” Charlotte began.
“Whoohoo!” T.C. erupted. “Let’s get going, Uncle Carter, before she changes her mind.
“Hold on, boy,” Carter said, laughing. “We better walk yer momma home or else she might get lost. It may be just across the street, but ya know she’s been drinkin’—did ya see her try an’ stand up?”
Charlotte walked an imaginary line and touched her nose with the index finger of each hand. “I think I’ll be able to make it, but you’ve been hittin’ the bottle harder than me, brother. And you can’t walk and chew gum when you’re sober.”
Jack watched Charlotte’s demonstration with clandestine admiration. “I’ll walk Charlotte home,” he declared. “I got a few things I’d like to do before midnight.
Charlotte locked eyes with Jack then quickly looked away, smiling. “It’s not like I need a babysitter—”
“I ‘preciate yer generous offer to look after my mule-headed sister,” Carter said, slapping Jack on the shoulder. “We’ll see ya at headquarters ‘fore midnight. Let’s go, T.C.; I ain’t gettin’ no younger.”
Luke slipped out of bed about an hour and a half before dawn. He briefly considered taking an ATV back to the spot where he’d met with Will, but his body itched with nervous energy just thinking about the encounter. He decided that jogging just over fifteen miles would be a welcome opportunity to clear his mind and calm his spirit.
Will was waiting for him. The sun had recently crested the horizon, casting a pinkish glow over the morning that added to the surrealistic atmosphere by the Texas roadside. Luke stopped a few feet in front of the formidable hunter and extended his hand.
Will tapped Luke’s hand and took a step backwards. Luke sensed that he was concerned about what had happened the previous evening. He was trying to protect his leader.
“I know you, Will. I’m Luke.” He reached out towards Will. “Take my hand.”
Will did as instructed.
“I heard what happened at your main containment pens—Camp Daniels is it? How the hell did that happen?” Barnes was furious.
Daniels was caught off guard by the call from Barnes, but made a quick recovery. “Some grunts nicknamed the place—I had nothing to do with it. I think they were trying just trying to kiss my—”
Barnes interrupted. “How did you manage to allow a breech in Pen One? We don’t round up the infected only to let them loose on one of our camps!”
“We haven’t lost any creatures—containment temporarily failed because the infrastructure wasn’t sufficient for the huge numbers of eaters we’d been parking there.” Daniels kept his voice calm, even though he was fuming. “Since our roundups have been so successful, we need to expand our holding areas. Captain Bell made it very clear that his human capital is spread too thin trying to manage the massive hordes. We’ve already rerouted new round-ups to alternate locations, and we’re expanding our containment areas.”
Barnes seemed relatively satisfied. “So you’re saying that you’ve handled the problem?”
Daniels understood Barnes well enough to know how to answer the question in a way that would be most advantageous to his future career advancement. “The initial problem has been handled—I’ve been drawing up a request to present to you for more manpower to manage the growing numbers of infected we’re holding. It outlines the causes of the temporary breech and why I believe we need to be proactive before we have a real problem on our hands.” He paused briefly for effect, then added, “Don’t get me wrong, sir, I have great respect for my men in the field, but competent leadership—people who are practical and know how to think on their feet—isn’t always easy to come by. More grunts would certainly be helpful, but I could use field commanders who anticipate issues and don’t need me to hold their hands.”
“I look forward to reading your report,” Barnes responded coolly. “Your as
sessment of the situation seems reasonable, but I was led to believe that it was a bit more serious than you’re letting on.”
Pruitt, that bastard! Daniels thought with renewed ire. “Mr. President, I can guarantee you that we didn’t lose a single eater. Do I wish the camp had been better prepared for larger numbers of the infected? Of course, but we’re really just learning how to adapt to our success. I would have contacted you right away if there had been a major issue; in the future I can—”
“No, Major, if you were able to handle it without my hand-holding you’re just doing your job. You’re correct in your assessment that competent leadership is difficult to come by.”
“Thank you, Mr. President; I’ll get that report to you ASAP.” And when I do, Daniels thought, I’ll find a way to set up Pruitt for a big fall.
Even though Luke had braced himself for whatever it was that had nearly overwhelmed him the last time he and Will had made physical contact, he could only handle the flood of images and sensations for a few seconds before he stumbled backwards and sat down hard on the cold ground. Will remained upright, still as a statue, and Luke sensed that the hunter was drowning in memories. With a growing sense of horror, Luke realized that the massive creature before him was experiencing memories of his life before turning into a flesh-eater. Pain was etched all over Will’s face, and Luke felt compelled to intervene. “Will!” he yelled. “Look at me!”
Will didn’t move, and Luke could feel an oppressive blanket of anger, despair, and terror descending over both of them. He jumped up and ran directly into Will, knocking him down. “Look at me!” he ordered.
Slowly, Will’s eyes began to focus, and a snarl curled his lips. Luke sat down beside him, and, not knowing what else to do, he began to ramble. “You’re Will. I’m Luke. A man named Barnes released a virus into the world; that’s how you became who you now are. He deliberately unleased unspeakable suffering, and I intend to kill him.” Listening to Luke’s voice seemed to calm Will down, so he continued, “You and I are connected somehow, and I have some idea what you’re going through. You are remembering the past, your life as a human being, before you were infected.”