The Rabid Mind Two

by Bruce Buckshot Hemming

  Matt woke up to a very strange sound. He heard voices. He looked out through the boarded-up window, and saw a few people walking in the streets. Laughing and talking as if all was well. The town still had the look of one that had been subject to chaos. What the hell were these people all happy about? He immediately ran to wake Sandra up. She woke up in panic. “What is wrong? Are we under attack?“ She asked reaching for her rifle.

  Matt shushed her, “Shhh, sshhh, shhh. Do you hear that too?”

  Sandra listened. She could hear something? Voices. “Who are they? She heard it loud and clear. Voices. Of at least six people. But how?

  Looking out the window. Not believing what she saw, she opened the door and stepped out. A man and woman chatting across the street looked up, saw him, and smiled. For some reason, she didn’t feel inclined to smile back. Matt came to stand by her, and waved, the couple waved back.

  “This is freaky!” Sandra whispered to Matt, “Just yesterday, this town was as empty as a graveyard.”

  “Maybe it only seemed that way because they were hiding like we were. Remember, we got here just before dark.”

  Sandra was silent. Something seemed off.

  The woman who was talking to the man now approached them, a big smile still plastered across her face.

  “Hey you two. You are new around here aren’t ya?”

  They didn’t speak, only regarded her with an open curiosity. Why are they so happy? The town looked like crap. The world was crap. What was so goddamned funny.

  Matt said, “Yes, we are ma’am. We drove into town yesterday. In search for some supplies.”

  “Oh well, we don’t have much. As you can very well see, we too have suffered greatly here.”

  “Haven’t we all. We’re just looking for rebar. We’ll be heading out.”

  “Oh.” She replied, then pointed at the man she was talking to. “Frank worked in the local lumberyard when the town was still itself. He should be able to help you.” She motioned for the man to come over.

  “Well, hello there, fine day, isn’t it?” The man hailed when he got to them. Still with that same overly bright smile that bothered Sandra so much. He only nodded, while Matt chatted on.

  “You use to work at the lumber yard, any rebar there?” Matt asked. “You said he’d know if there was any rebar left in the lumberyard?” He said, directing the question at the woman, but got his reply from the man called Frank.

  “Why yes. Quite a sizeable number really, and a working generator and saw for cutting it into the shapes and sizes you need. No one really goes there anymore, you know.” He paused. “But I’m willing to take you. If you’d like.” Frank finished.

  Matt replied, “Yes, thank you. Give us a minute to pack our gear. They quickly loaded up and pulled their trucks out of the garage. Frank was waiting in his truck. Immediately he saw them, the smile returned to his face. He drove ahead of them, and they drove behind him to the lumberyard.

  They removed the generator and chop saw they’d brought with them, to make space. They started the generator, and cut the ¾ inch rebar in 10-foot lengths, each at a 45-degree angle, they needed around four hundred, and split it between the two trucks.

  Within four hours they had the trucks packed with rebar. The day was still young, and they wanted to be on their way back as soon as possible.

  Frank had another proposition, though. He invited them to see their leader.

  “We’re supposed to have a feast today. This evening. Normally when new people come into town, we take them in to see him first. But I made an exception for you guys. But please, if you will do us the courtesy of coming to the feast. It’s at the church. Everybody in town will be there. Please, it’s kinda customary”

  “No can do sir, we really have to get back to our town. We appreciate your help with the rebar. We really do. But we have to get going. Matt?” Sandra said. Much to her dismay, she could see that Matt was considering it.

  “You’re joking, right?” She said, and Matt shrugged.

  “We can stay for one meal. Look, tell me you’re not the least bit curious to know who this leader person is?” He asked.

  “No, I’m really not. Really, really, reeeally not.” Sandra replied, she was trying to tell Matt there something seriously wrong here.

  Looking at Frank. “It would be rude not to say thank you to your leader.”

  All the while, during their exchange, Frank studied them, watching them decide. He knew they were going to stay. Of course they would. The padre had said it. And he spoke the message of the voices. The voices were never wrong. He looked to his left, and caught the eyes of the young boy who’d seen them come into town, and he nodded. The little boy nodded back.

  Neither Matt or Sandra saw that exchange.

  “We’ll stay.” Matt announced.

  “Perfect,” Frank said. “I’ll come see you guys to take you to the leader. In the meantime, the house…” he indicated the house they’d slept in the night before, “…is basically yours.”

  He walked away. They seemed like nice people. They had given them rebar, as much as they needed. A meal for the night. Why could she not just shake the feeling that it was all too perfect? Like it was a scripted and they were an un-suspecting actor in the drama.

  ***

  Tyler could not believe his ears. The story the kids had just told him was a cruel one. One he wondered why he hadn’t heard before. Well, he hadn’t really thought to ask.

  “And you’re sure your Dad was just reaching for his wallet?” he asked Billy, who sat consoling his sister who rested her head on his shoulders crying, the memory of that day, proving to emotional for the little girl.

  Billy nodded.

  “And your Mom. You never saw her again after that?”

  The boy shook his head. “They took her away and called the foster care to take us. Then after a while we were given to Uncle Dennis.” He said referring to Tyler’s employer. The owner of the Flyin’ J ranch.

  Tyler tried to wrap his mind around something which looked like fiction, but in actuality, had been someone’s reality.

  He shook as he imagined the pain the woman had endured, losing her husband and children in one fell swoop. He didn’t previously believed anyone was capable of such wickedness.

  He looked at the two children, still locked in an embrace as the boy consoled his sister. The things they must have seen. He was a grown man and he shivered at the thought of his father being killed in front of him. These kids had seen it though. They had witnessed first-hand, the lengths man would go to, to cover up his mistakes.

  His heart went out to Debbie. He’d been so hard on her yesterday. He felt a rush of admiration for the woman. She had wrestled the location of the place where her children had been remanded to by the foster care, out of them. Then she had proceeded to track them down. From location to location. Against insurmountable odds. A mother’s love really was stronger than any other thing in the universe.

  He had to reach her now. He had to reunite her with her kids. Anything else would be an injustice to her as it stood now.

  He recalled how she’d gasped when he wanted to sign off. She probably hated him. He couldn’t blame her, though.

  “Do you still remember what she looks like?” He heard himself ask. He didn’t know why he’d asked. He didn’t think it was a reasonable question to ask a thirteen year old.

  “I think of her every night. Anna says she does too when we talk about her. But Anna says she can’t remember her voice.” The little boy replied, and the little girl sobbed some more.

  His mind was set then.

  He got up and asked them to follow him, then as an afterthought, he asked.

  “Say, Billy. Do you happen to have a scar on your shoulder?”

  The little boy instinctively reached for his left shoulder before replying.

  �
��Yeah. I hurt myself in the playground when I was a kid.”

  ‘When I was a kid.’ Tyler scoffed as they walked towards the cabin where the ham radio setup was.

  ***

  That night Debbie sat by the radio at the prescribed time.

  “Hello CQ, CQ, CQ this is ZJ1SS. Zima Johnny One Sophie, Sophie. ZJ1SS calling AB1WR. Hello CQ, CQ, CQ this is ZJ1SS. Zima Johnny One Sophie, Sophie. ZJ1SS calling AB1WR. Mrs. Debbie Summers are you there?” The now familiar voice of Tyler called from the radio.

  Reaching it, she plucked the microphone from where it lay, and held it to her mouth.

  “Yeah, yeah. I am ZJ1SS. Tyler I’m here. On God, I’m so glad you reached out. Are the kids okay?” She asked in a rush.

  “Kids are fine ma’am. I have them here with me in fact. Would you like to speak to them?” It was one she had not expected. Not at all.

  Talk to them? Did she ever!

  “Wait. You believe me?” Finding it a bit hard to believe. Thinking he was messing with her, but at the same time, praying that he wasn’t.

  “Yes, I do. Hold on. I’m putting Billy on. The next voice you will hear is Billy’s.”

  She waited with bated breath, as the seconds between the exchange dragged on like hours. She swallowed. Her mouth was incredibly dry.

  Then the voice of the young boy came on, “Mommy?”

  Just then, she remembered. She couldn’t recall his voice up until now, but now, after hearing that single word. Every conversation they’d ever had, now played through her mind.

  “Yes baby. Yes. It’s me. Oh God Billy, I’ve missed your voice so much. I’m sorry it took me this long to find you guys. I don’t know if you can ever forgive me,” she blurted out very quickly, not allowing the boy to reply to any of her statements before making another one.

  “I’m fine Mom, I missed your voice too.” The little boy’s voice shook now with unshed tears, “I forgive you Mommy. I know it wasn’t your fault.”

  “Oh baby, I love you so much. Is your sister okay? How is your sister? Can I talk to her? Let me talk to her please.”

  Billy handed the microphone over to Annabelle who was still sobbing a little.

  “Mommy.” The voice came between sobs and Debbie all but melted.

  She couldn’t believe her ears. Her little girl. How many times had she imagined this very moment? Playing it down to the letter during every occasion. Now that it was here, she couldn’t stop the tears flowing down her cheeks.

  “Oh Annabelle, how are you?” She asked

  “I’m fine Mommy.” The reply came after a brief delay. “Are you coming to get us?” She asked.

  “Yes. Yes, baby. Mommy is coming to get you. Just you wait, okay? I’m coming to get you. I love you so much. I love you guys so much.” She said, then she calmed herself.

  “Give the microphone to Tyler honey.” She requested, and the exchange was made.

  “Mrs.Debbie Summers?” The voice came through.

  “Please Mr. Tyler. Tell me where you are. If you believe me, it must mean that my kids told you what happened. So you can appreciate what I’ve been through and understand my need to see my kids as soon as possible.”

  “You saw the letter at the double J right?” Tyler asked.

  “Yes. It said you were going to your home town. Obviously, it was directed to someone who knows you. We tried to find your home town from the same person who’d directed us to the Flyin’ J and the line cabin, but we were too late. He had passed away.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. We are in New Mexico ma’am. Just directly below Colorado. We’ve taken residence in the Gila forest.” He finished.

  New Mexico. New Mexico? She thought. That was give or take, a seven-hour journey away. They were so close. Tyler gave her direction and where to meet them.

  “Thank you very much. I will be on my way forthwith. Please give it to my son please.”

  “Billy, take care of your sister okay? Mommy’s coming. I’m coming to get you guys. Just hang tight.”

  “Okay Mommy, I love you.”

  “I love you too baby. Give your sister a kiss for me.” The tears continued down her cheeks as the radio turned silent.

  Finally, after all this time. Finally, what else could life throw at her now? It had finally given up the cruel joke he’d been playing on her for so long. She was going to see her kids again.

  New Mexico.

  “Jim!!” she called, as she ran excitedly to the room.

  ***

  The setup was nice. The church had been cleared of pews, and replaced with a big dinner table and chairs. A generator powered the building, so the lights were on, but candles were lit as well, giving the place a solemn look. A few paces away from the table, stood a piano, and a man sat with it, playing a solemn tune. It was a tune meant to soothe, but it just sent chills down Sandra spine. Why the hell were they running a generator at night. I would be blow horn to every infected for miles?

  When they arrived, the table had already been set, and the twenty members were already seated around, waiting for them. That’s mighty courteous of them, she thought sarcastically as Frank led them to the two empty seats, the leader walking behind them. He had met them at the entrance of the church. His appearance was unsettling. He was a gaunt man, with sunken cheeks and an unkempt beard. He had a scar down his left eye, and when he looked at them, it was as if he was listening to instructions, and so he seemed to look past them, at something else, something only he could see. His greeting was absent minded, and looked forced.

  “Welcome, we have been expecting you. It’s not very often we get new visitors to town. We try to make them as comfortable as possible. You know, tempt them to stay a little while.” He said, with a smile, one that really didn’t reach his face. The woman that they’d first met that morning, was also present. They were later to find out that she was the leader’s wife.

  Before dinner began, the leader gave a toast.

  “I’m usually a man of many words but I will keep it short today, as we have other, more pressing issues to get to…” He paused.

  “…the food, of course.” He completed, and some of the members laughed. “We don’t get visitors often. The world has been thrown into chaos by this umm, this… well, the world is in chaos. People are struggling to survive, but we’ve managed to band together, as a town. And attempted to carve out at least a semblance of normalcy. All that is left really, is more inhabitants. So, to Matt and Sandra. We hope you stay a while.” He lifted his glass and drank, and everyone else mirrored him. Everyone that is, except Sandra. Matt noticed this.

  “Come on, it’s really good, try some. When last did you have wine?”

  “It’s been a long time.” Sandra replied, taking a small sip, and smiling at the leader, who nodded.

  “Let’s eat.” He announced, sitting down.

  They all ate in silence for a while, Sandra asked. “I’ve been meaning to ask. How come you guys are not afraid to use the generator at night? I mean, aren’t you worried, those crazies will be attracted here?”

  “Crazies,” the leader spat out the word, only managing to catch himself in time. “Crazies?”

  “Yes, you know, the loco, the infected.” Matt said, “I’ve been meaning to ask that too.”

  “Let’s just say we’ve been fortunate. They don’t come around these parts. It’s almost as if we’re protected. Set aside somehow by God’s grace.” The leader replied.

  “Hear, hear.” His wife said, and everyone drank again.

  Matt set his cup down, and picked up his cutlery, or tried to at least. He missed. His vision blurred and corrected itself, his head felt heavy. Then everything cleared.

  “Wine sure does pack a punch.” He said smiling, unsure of what else could have caused the dizzy spell.

  “Matt, I don’t feel too good.” Sandra said, she’d
dropped her cutlery and was looking at her hands. They doubled and tripled as she looked at them, he looked up at the table, and everyone had stopped eating. They were staring at them. The smiles were gone now. They were being stared at as one might look at insects one wanted to squash. Matt collapsed in a heap on the floor.

  “What did you guys do?” She asked, her speech was slurred. “You bastards. What did you do?”

  She couldn’t sit upright anymore, she reclined in the chair, trying to find the most comfortable position. Turned out to be the floor, as she soon found himself sprawled beside Matt. She turned and lay on his back, looking up at the ceiling, she hadn’t noticed the drawings on there before. They were beautiful. She couldn’t make them out though, they swirled as the room did. A swirl of colors, lulling and tempting him into the blackness. She fought to hold on, but she was fighting in vain, but she had to try. It wasn’t good. Just then, from the table, she heard plates and cutlery. They had resumed eating. With them, barely conscious on the floor, the bastards had resumed eating. What exactly had they walked into? With this final thought, she finally closed his eyes, and welcomed the brief respite the blackness provided. From the table, she heard someone say something, and a wave of laughter spread round the table. After that, she heard nothing.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The cult.

  He tried to move, but he discovered his hands were tied behind his back. Memories of the dinner started flooding back, and his anger returned.

  “What the hell is going on here?” Matt yelled. Sandra’s head hung limply in front of her.

  “What’s going on here?” He asked for a second time. The twenty people at the table were all accounted for, and they were all staring at him. All of them had similar blank expressions. The table had been removed, but the chairs remained and were arranged in a row, and each person sat on their respective seats. Off to the right, up a few stairs, on what used to be an altar area, the leader sat on a big chair, chin resting on his arm, as he watched them. Their Glock 17s that they’d taken as a precaution, lay on the floor beside him. A large box stood in the middle of the room, covered with a cloth. He could hear growling from inside.