“Well, I want him to be happy and safe, too. Maybe when we get back, you and I can go outside and play with him for a bit.”
Fifteen minutes later we were on the bus and moving. As we pulled out of the driveway, I glanced up in the mirror.
“Alright, everybody,” I said. “Keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times.”
Mike and Tony laughed at that, then the kids laughed, too.
“Mal, Tab, seriously, we have a lot of work to do today. So, make sure you listen to Mr. Mike, Mr. Tony and me. Got it?” I asked.
They both nodded.
“And when we say ‘jump’ you jump, okay?” Mike said.
They both nodded again.
“And when we say ‘sing’ you sing, got it?” asked Tony.
They looked at each other, confused.
“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,” sang Tony.
“Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse, open sleigh,” sang both Tony and Mike.
“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,” now I joined in.
“Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse, open sleigh.” The kids joined in on the last line then everyone laughed so hard they couldn’t continue singing.
“Excellent, good job everyone,” said Mike.
There were three places that I could think of where someone sold firewood in front of their house.
At the first one, I had both Mal and Tab carry firewood and I took a turn at lookout. It took too long. Poor little Mal tried but he could only carry two pieces at most and Tab wasn’t too much stronger. Meanwhile, Tony was stacking 5 and 6 pieces in Mike’s arms. So, at the next stop, the kids kept watch together and things went a lot faster. After the third stop the mini bus was nearly half full of firewood. We’d only seen maybe 20 zombies and only 5 were close enough to pose a threat to the group. I shot 2, Tabby got 2 and Mal got his first. There were high fives all around for that. I was definitely proud of my son and he positively beamed with happiness. But, I couldn’t help also think how surreal this was. We were celebrating my 7 year old shooting what had been, until recently, a human being in the head with a crossbow bolt. No arguing that things would never be the same. Just past the last firewood stop were two places I wanted to stop.
The first was a little Mom and Pop gun store. We were able to get 2 more AR’s, one Glock and a few hundred rounds of ammo. I also made sure we got slings for the AR’s and a holster for the Glock. Tony found a few mags for the AR’s.
The second stop was a True Value hardware store. With more adults, we needed more tools. Hammers, screwdrivers, pliers and wrenches. Nails, screws, nuts and bolts. But, more importantly, I wanted shovels, rakes, hoes and other gardening implements. The True Value was much larger than the little gun store and we left the kids inside the bus with instructions to call on the radio or just beep the horn if they saw anything at all. The three of us cleared the store and found 6 zombies. After the Target experience, I couldn’t help but think of them as ‘only’ 6 zombies. If I had run into 6 zombies’ coming out of the Thompson’s that first day I would not be here today. It didn’t take long for us to get what we wanted in the hardware store and get back on the bus.
“Are we done?” asked Mike.
“I’d like to get more,” I replied. “But, I’m afraid that would be house to house now.”
“I know where we can get some more,” said Tony. “And, it’ll even be easy to carry.”
Mike and I looked at Tony rather expectantly.
“There was quite a stack of bundles outside the Bi-Lo when I was there last.”
“Huh, I didn’t even look over there when we drove by.”
“Is it out of the way?” asked Mike.
“Nope, we can drive right by it. Might as well take a look,” I replied.
We could hear the gunfire before we could see the Bi-Lo.
“I hope that’s not coming from the Bi-Lo,” said Tony.
“This won’t be good,” said Mike.
“Check your rifles. Sling your crossbows. Kids, you’re staying in the bus. No discussion. When we get out, you two get flat on the floor and don’t get up till one of us tells you. Got it?”
They both nodded and they both looked really scared. Shit, Sam was gonna kill me when we got back.
“Tony, Mike, I know we want to help these people, but not at the expense of my kids. Are we clear?” They both nodded.
When the Bi-Lo came into view it was the Target all over again. It looked like the glass store front had been shot out. There was a horde of zombies shambling out of the Bi-Lo directly towards 2 mini vans parked in the lot. There was what looked like 6 people outside the vehicle shooting at the zombies. But, they were in danger of being flanked by other zombies from their right side.
“Ryan,” said Tony. “Get around on their right side. Those zombies coming from the other part of the shopping center are going to roll up their flank.”
“I see it. You two ready?” They both nodded.
I pulled in to the shopping center and around to the right of the mini vans. I could see there was one zombie out in front on the right and I hit him with the bus as we stopped. Toggling the door as I was braking, Mike and Tony got out quickly and got to work. I stepped out my side and shot the road kill zombie in the head. Looking over at the human woman closest to me, I yelled as loud as I could.
“Hey, we’ve got your flank.”
She looked startled to see us there. She also looked like she was gonna break at any moment. The people in front of the min vans were shooting wildly and had a lot of misses. My guys were firing steadily and scoring a hit almost every time. I looked to my right and could Mike covering our flank on the far side of Tony who was closer to me.
“Mike,” I yelled as loud as I could. “Mike, check our six.’
Mike spun around and didn’t like what he saw.
“Behind,” he yelled.
I spun around and found more than ten zombies coming up from behind us. Mike and I quickly took out the staggering zombies, including several that were farther over behind the mini vans. Once cleared, I turned back around to the front and continued firing. A few minutes later it was almost over. Shit, these rifles were loud. I yelled again at the top of my voice.
“Cease fire, cease fire, cease fire.” I kept waving my hands, trying to get everyone’s attention. After a few moments the firing down the line slowed then stopped. I walked over to the bus and yelled inside. “Mal? Tabby? You guys alright?”
They both stepped out of the bus. Tabby was holding Mal who was crying. I took a knee and tried to console him.
“Loud, wasn’t it?”
Mal nodded.
“You know what?”
He shook his head.
“It’s too loud for me, too. Like the crossbow better?
He looked up at me and nodded.
“Tab, you okay?” She smiled weakly.
“Yeah, honey. I know. That was no fun for anyone. Why don’t you and Mal get your crossbows and come out here with Mr. Mike?” Tabby wrinkled her nose slightly at ‘Mr. Mike’.
I turned and walked over toward where the other people were gathering.
“You guys alright? Anyone hurt?” The woman who had been closer to me just stared like she didn’t speak the language. But she stepped aside to let a man walk up. He looked like an accountant if anyone could look like an accountant. He stuck out his hand and I took it.
“I’m Tom. Tom Morgan. Thanks for stopping.”
“Ryan Knight. You looked like you were in trouble. That is my daughter, Tabitha and my son, Mal. Over there is Tony and the younger one is Mike. Tom smiled and said another round of thank you.
“Are your people okay?” I asked.
“No,” came a shout from further back. “JoAnne is hurt.”
“Mike, Tony, stay here and keep a lookout with the kids. We made a shit ton of noise and I don’t want to get snuck up on.”
They nodded and I ran through Tom’s g
roup over toward the far minivan. JoAnne was on the floor of the vehicle. She had a shirt or something compressed against her lower leg. It was bloody.
“Mal, bring my back pack,” I yelled.
“How was she hurt?” asked Tom.
“I don’t know,” said a young man who was sitting next to JoAnne. He had a very concerned look on his face. Mal appeared with my back pack. I took it and sent him back with the others.
“I didn’t get bit,” said JoAnne. I looked over at Tom.
“We need to take a look,” I said. Tom nodded and moved closer. When he reached out to remove her hand, she recoiled.
“I told you. I didn’t get bit,” she said.
“Dad,” said the concerned young man. “If she says she didn’t get bit…”
“John, we have to look either way,” said Tom. “Any wound now has the potential to be life threatening. There are no hospitals anymore.”
“Tom,” I offered. “I have a decent med kit in my pack if you need it.”
“Yes, thanks.” Tom reached for Joanne’s leg and she recoiled again.
“JoAnne…”
“Dad, she said she wasn’t bit,” pleaded John again. I felt bad for him. She was obviously important. A fiancé or girlfriend. Maybe a wife but I didn’t see a ring. However, the way she was acting, it was clear she’d been bit and knew it.
“On the other hand,” I said. “If she was bit, then she’ll die in a minute or two and reanimate.”
“What do you know?” John was barely containing himself.
“I’ve seen it. We lost one of ours just 48 hours ago. Mike over there,” I pointed. “His father was bit, died and turned all in a matter of minutes. I’m sorry to tell you this, JoAnne but I think you ought to know.”
Tom reached out and grabbed the bandage off of JoAnne’s leg while she was listening to my story. It was obviously a bite. You could see where the flesh had been torn away right through her stretch pants. I looked over Tom’s shoulder at the wound as she collapsed onto the floor of the vehicle. John was trying to get her to sit back up. Then, suddenly she was dead.
“We need to get these people back now,” I said to Tom. “I’m sorry but this won’t be pretty.”
Tom tried to get everyone to step back but John wouldn’t go.
“Barb,” said Tom. “Can you help me…?” Barb was the woman who had been next to me before. She tried to coax John away. She was obviously his mother. But she wasn’t having any luck. Reluctantly, I stepped up.
“John, who is she to you? Wife? Fiancé? What?”
“Fiancé,” he said, crying.
“Did you love her?”
“Yes, very much.”
“Then remember her from happier ties. Step away with your mom and dad now. You don’t want to see this. Not this.”
I could see JoAnne’s eye twitch a little. I wasn’t sure I’d seen it, but then it did it again. Shit.
“Tom, now. We’re out of time.” As I said it JoAnne, or actually, zombie JoAnne grabbed John’s hand and started pulling it towards her mouth. I moved as quickly as I could, pushing Tom out of the way and in a moment had my knife through her eye into her brain.
John screamed and Tom recoiled at the shock of what just happened. Barb was able to pull John away. I took two steps back, turned and threw up on a dead zombie. After I recovered from the vomit, I walked over to the bus and checked in with Tony, Mike and the kids. I also need to rinse my mouth out.
“Tabby, you got a water bottle in your pack that I can have?” I asked.
“Sure, dad. What happened over there?’
“Oh, honey. I don’t think you really want to know. Maybe later.” I took the bottle and swished some water around in my mouth and spit. A few more times and it was mostly gone. I drank the rest.
“Tony, Mike, everything good?”
“Yeah, boss. We’ve taken care of a few stragglers coming up but nothing bad,” answered Mike. Tony just nodded. I was glad to have such great people. They switched back to their crossbows as soon as the worst of the onslaught was over. No point attracting more to the party.
I looked up and found Tom staring at me. He was vaguely shell shocked.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“No,” Tom said, perking up a little. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have had to do that. It was my job. I guess I didn’t want to believe what was happening.”
“I had an advantage over you,” I said. “I watched Mike’s father turn. I knew how fast it happened.”
“I’m glad you stopped,” said Tom.
‘What happened here?” I asked.
“We’ve been holed up at our place a few miles away. But we finally ran out of supplies. We weren’t ready for something like this. When we got here, there were zombies in the parking lot and we are very poor shots. We managed to shot some of the glass out of the store I think and zombies came through. Then more and more. And we managed to shoot out the rest of the glass while shooting at the zombies.”
“You don’t have anything other than firearms?” I asked.
“No,” Tom said simply.
“The noise attracts them and seems to rile them up. You’ve got to be quieter.”
“This is all we have,” said Tom.
“Alright, let me talk to my guys and see what we can do. You need to post lookouts so I can bring them in. Tom, if the lookouts see anything just yell for us. No more shooting.” Tom nodded and went over to give instruction. I finished my water bottle and called Mike and Tony over after lookouts had been posted. After listening to me for a few minutes, Mike spoke first.
“I don’t think we can help everyone we come across,” he said.
“You helped us,” said Tony.
“And you were all ‘let’s save the humans’ about it,” I said. “What changed?”
“I don’t know, Ryan. I really don’t. I think at the moment it’s because there’s too many of them.”
“I agree that we can’t supply every one of them with weapons,” I said. “But, maybe we can help them help themselves. And by doing that, help ourselves in the process. We need a larger group if we’re going to relocate. I know we haven’t made that decision yet, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”
“What are you thinking?” asked Tony.
“We help them here; now, to get what they need from the store. Then tomorrow we go with them to Dick’s or Carolina Rod and Gun to get them outfitted. Mike?”
“I can get behind that,” he said.
“Tony?”
“Let’s help them.”
“Okay, I’ll call the house and tell them we’ll be late.”
When I was done on the walkie-talkie, I went over to speak to Tom. I laid out my ideas and Tom was thrilled for the help.
“Understand, right now my family comes first,” I said. “I won’t give you what we have. But I will help you to help yourselves.”
“I appreciate it more than you know,” Tom said.
“Because we have more experience with the zombies, I’m in charge,” I said. “Is anyone going to have a problem with that?”
“No.”
“Then here’s the plan. Two of my people will clear the store. I don’t think there’s any more in there but we can’t be sure. Once clear, we will provide cover while your people load up. I see a cargo van over there with a zombie in it. We’ll get the zombie out and you can fill it, too. No shooting, Tom I mean it. If we see a zombie we take it out quietly. Got it?”
Tom agreed.
“Good the let’s get your people back together and go over it with them.”
I stayed outside with Tom’s group and the kids, while Tony and Mike cleared the store.
“One of us should’ve gone with them,” said John.
“They’ve got it, John,” I said. “We’ve cleared a bunch of buildings. We can do it quickly and quietly.”
“John, we don’t have any bows,” said Tom. “And they don’t have any extras.”
“I could use hers,” sa
id John, pointing at Tabby’s bow.
“No, John. You couldn’t,” I said, turning towards him. “It’s hers and she’s killed zombies with it.” I hugged my daughter and she smiled up at me. “After seeing you shoot, I’m guessing she’s killed more zombies than you. If you tried to take it from her, she’d probably shoot you. And I think I’d let her.”
John reacted as if I had slapped him.
“I’m sorry for your loss, John. I really am,” I said. “You’ll get your chance for payback. I know you’ll need it. But, you’re not getting it today. Not while you’re so upset. You’ll get somebody hurt or killed.”
Tom went over to John and spoke to him quietly, but forcefully and he quieted down.
“I’m sorry Ryan,” Tom said.
“He’s had a bad day, I get it. You should’ve seen me after I lost Mike’s dad. But he needs to listen more and talk less right now.”
Tom nodded. No parent likes for someone to tell them their child is being stupid. Mike and Tony came back out.
“One in the office, one behind customer service,” said Tony.
“And one in the back room,” added Mike. “It’s clear.”
“Good work. One more thing then we go on lookout duty. Take one of Tom’s people, but not John and clear the zombie out of that cargo van over there so they can use it.”
Mike and Tony went off to get that done while I talked to Tom.
“They’re getting the van ready. When they’re done, pull all three vehicles up to the door and get loading. Is there anything you have plenty of?” I asked.
“No, I think we need pretty much everything.”
“Don’t take this personally. I don’t know you or what you know or don’t know, so I’m gonna dumb this down. Water is number one. Fill the entire cargo van and one of your vans with it. Juice, soda, Gatorade will help with the boredom of the water. For Christ’s sake, get coffee if you have a way to brew it without electricity. Food is second. Nothing perishable, either. Canned meats, veggies and fruits. Get rice and dried beans. Then raid the medical supplies: bandages, gauze, painkillers, antibiotic ointments and such. Don’t forget toothpaste and brushes. There’s no dentist’s in the zombie apocalypse. Make sure you grab toilet paper.”
“And tampons,” Tom added.
Dead of Knight: A Zombie Apocalypse Survival Tale Page 18