H7N9 Penitence

by Mark Campbell

  “That don’t mean much. I was practically at death’s door myself, but I got better,” Teddy said. “So did others. They could’ve returned at any time.”

  Jane looked over at him.

  “So you were worried about what they’d do to you if they’d return? You don’t think I thought it through? Is that what you’re vaguely implying? If you’re fishing for an apology, you won’t get one,” she said. “Frankly you should be grateful I’m allowing you to spend the night here after that Houdini stunt you pulled.”

  “I wasn’t implying anything at all, merely making an observation about your lack of foresight,” Teddy chimed back. “They could’ve come back and cracked your head open, or, even worse, followed you back to your own apartment stupidly located just a few doors down. If you want to survive, you’re going to have to be smarter than that.”

  Jane narrowed her eyes and pushed herself off of the balcony rail.

  “Thanks for the advice, but I’ve been surviving well enough on my own. Instead of running that mouth of yours, I suggest closing your eyes. It will be morning here soon enough and time for you to go.”

  Teddy frowned.

  “Trust me, I don’t want to stay any longer than I have to,” he said.

  “At least we’re in agreement about that.”

  Jane turned, walked back inside, and slid the door shut.

  Teddy sat huddled in the corner of the balcony. Eventually, he wrapped his arms around his chest and closed his eyes.

  CHAPTER 20

  NOVEMBER 17th

  The sound of distant gunfire jolted Teddy awake.

  It was hot, muggy, and the sun was shining brightly overhead. A haze covered the skyline and birds circled overhead.

  Groggy and sweaty, he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

  Another gunshot echoed from far away and sent a group of crows perched on an adjacent building up into the sky.

  Teddy stood and popped his achy back. His foot was sore, but at least he could put weight on it now.

  He looked over at the balcony door and noticed that it was open.

  As soon as he stepped into the living room, he spotted Jane standing at the dining table inventorying her supplies. She was wearing baggy urban camouflaged pants, a black t-shirt, and a weathered baseball cap. Her hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail.

  “You could’ve slept on the sofa you know,” she said as she continued to count cans of food.

  Teddy reached a hand up and cupped his aching forehead. His head pounded and his throat was parched.

  “If I didn’t think I’d wake up with cuffs on my wrists, maybe I would’ve considered it,” Teddy grumbled.

  “Considering how fucking miserable you are, I should’ve spiked your tea with some anti-depressants,” she responded flatly.

  “Did you?” he asked. He reached up and rubbed his sore throat. “My throat feels horrible.”

  “It’s called thirst, my clueless traveler.”

  Jane tossed him a bottle of water.

  Startled, Teddy caught it just in time.

  “If I were you, I’d eat something instead of complaining,” Jane said. “You’ll need your strength if you want to make it to the stadium.”

  Teddy scowled. He twisted the cap off and finished the water within seconds. He belched and tossed the empty bottle on the floor.

  “Charming,” Jane said. She pointed over at a small backpack sitting on the sofa. “I packed you another bottle of water and a few cans of food. It’s not much, but it should get you on your way.”

  “You didn’t drug them, did you?” he asked sarcastically.

  “No, but you’ll probably wish they had something in them once you start walking on that ankle of yours for any extended period of time. I don’t have any pain pills or antiseptic. You’ll have to stop by a drug store and pray it hasn’t been looted clean.”

  “It actually feels much better,” Teddy said.

  “See how you feel an hour from now,” Jane replied with a grin. “In any case, you need something to stave away any chance of the wound getting infected.”

  “I’ll manage,” Teddy said as he grabbed the backpack and slung it over his shoulder. He looked at her and frowned. “How much longer do you plan on staying held up in here living off lima beans and canned cat food?”

  “You should hurry,” Jane said, ignoring his question. “It’s already almost noon and you don’t want to try crossing the city during the hottest time of the day.”

  Teddy frowned.

  “If we’re both going to the same place, wouldn’t it make sense to travel together?” he asked.

  She didn’t answer.

  Teddy shrugged.

  “Whatever, I’m just trying to help you, that’s all. Judging by what I’ve seen out there, it’s always nice to have someone watch your back.”

  “Last I recall, I was the one who saved you,” she mentioned.

  “Maybe I want to return the favor.”

  Jane giggled.

  “Look at you…” she said with amusement. “You want to be my knight in shining armor. I don’t know you had such a kind heart underneath that smelly, unkempt, burly frame.”

  Teddy’s cheeks flushed and he looked away.

  “Fuck you, lady, I was being nice,” he mumbled. “I don’t give a rat’s ass what you do.”

  “Then why offer?” she asked with a smirk.

  Teddy’s face flushed and he didn’t answer.

  “Look, Teddy, you seem nice enough, and I appreciate how you stayed behind and played with Danny,” Jane said. “Despite that, we don’t know each other at all, really. Honestly… How can I trust you?”

  “I never gave you a reason not to trust me,” he said sourly.

  Jane raised an eyebrow.

  “Really? I distinctly remember you pointing a gun at me.”

  “I believe it was around the time you left me handcuffed to a bed!”

  Jane opened her mouth to speak, but fell silent as one of the bedroom doors creaked open.

  Danny came out of his room with his stuffed lion tucked under his arm. He was wearing a red shirt, khaki pants, and unlaced sneakers. His nose was red and his eyes had puffy black circles around them.

  “Mama, mama, can we play cars yet?” he begged. “Pleasssseeeeee?”

  Jane smiled down at him and tussled his hair.

  “Not yet sweetie,” she said. “We’ll play tonight, okay?”

  Danny pouted. He sniffled and wiped his runny nose with his sleeve.

  “How are you feeling today?” she asked.

  Danny sniffled again.

  “I was cleaning my room, mama. Now my nose itches and my throat is going scratch-scratch,” Danny said.

  “Is he sick?” Teddy asked with alarm.

  Jane glanced over at Teddy and shook her head.

  “No, this is common. He has allergies,” Jane explained. “This time of year was always bad, but with no electricity and no air conditioning it’s even worse.”

  “Yeah, my al-lor-gees,” Danny emphasized, struggling with the word.

  “Ah,” Teddy said, smiling. “Sorry to hear that, little man. I used to get those too.”

  Danny looked up at Teddy and his sullen expression turned hopeful.

  “Can you play cars with me, army man?” Danny asked.

  “No, sweetie, he can’t right now,” Jane quickly explained.

  Danny’s expression fell flat once again.

  Teddy gave a half-smile and shrugged.

  “Sorry,” Teddy said. “Maybe later.”

  “Fine…” Danny said with a frown. He coughed into the crook of his arm. He wiped his nose and looked at the backpack Teddy was carrying. “Are you going away, mister?”

  “Yeah, kid,” Teddy said. “I have to go to work.”

  “You going to stop the bad men?”

  “I’m going to try,” Teddy said with a smile.

  “You don’t have a gun, mister,” Danny pointed out.

  “Are you kidding, littl
e man? I have two of them right here!” Teddy said as he balled up his fists.

  Completely missing the joke, Danny looked at his mother with concern.

  “Mama, why doesn’t the army man have a gun?” he asked. “The army man’s gonna die…”

  Jane reached down and ran her fingers through his hair, ruffling it.

  “The army man is going to be fine,” she assured. “Go finish cleaning up your room while I get started on lunch.”

  Danny sneezed.

  “I’ll see if I can find you some of the pink stuff to help your sniffles.”

  “Yuck!” Danny exclaimed at the very mention of medicine. He turned around and slowly walked back to his room, sniffling and wiping his nose.

  Teddy turned and walked towards the front door. He grabbed the knob, stopped, and turned to look at Jane.

  Jane watched him with her arms across her chest.

  “He’s a good kid,” Teddy said. “Take care of him.” He paused. “And take care of yourself.”

  Jane hesitated, but eventually smiled.

  “Thanks, Teddy, you too.”

  Teddy nodded, turned, and walked outside into the hallway with the small backpack of supplies slung over his shoulder.

  “Waaaaiiiittttt!” Danny’s tiny voice rose behind him.

  Teddy stopped and turned back around.

  Danny darted around his surprised mother and ran towards Teddy. He looked up at him with big eyes, panting.

  “What is it, kid?” Teddy asked as he crouched down.

  Danny handed his stuffed lion out towards Teddy with both arms.

  “Take Lenny with you!” Danny demanded. “He’ll protect you from the bad men, mister.”

  Teddy took the stuffed animal, stared into its black plastic eyes, and chuckled. He stood up and placed the toy inside his backpack. The lion’s head stuck out the top of the bag and one of its paws hung over the side.

  “Thanks kid,” Teddy said with a smile. “I’ll take good care of him.”

  “Promise?” Danny asked skeptically.

  “Hey, I’m an army-man, right? We never lie.” He winked. “Now you go take care of your mom, alright?”

  “I will,” he said enthusiastically.

  Jane stood quietly, watching.

  Danny hugged Teddy’s leg, turned, and slowly walked back to his room while wiping his nose with his sleeve.

  Teddy looked at Jane and shrugged.

  “I guess I have a travel companion now after all,” he said as he gestured at the stuffed lion with his thumb.

  Jane gave a thin smile back and rubbed the back of her neck nervously.

  Teddy turned, grabbed the knob–

  “Teddy, wait,” Jane blurted out.

  He stopped and looked over his shoulder at her.

  “I’m probably going to regret asking, but how would you feel about taking two more with you?” she asked.

  He tried to hide the beaming smile that came over his face, but failed miserably.

  CHAPTER 21

  Teddy stepped out of the skyscraper’s shattered lobby doors, and covered his nose and mouth with a dirty handkerchief. The stench of rancid meat and decaying flesh permeated the hazy air. He squinted as he looked around.

  Abandoned cars clogged the feeder street and mounds of trash littered the sidewalks. Telephone poles leaned askew and their wires were lined beady-eyed crows gawking down at him. The interstate ran parallel to the feeder up a steep grassy embankment.

  He didn’t see any movement.

  After waiting for a few moments, he stuffed the handkerchief back in his pocket, turned, and motioned for the others to join him.

  “Looks clear,” he said.

  Jane emerged out of the lobby with an army duffle bag strapped over her shoulder. A bandana covered half of her face and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She kept one hand on the butt of her holstered pistol while her other hand held onto Danny’s small hand.

  Danny wore a baseball cap that was too big, overalls, and a long sleeve shirt. A dust mask covered most of his face but his eyes were wide with fear and wonder as he looked around at the drastically changed world.

  Teddy saw the fear in Danny’s eyes and tried his best to offer a reassuring smile.

  “Don’t worry, kid,” Teddy said. “I’ll keep the bad men away. Where we’re going I’m sure there will be lots of other kids for you to play with.”

  Danny didn’t seem to notice as he stared at the horrors around him.

  Teddy frowned and looked at Jane.

  “Has he even been out here since this all started?” Teddy asked.

  “No, of course not,” Jane quickly replied. “He hasn’t been out since people first started getting sick.” She looked down and gave Danny’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Let’s just go.”

  “Alright,” Teddy said. He turned and stepped out onto the street. “Let’s stick to this feeder and follow the freeway.”

  “The feeder isn’t safe. None of the main thoroughfares are,” Jane warned. “Opportunists like to camp in the buildings and rob clueless travelers.” She paused and pointed up at the freeway towards the burnt truck he was traveling in. “Just like you already found out.”

  “So what do you suggest?” Teddy asked, annoyed. “Going deeper into the city?”

  Jane shrugged.

  “There are few makeshift encampments, little communities, but even those are sketchy without any sort of law and order. When I went out to forge, I avoided them. Going deeper is still safer than following the freeway though.”

  “It’d take longer to get to the stadium though, right?”

  “I’d imagine so, yeah, why?”

  “Because I’d prefer getting there sooner rather than later,” he grumbled. “If trouble comes around, I’ll deal with it.”

  Jane rolled her eyes.

  “With what?” she asked. “Will you use your cunning wit or your rifle? Because from what I see, you’re lacking in both those departments.”

  Teddy’s face reddened.

  “Quit talking shit and just trust me, okay?”

  “Famous last words…” Jane said quietly.

  Teddy glared at her and narrowed his eyes.

  Jane gestured towards the road and raised her eyebrows.

  “Fine, by all means, lead the way, fearless leader,” she remarked mockingly.

  He turned away from her and furrowed his brows; he was already regretting his decision to bring her along.

  Teddy weaved in-between the vehicles as he made his way down the street. Just like the cars he that he had seen on the freeway, most still had decaying corpses slouched behind the wheels and their backseats were piled high with sacks of clothes. Many of the vehicles’ windows were smashed and had their luggage rummaged through and scattered about. Moldy clothing, useless personal trinkets, and shoes covered the pavement between the vehicles.

  Jane followed behind him – all the while keeping Danny close to her side.

  Danny tried to look inside the cars as they walked, but his mother shielded the side of his face so that he couldn’t see the decaying skeletal monstrosities sitting inside.

  “Keep your eyes ahead, sweetie,” Jane said quietly. “Look where you’re going so you don’t trip.”

  “Okay, Mama,” Danny replied in a pouty voice.

  As they walked, the crows that had been perched on the power lines flew away, cawing. A dry wind blew across the arid land and made an eerie whistle as it passed through the car’s broken windows.

  All around them the towering skyscraper’s windows were dark and the buildings looked vacant, but Teddy felt like the dead were peering at them from inside.

  It was an eerie sensation and reminded him of how he had felt back at the prison after the disease swept through it.

  The traffic came to a stop at an intersection that was blocked off by wooden barricades and four Tucson police cruisers.

  In the middle of the intersection there was an overturned Red Cross bus with three vehicles s
tood piled up against it; the bus still had corpses suspended upside down from their seats by their safety belts. A firetruck was parked nearby and cordoned off one of the other roads leading into downtown.

  “It looks like one of the evacuation buses they were using,” Jane stated as she stared at the wreckage. “They were running non-stop for a few days.”

  “You should’ve left when you had the chance.”

  “It would’ve been suicide,” she said. “They were cramming healthy people in with sick people. It was doomed for the start. Do you really think the stadium is safer now than it was back then?”

  “I have to hope so… Otherwise, what’s the point?”

  Teddy glanced up at the buildings that overlooked the intersection but he didn’t see any movement in the windows.

  “Stay here,” he said. “I’m going walk out there and see if I rouse any attention.”

  Jane nodded and held Danny against her leg.

  Teddy slid his way between two police barricades and stood in the middle of the intersection, looking around.

  He heard the dull whirring sound of an approaching helicopter.

  “Get down!” he barked. “Stay low! Don’t let them see you!”

  Jane covered Danny with her body and cowered down next to a green sports utility vehicle.

  Teddy ran towards the overturned bus, pressed his back against it, and hid in the vehicle’s shadow. He peered up at the sky and waited.

  The helicopter was a black military craft. A gunner manned a mounted machine gun in the craft’s open bay and scanned the city streets with his weapon. It didn’t slow as it passed overhead and headed towards the direction of the stadium.

  Teddy remained hidden as the helicopter passed and kicked up plumes of dust.

  Within a few minutes, the helicopter had flown far away in the distance.

  He looked down at his uniform and frowned. Weaponless and disheveled, he knew that he didn’t make a very convincing soldier anymore and didn’t want to risk playing the part and becoming target practice for a bored gunner.

  He took off his urban camo uniform top and was disgusted by just how dirty his t-shirt underneath was.

  Whatever, he figured, at least the breeze felt cool against his sweaty skin.