“Just saying,” Maggie smiled.
“OK, we’ll try to find a car but we won’t get too excited until we see how jammed up the highways are,” Adam smiled. “I’m just happy you are going with us.”
“What are we going to do with the boat?” Nicole asked.
“I guess we will just drop anchor and let it sit out in the shallows,” Adam replied. “I doubt we will get back up this way, but if we do maybe it will still be here if we need it.”
Dave thought for a second.
“Did you want to sail back down to Cortez before going inland?” Dave asked. “Would that make the trip shorter?”
“It is about the same distance from here or down there,” Adam replied, “It might be a little shorter from down there but I don’t want to go back there unless we can’t get inland form here. It was bad down that way. Once you get inland from Cortez the area is really built up. There are probably zombies everywhere down that way.”
“I’m glad you know the area,” Dave said.
“I did know the area,” Adam replied, “Now it’s just a guess.”
They spent the next ten minutes picking what to take with them. It wasn’t hard since they didn’t have much.
The only causality was Joey’s box of toys.
The main problem was how to get Morris off the boat.
Since they were going to wade to shore, Dave couldn’t help but remember the last time he held a cat over a tub of water. Tampa Bay was going to be the ultimate tub of water.
They finally decided on a solution.
Dave would carry Morris.
“Some solution,” Dave laughed. “My arms still ache from the mauling I got from the damn little barn cat back at the farm.”
But after putting their heads together, Maggie suggested wrapping Morris in a blanket.
“I’m pretty sure he can’t shred the blanket before you get him in to shore?” Maggie laughed.
“I’ll walk fast,” Dave said, putting the finishing touches on their solution.
With their belongings gathered on the deck and Dave holding the blanket, Adam started to guide the boat in towards shore.
Morris could feel the tension in the air and decided to hide on the other side of the cabin, where he sat and warily watched what they were doing.
The boat was almost a mile from shore.
Adam started the engine to make it easier to move towards the shore.
They all stared at the beach as the boat slowly moved closer.
Maggie sat up and strained to see what was on the beach.
“I’m not sure but there seems to be a lot of zombies on the beach.”
“I don’t remember seeing any of those things anywhere near the beach back on the island,” Adam said, “they seemed to stick to the streets looking for the living.”
“Maybe now that the zombies have taken over the world,” Dave smiled, “they have decided to relax and get a sun tan. They are trying to improve their skin color.”
Maggie elbowed Dave, “That’s not funny.”
“Sorry,” Dave grinned.
The boat moved closer.
“It’s starting to look like something from Zombie Bikini Beach,” Dave said.
“They aren’t staggering around like the zombies we saw on Anna Maria,” Nicole said.
“Look at those two walking along the edge of the water to the right,” Adam added. “They are moving real nice.”
Now it was Nicole that elbowed Adam, “That’s gross.”
“I’m serious,” Adam protested.
“I don’t think they are zombies,” Maggie shouted. “They look like real people.”
“Take us in closer,” Dave said staring at the beach.
“Maybe it’s a trap?” Adam said.
“I don’t think zombies are smart enough to set a trap,” Maggie replied.
“This can’t be right,” Nicole said looking confused.
“It looks like nothing happened up here,” Dave said, “Do you think the army was able to stop the zombies up this way?”
Adam sailed the boat in to shore and dropped the anchor when they were fifty feet out from a spot where only a few people were tanning themselves on bright blue beach towels.
Up and down the beach, people were splashing in the water.
Others were playing volley ball or just relaxing on beach chairs with their feet dangling in the waves.
Occasionally one of the people on the beach would look out at the boat but overall, no one paid much attention.
“What do you think?” Adam asked.
“I say we go ashore,” Dave replied. “It doesn’t look like there is anyone there that wants to eat us.”
“It feels creepy,” Nicole said. “I just keep imagining us walking up on the beach and all of a sudden they all turn into zombies and start chasing us.”
“Look past the beach,” Dave said. “I can see cars driving by. If this is a trap it is a damn good one. I say we go take a look. If the zombies around here are this good we’re not going to stand much of a chance going ashore anywhere else.”
Adam jumped down off the boat into the waist deep water.
Nicole handed Everly down to Adam and then jumped down next to him.
Maggie went next and Dave handed Joey down.
Now Dave had to catch Morris who seemed to have disappeared.
Dave found Morris hiding down in the cabin but to Dave’s surprise, he didn’t put up much of a fight.
Dave wrapped the blanket around the cat, making sure to trap the cat’s sharp claws against its sides.
For good measure, he pulled one flap of the blanket down over the cat’s eyes.
Morris wriggled around in the blanket when Dave jumped down into the water, but after that just laid limply in Dave’s arms.
Dave thought that maybe Morris had a heart attack and died, but he was just happy that the cat wasn’t trying to bite or scratch him.
They all waded into the beach.
The people on the beach gave them strange looks, since they were all fully dressed and more than a little dirty, but at least no one tried to attack them.
The first thing they all noticed was that any building flying the American Flag, the flag was flying at half-mast.
They were all staring at the flags when Dave noticed that Maggie had wandered off.
She was staring at a newspaper stand on the corner.
Dave motioned for the others to follow him over to Maggie.
When Dave walked up behind Maggie, she turned and looked at them.
She was fuming.
“Look at this shit,” she spat out the words angrily, “I knew it. Those bastards!”
“You knew what?” Nicole asked.
“Look at these headlines,” Maggie said, “It was the damn government and now they are covering it all up.”
They looked at the newspaper headlines.
U.S. lodges protest with Mexican Government after unidentified Mexican vessel containing toxic biological waste breaks up off the Coast of Anna Maria Island.
Anna Maria Island quarantined after unidentified vessel containing toxic biological waste crashes on the island.
Government prepares to handle massive casualties.
Areas evacuated twenty miles inland from Anna Maria Island informed they may be able to return to their homes in the next week.
Government Biological team returns from Anna Maria Island confirms there are no survivors.
Government states the only way to neutralize the exotic biological wastes on Anna Maria Island is by incineration.
The island will be uninhabitable for at least fifty years.
“Look at this shit,” Maggie said, “The government did this. I don’t know how and I don’t know why, but I know they did it and now they are going to cover it up. I wouldn’t doubt they used the island to test some new biological weapon.”
“You were right all along,” Dave said sadly. “I’m sorry I thought you were being crazy.”
&
nbsp; “How can they get away with something like this?” Nicole said, “All those poor people that died on the island.”
“We should tell someone,” Adam said.
“Remember, there were no survivors,” Maggie said. “If you try to tell someone, you will disappear.”
“They will lock you up in a looney bin,” Nicole said.
“My mom will testify on their behalf,” Adam grinned.
“If I were you,” Dave added, “I would tell everyone that you have been in Disney World for the last week. Tell them Shirley was in charge while you were gone.”
“Bastards,” Maggie swore then looked at Nicole. “Not you, the government.”
“You better go settle your mom down before she calls the police to come looking for you,” Dave said. “If she tells them you are out running around stealing boats and talking about zombies you could be in trouble.”
“You’re right,” Adam sighed. “What about you guys? What are you going to do?”
“No one knows we’re here, I hope?” Dave replied. “I guess we are going to get the hell away from here and go home.”
“How are we going to get home?” Maggie asked. “The zombies have our car.”
“We can rent a car,” Dave said pulling out his wallet to see how much money he had.
After looking in his wallet he looked at Adam.
“Adam, could you lend me enough money to go home,” Dave asked. “I think I can get a car for $25.”
“No problem,” Adam said, “I’ll rent you a car. It’s probably better there isn’t a paper trail to show you were here. I’ll put it in my name. I rented the car to take a little drive to see the sights in Starke. You were never here.”
“That story is unbelievable,” Maggie smiled, “you obviously have never been to Starke.”
“I do appreciate you not telling anyone I was here,” Dave smiled.
“The only person I’ve seen that wasn’t from around here in the last week was Andrew,” Adam grinned, “I have no idea where he is now.”
They walked across the street to the Enterprise Rental Car office.
Adam and Nicole each rented a car.
“Jay’s Trailer Park, right?” Adam asked. “I might take a trip up that way in a week or so. We’ll stop by.”
“We’ll be happy to see you,” Dave replied. “Thanks Again and good luck.
“You too,” Adam replied. “Maybe I’ll go cut the rope on that boat before we leave. Maybe when the coast guard finds it they will just think that it drifted out this way.”
“Let’s hope,” Dave smiled.
Maggie gave Nicole a hug.
They each go into their cars and drove off in opposite directions.
Chapter 20
One week later.
Dave and Maggie were sitting on their porch.
Dave was reading a zombie book, The Final Survivors.
Maggie was reading the newspaper.
The temperature in Starke today had reached 101 degrees.
The air conditioner was turned off.
They would turn it on around 10:00 PM tonight, a half hour before they turned in for the night.
Sweat ran down their faces as they read in the shade given off by the small porch roof and their one palm tree.
No one complained about the heat.
“Dave,” Maggie said as she read the paper, “I think we should go back to the farm.”
“Why now?” Dave asked. “I thought you liked it here. Besides our luck is starting to get better. I think I’m going to be starting a new job over in Jacksonville next week.”
“After what we’ve been through the last few weeks, the trailer could burn down and we could say our luck is getting better,” Maggie laughed.
“You’re right there,” Dave smiled, “But why now. What’s bothering you?”
“It’s something I just read,” Maggie replied, “I’m not sure but something tells me that maybe we should go home.”
“What did you read?” Dave asked.
Maggie closed the paper she was reading, folded it in half and looked at a small article on the back page.
“Tell me what you think,” Maggie said before reading the article out loud.
“The USS Saratoga, returning from its station off the Coast of Anna Maria Island, where it acted as the base for cleanup operations for the biological waste disaster there, ran aground in Key West Florida on its return trip to Norfolk Virginia, its base and the home of the Atlantic Fleet.
Sources said anonymously, as no one was authorized to speak on the matter, that the ship’s crew was experiencing unusual symptoms as a result of their exposure to the biological wastes. The ship, its crew and Key West were being quarantined until doctors could determine the nature of the illness.”
“Shit,” Dave exclaimed as he slammed his book shut, “so now it begins.”
“I see you’re thinking the same thing as me,” Maggie said seriously.
“They might be able to cover it up like they did on Anna Maria Island,” Dave said.
“But maybe it gets away from them this time,” Maggie replied. “I’m sure they didn’t expect it to get back to the ship. Someone might have already driven off of Key West carrying the infection. Maybe one of the pilots has carried the infection back to the mainland. What do you think?”
“I think you’re right,” Dave responded, “In my zombie book the people are heading for an island on the Outer Banks to get away from the infection. Maybe we should go there instead of back to the farm.”
“We tried the island thing already,” Maggie grinned, “I think we should try the farm this time.”
“I don’t think that old Buick I bought from Honest Dan’s will make it all the way back to Ohio,” Dave said.
“I got paid today, we can rent a car,” Maggie grinned. “The hell with the power company, let them turn off the power. We won’t be here.”
“Can I finish my book first,” Dave asked. “I only have two more chapters to go.”
“Sure,” Maggie laughed, “we can wait until tomorrow.”
“Good,” Dave smiled. “We should also give Adam and Nicole a call before we go and give them a heads up. I hope they don’t think we’re crazy.”
Maggie laughed, “Oh I think they will believe us. Just make sure you call them from a pay phone so the call can’t be traced back to us.”
“I’ll call them collect and say I’m Andrew,” Dave laughed.
“As long as we call,” Maggie said. “We owe them that much for renting us the car.”
Dave looked across the street at Carl’s old trailer. It was sitting empty.
“I can’t help but think about Carl,” Dave said. “I wish he would have made it back with us. That was a horrible way to die.”
“I’m sure he always dreamed about dying in bed with a hot chick,” Maggie replied.
“I don’t think getting eaten like that was part of his dream,” Dave replied.
“I don’t know, we are talking about Carl,” Maggie smiled.
“I guess we should all be careful what we wish for,” Dave smiled sadly thinking about Carl.
“Talking about getting eaten by a hot chick,” Maggie smiled, “you’re going to love how your book ends.”
“Don’t say any more,” Dave warned, “I want to find out for myself. But I’m really more worried about how things will end for us if this begins all over again.”
“If it happens, we’ll know what we are doing this time,” Maggie grinned.
“That makes me feel so much better,” Dave said sarcastically.
Thank you for reading Now It Begins.
I hope you enjoyed the story.
If you enjoyed the book and would like to be notified about any future releases, please email me at:
[email protected]
We just might be hearing from Dave and Maggie again.
It is a long journey from Starke Florida back to the farm in Ohio.
Until then, I hope you have a
chance to look at some of my other books.
Your interest and support would be greatly appreciated.
And more.
Thanks Again,
Gary Chesla
Now It Begins Page 22