Red Rises (Book 2): Dead To Rights (HZA, Vol. 4)

by Brockschmidt, Marty

  Margo had identified all the food stuff, they had brought with them and it was waiting in the kitchen area. When Pete and Turk entered, Margo got up from where she was sitting with Dog and hugged Turk. “I like it here a whole lot, are we going to stay?”

  “Li'l Miss, you know I can't make any absolute promises, but for now, we have no plans on leaving.”

  “Woo hoo ya hear that Dog, your stuck with me now.”

  As they set to work, Turk explained what they would be having for dinner. “We'll trim the fat from the bear meat and I'll render that down. That way, it will last and we can add it to meals to boost the calories. The meat, we'll cut up and boil. What we don't use in the stew, we'll salt and then tomorrow, I'll park the willys in the sun and we'll dry the meat in it. We'll flavor the stew with wood sorrel, ramps, and morels. We also have dandelion and a couple other greens for a salad. We'll add ramps and morels to that to.”

  “It all sounds good to me. We've been supplementing that last bit you gave us with some canned goods we salvaged from the park’s restaurants, having fresh food will be a treat.” Commented Pete.

  After dinner, Turk directed Prescott and Margo to clear the table and clean the dishes.

  “James, you and the others can pitch in too. Then you all may check out the games, Turk brought.” Tom added.

  “Tim, I don't want to mess with your patrol rotations, but may I suggest, Will and Emma take patrol now? I have some news to share with you all.” Turk queried.

  Tracey eager to spend some time getting to know the teens, stepped up, “I could show them around.”

  Tim was pleased to be consulted, on the decision. “Yeah, sounds good. It'll be nice to have some help, keeping watch.”

  Turk pulled out a jar of his moonshine. “This is from a long standin family recipe, just go slow, it does pack a kick.”

  The men were quick to take a glass, Red declined, but Sue and Miri followed suit. Once they had settled back, Turk started up the discussion, he was leading up to. “I'm not one to hem and haw. I want you to take what I have to say with a grain of salt, since it came from a man, tryin to gain advantage in a knife fight. When Will and I rescued those kids, the one called Cain taunted me, by saying the rescue didn't matter. That the True Believers have regular patrols and the kids, would be scooped up again. He also said, they was trainin the children to be like their leader. He called her The Mother.”

  Sue immediately concerned, started to ask a question, but Turk stopped her. “I know you got questions, but I just got a little bit more to add and then I'll try to answer your questions. Emma and the kids weren't able to learn much, during their time with Cain. They did cover a fair piece of this half of Tennessee and didn't find any other folks to take. Once they passed near this park, Cain commented that he didn't believe it could be occupied and if it was, their patrols weren't equipped to take folks from here. When Will and I connected with Cain, they had a handful of zeds that they posted around their camp perimeter, I reckon to keep other zeds away. Alright then, ask away.”

  “So are you telling us, you've probably led that group here?” Tim grumbled

  “I'm not sure you were listenin son, I done everything I could, to lead them far from here. I do feel you are better off with me here and you needed to know, of a possible threat.” Turk responded

  “Well, we need to talk to Emma, we got to know what is going on.” Insisted Tim

  “Hold up their son, I share your concern, but badgering that young girl is not the answer.” Turk cautioned.

  Sue took the opportunity to calm the situation. “Turk, thank you for everything today and we all realize, you didn't have a chance to interrogate those men. If you or Emma can recall anything else, I'm sure you'll let us know. It is a blessing, to have you in our band now.”

  Tom, recognizing that his wife had decided for them all, moved on to the business of planning, not only to keep zeds out, but to thwart the attack of a large, armed force. “Well, I guess we have a lot to discuss and not sure we can resolve it all tonight. What say, we spitball some ideas and then sleep on it and see what starts to make sense.”

  The discussion wore on for the next couple of hours, until it was necessary to stop and get the children to bed. When Lizzie was finally down, Red went searching for Turk and found him seated outside of the Admin building.

  “Penny for your thoughts?”

  “Aww not too much goin on in there, I just don't handle bein cooped up indoors, for long stretches. That was a bigger meal than I've had in a stretch, how bouts we walk a tad to help it settle.”

  “Your a natural with those children, they've really taken to you.”

  Turk chuckled, thinking back to the first couple of days, when Margo, frightened by his vicious attack on Cain's camp, wasn't sure she could trust him. If it weren't for Will's acceptance of him he might not of won her over, “Just my genteel nature I guess.”

  “Now don't be so modest it’s taken me awhile to get comfortable with Lizzie.”

  “Well she certainly dotes on you now. What I am havin a harder time adjustin to is the back and forth process you folks go through to make a decision.”

  “I did to at first, but when a quick decision is needed you make it and the group supports you. This back and forth as you say just keeps everyone informed.”

  Turk stopped and wrapped his arms, around Red’s waist. “I have made my mind up about you.”

  Red allowed her defenses to go down, rested her head onto Turk's chest and slid her hands up his arms, feeling his strength. Turk slid a hand behind her head and bent in for a kiss, Red gently pushed herself back, until she was standing an arms length away, holding Turk's hands and looking into his soft brown eyes. “Mind you sir, I'm not saying no, I'm just saying not yet.”

  Turk gently brought one of her hands to his lips and briefly kissed, the back of Red hand. The pair walked back to the administration building, hand in hand, their fingers intertwined.

  Turk used to rising early was up before dawn. Sam had said there was a bobcat and hi-lo in the maintenance building, but no one knew how to get them running. Turk grabbed a couple pieces of dried venison for breakfast, then pulled his portable genny from his willys and a battery charger.

  While the batteries were charging he went back for his tool box and a gas can. The equipment had been fairly well maintained, but over the past year, bugs and mice had nested in them. Once he had them cleaned out and charged up all it took was to prime them up by pouring a little gas down the cylinders and replace the plugs. When the others were finished with their breakfast they found Turk waiting with the two vehicles.

  “Jimmy, Jackson why don't you two hop into the cat here. It is real easy to work this stick controls the left track and this other the right. You two have to be a team to keep er straight.”

  Each of the boys turned towards their fathers and in unison. “Can I dad?”

  “I'll walk alongside to make sure they don't get into trouble.” Turk offered.

  With a nod from Tom and Jeff, the pair climbed into the operators seat.

  “Prescott, hop up in the hi-lo it drives, kinda like a car. By the end of today, I'm expecting all you to earn your operator's license.”

  “Even me?” Caleb asked.

  “Especially you, little man.”

  When they broke for lunch the work aided by the heavy equipment and Turk's patience in explaining to the children what they needed to do, the work on the barricades was coming close to done. Turk took a moment to talk with Tom and Tim, about their other plans.

  “Those barricades, sure were a slick idea.”

  “That was Sam's suggestion.” Tom acknowledged.

  Turk had some additional ideas to secure this place, but wanted to tread lightly, until they all got to know each other.

  “I noticed some security cameras, sure would nice to have those working for us.”

  “Sam spent a while investigating them, he says we are all set if we had the juice to run them..” Tim repl
ied.

  Sam overhearing what was said, came forward. “I got to believe some of those fancy houses up in the hills near here, have to have some solar panels. We wouldn't need to generate a lot of watts, to bring those cameras up. We got a couple of generators, we just been working so hard, I haven’t taken the time to drag one up.”

  “Well, I got a portable genny. If you want ,this evening, we could test your theory and if it pans out, we can plan a run.” Turk offered.

  “I'd like that, I'd like that a lot.” Sam agreed.

  After a hasty dinner, Sam and Turk went to the security office to power the cameras and monitors. Sam had already worked out, where to feed power to the security system and in short order, he had connected an extension cord. Turk started his generator and plugged in the cord. It took a moment for the system to boot up and then the monitors flickered to life.

  “Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle.” Sam declared.

  “Sam, you’re the man.” Turk responded, clapping Sam on the back.

  “I'll go get Tim and Tom, while you acquaint yerself with yer new toy.”

  Turk strode across the compound, his long legs eating up the ground in no time. He found Tim and Tom, planning the next projects for the group.

  “Gents if I may interrupt. Sam has requested the pleasure of your company in the security office.”

  “You tellin me he actually got a camera working?” Tim asked.

  “From what I saw I'd say it was more like all the cameras. I saw Red and Tracey on patrol. I saw the far side of the park on the other side of the barricades.”

  Before he finished Tom and Tim were already racing to the security office. Sam was showing them what he had learned about the system, but the views around the park spoke for themselves.

  “So all we need is a power source and we can watch the whole park?” Tim asked.

  “Yep” Sam replied humbly.

  “And you think one of those high-end houses, could have a system?” Tom queried.

  “Yep.” Sam grinned, pleased that they were finally catching on, to what he had been pushing for a while.

  “I could take Will and Emma with me, once the barricades are done and have a look see.” Turk offered.

  “You sure, you know what to look for?” Tim questioned.

  “Yeah, my cabin was off the grid, but even us simple country folk, appreciate some conveniences. I installed a full array of panels and I'm pretty sure, I could still recognize what we need.” Turk responded, tiring of Tim, constantly putting him down.

  “Thank you for the offer Turk, but don't you think you should have Red or Sam along?” Tom offered.

  “We're just looking. If we find a system, we come back and figure out who is needed to retrieve it. I'll talk to Red and Pete and see if they are open to keeping an eye on Prescott and Margo, for me.” Turk responded.

  “So, we're decided then?” Tom asked.

  “I guess.” Tim stated, not enjoying the thought that once again, Turk gets the opportunity to bring a big prize to the group.

  Turk had already spoken to Pete, about keeping Margo occupied and waited for Red to return from patrol, to break the news to her. He didn't have long to wait, before Red came storming out of the administration building.

  “So, when were you going to tell me?” Red snapped angrily.

  “Right now.” Turk answered.

  “You've barely been here a day and your planning on running off already, what was all that last night?”

  “I'm not leaving, its just a little run, I'm trying to contribute where I can.”

  “Run, what kind of run? All Tim told me, was you were heading out.”

  “Figures. Is there something between you and Tim? He seems to have had it in for me, ever since I got here.”

  “Tim and I are just friends, though he'd like it to be a bit more.”

  “Well, that answers a lot. I meant what I said last night, but I'm a big boy, I can handle it if your not feelin the same.”

  “That is just the thing. I can't handle this right now. The world is gone to crap, I can't depend on anybody sticking around. The second I begin to care, this world just takes it away from me.”

  Turk held her hands in his. “I avoided folks for a long time, even before this all happened. I could of kept on the way I was and be little more than an animal. It was you that drew me back from that. If I go out, I'm going out a man. Until that happens, I'm stickin around.”

  Red came, to see Turk head out. Turk went to his vehicle for a moment and pulled out a hand held radio.

  “I had Sam help me setup the base earlier, it should have a bit more range, than the radio's you've been using. I'll check in every couple of hours and make sure Prescott is behavin hisself. The hills, may make communication a bit erratic though”

  Turk reached out and let his fingers linger on hers, for a bit and then raised his hand to stroke her cheek. “I will be back, before dark.”

  Turk turned and addressed the teens waiting on him. “Load up you two, we’re burnin daylight here.”

  Chapter 4 - Concoction

  Tim closely watched the interchange between Red and Turk, then went over to open the gate, as Turk pulled out. Turk took a road up the hills to overlook houses, which faced out to the south. Scanning with his binoculars, he soon found a house with an array of panels.

  Turk pointed out the house to Will and Emma. “It may not be so easy to locate, when we head over to it. Take note of the houses next to it and above and below it.”

  They made their way over to the house. relocating it, with a minimum of difficulty. At some point a branch had fallen across the drive blocking access to the house. Turk chose to pull the big branch to the side by tying a rope from it to the willys. The steepness of the grade seemed to deter zeds, but he didn't want to chance the noise of cutting up the limb.

  “Will we'll make a quick loop around the house to see if anyone or anything is still inside. Emma keep an eye behind us.”

  After assuring themselves that the house appeared unoccupied Turk popped the door with a crowbar and a swift kick.

  “Will take Emma upstairs and look for anything we can use, clothes, blankets, weapons. You know the drill.”

  “Ewww” Emma remarked seeing a motionless corpse seated in a chair by the window.

  “He looks dead, see the pills must have been suicide. Hey you fresh meat here.” Will challenged.

  “I don't know maybe the pills somehow kept it from turning. We'll skip this room for now and check the others.”

  The decor of the next room indicated it was a woman's room, Emma took that one and began piling useful clothes onto the bed. When she opened the closet her eyes were drawn to a pretty summer dress. It was a bit foolish, but it had been so long since she had worn anything girly she just had to try it on. Emma quickly undressed and slipped on the dress. It was close to her size, but the style was something her parents would have never let her wear. The hemline was way to short and the neckline to low. In the corner of the room was a full length mirror and Emma couldn't help admiring herself.

  As she wondered what Will would think of her in the dress she heard the unmistakable sounds of the dead moving in her direction. Maybe it was the pills, maybe it was the man's age, maybe it was the months of being trapped in the house, none of that mattered it was on the move now.

  “Zed.” Emma screamed drawing the creature in her direction.

  Emma grabbed her knife and dove behind the mirror. The zed shambled into the room only to be greeted by its own reflection.

  “Emma I'm coming.” Will called, causing the zed to turn and begin advancing towards him.

  Emma fearing for Will, sprang from behind the mirror and tackled the zed like a linebacker. By the time Will came into the room she had plunged her knife into the back of its skull finishing its days. Will was instantly filled with pride of his girl. Then looking at her kneeling over the zed and the plunging neckline of the dress showed him how much of a woman she had become.

>   Will helped Emma to her feet and hugged her close. “You saved me.”

  Emma looked up, into his face. “Of course.”

  Will slipped his hand beneath her chin and bent in for a kiss. He had meant just a peck, but as she kissed him back and her lips parted the kiss lingered and became more passionate. Will pushed Emma against the wall and let his hands explore her curves. As their hips pressed together Will began slowly raising the hem of Emma's dress. Suddenly a noise from the hall halted Will.

  “Will don't stop.” Emma moaned.

  “I think it's Turk.” Will whispered.

  As Turk entered the room Will quickly pulled Emma in front of him to hide his arousal.