“Speaking of needing to run, I don't need to tell any of you that leaving this place, is the last thing I want to do, but if it is a choice of living on the road, or dying here defending this place, I say we live.” Tom stated.
Tom brought a map of the area. “Turk and Red have found us this place, that already has some food and weapons cached and is fenced. Does anyone have thoughts, on some other meet up locations?”
Tim stood up. “Yeah, I think those cabins we were in, before coming here, would be one. We all know where that is and it was relatively clear of zeds. The other would be, the house where we got our solar panels from, the zeds don't like the climb up the mountain and the house itself is fairly defensible.”
“We're good with those options, then?” Tom questioned the group, getting nods of approval, he moved on. “Everyone needs to have a go bag set and ready to go. Pete will make sure you have some of the dehydrated vegetables, those will keep for a long time. Make sure you toss in a couple of bottles of water and we have enough pistols and knives now, that everyone can add a backup to their bag.
“Prescott, while I'm out tomorrow you make everyone a fire starting kit and make sure everyone has fishing line, hooks and some rope. Emma, would you be so kind as to make everyone a small first aid kit.” Turk added.
“Thanks Turk, we will work up emergency evacuations plans a bit more, once you’re back with the spare vehicle, but for now, let’s focus on keeping this place. Tim, your thoughts?”
“To start with, we need to be extra vigilant. Tom has got us in pairs, I'm thinking we'll break up watch ten on and ten off. A pair at each gate, another in the security office, one on top of the coaster platform and finally, a pair patrolling the grounds. Everyone needs to stay armed at all times, but we will stash extra ammo near the gates and the new guard tower.” Tim directed.
“When do we start?” Mitch asked.
“As soon as we are done here.” Tim answered.
“I keep running through my head, how an attack could come. With the trenches we've dug and the hills we've piled up in the parking lot, zeds are not able to get at us, near as easy. The only clear shot to us is up the service drive, but that is a slow go with the posts we've planted. They could camp out at the edge of the parking lot and sniper us, but that is a 400 yard shot. Unless they have some big howitzer, they are going to look for ways to rush us.” Tim mused.
“They could cut trenches in the hills we piled up in the parking lot and sneak up close to us.” Will added.
“They would have to move under cover of night, but yes, that could get them close.” Tim replied.
“I have a thought. It is a horrible option, but if they do come up like that, they won't be able to retreat very fast. We have everything here to make a nasty brew of napalm, if we can figure out a way to drop that on them, it'll stop em in a hurry.” Turk proposed.
“I took a blue ribbon with my catapult, in the last science fair, we could build a bigger version of that.” Will offered.
“Work with Sam on that Will, if you two need help all you have to do is ask.” Tom directed, then looked about the room. “Any questions?”
Caleb raised his hand. “What's a howlzer?”
Tom smiled. “Its a type of cannon, but it takes a crew of trained men to use one.”
“But if they do have one, what then?” Caleb pressed.
“Well son, that is why we need to be able to run.” Tom replied.
The meeting finished, those going on the run in the morning, took first rotation on watch. Before Miri could head off, Jeff took her hand. “You don't have to do this Miri.”
“Sweetie, yes I do. I can help out there, you know I can.”
Jeff could see the resolve in his wife's face, but he still didn't understand her need to be part of the run. Yet he couldn't argue the fact that she would be an asset, to the group going out tomorrow.
The next morning, they gathered at the power line exit to depart. The past few weeks in the park, Miri had taken on the appearance of a doting wife and mother. It gave Jackson comfort to see his mother, acting a bit like she had, before the outbreak. This morning, she had to drop the charade and get ready for business. Her hair was pulled back and the brim of the ball cap, on her head, shaded her face. Instead of more comfortable shoes, she put on her heavy work boots. She wore a denim jacket, against the morning chill and protected her hands with leather half gloves. Strapped to her waist, was her glock and heavy hunting knife.
As they loaded into the wagon, Red and Lizzie in the back seat Turk handed Red a shotgun to keep near at hand. Miri and Margo joined him in the front seat and Turk had Margo hold a sawed off double barrel scattergun.
“Strap in tight everyone, this could be a bumpy ride.” Turk said, as he motioned to Mitch to open the gate.
The two track heading out the gate, was only cleared for a short distance and the willys had to plow the brush that had grown over the track and coupled with the steep initial ascent, the going was painfully slow. After travelling about a half mile, they arrived at the top of the ridge. The trip down was a bit steeper, but less overgrown, due to the shadiness of this side of the hill. Another three quarters of a mile and the ground flattened out and the two track joined a service road, running alongside the main powerline.
Turk turned in the opposite direction, to circle away from the park and eventually came to a gravel road that emptied on to the main road. “So far so good.” Turk affirmed.
“Are we going to be able to drive back in that way?” Red asked.
“I could probably make it. Might have to use the winch, here and there. If we get much rain, even gettin out this way is going to be near impossible.”
Once on the main road, Turk noticed Margo fussing with the gun and knife, he had her belt around her waist. “Little Miss, you keep squirmin around like that and I'm goin to have to change your name to fidget.”
“She's just afraid, she might have to use her gun.” Lizzie teased.
“You shut up Lizzie, I am not afraid, you don't know what your talking about. I just don't like them, poking me in the side.”
“Well I like having a gun on me, it makes me feel safer.” Lizzie responded.
“Margo honey, I wish you didn't have to wear a gun, but we never know what we are going to come across out here and we all have to be able to take care of each other.” Miri soothed.
Margo hung here head. “You all just don't understand, I’m no good at saving anybody”
“I'm sorry Margo, but you’re right, I don't understand. If something or someone is threatening you, or one of us, don't you want to be able to do something?” Turk pressed.
Margo burst into a stream of tears. “Papa bear, if you know what I did, you would hate me. I don't ever want to do anything, that makes you not like me.”
Turk pulled to a stop and turned to the sobbing girl. Turk placed his hands on Margo's shoulders. “That ain't possible little Miss, I could never think poorly of you. Now you been keepin somethin bottled up for a long spell and it is high time, you pull the cork on that. We'll keep it just betwixt us in this here car, but you gotta let it out.”
“You promise Papa bear, not beyond this car?” Margo pleaded.
“You got my word on it.”
“You to Lizzie, don't go blabbin about this when we get back.”
“I promise Margo, you can trust me, I'll pinky swear if you want me to.” Lizzie answered, solemnly.
Margo stared at the floor of the car, pulling up an image, and then began in a far away voice. “It happened the night the monsters hit our camp. We were all excited to be going home the next day, but we were so tired from the long day, we all fell asleep early. The monsters came in the middle of the night. Nobody knew they were there, until Milly Everett started screaming as the monsters ripped into her. Emma was the first one to get her wits about her. She got out of the tent and started guiding us out with her flashlight. Jill and Aubrey were getting out ahead of me, but I scrambled out of my bag rig
ht quick and I bumped into Aubrey, getting out of the tent. Aubrey tangled into Jill and the monsters fell on both of them. I could hear their screams, all the way to the cabin. The next morning, Jill and Aubrey had turned into monsters too and when I looked at them through the window, they came over as if to blame me for what I did to them.”
Margo broke down into sobs and tears, for the first time letting the emotions flow out of her. Turk gently put his arm around her quaking shoulders and Miri held her clenched fists. It took several moments, but Margo eventually continued.
“I killed them, just as much as those monsters did. I can't fall asleep at night, without hearing their screams, or seeing their faces. Now you know the kind of person I am, just a cravin little coward.”
“Bullspit.” Turk responded. “Tweren't nothing more than a tragic accident, that happened in a flash. A lot of good folks died at the hands and teeth of those monsters and if all us still breathin blamed ourselves for all those deaths, we'd never move on. Ain't none of us here hold anythin against you, or think you’re a coward.”
Red leaned forward and squeezed Margo's shoulder, “Sweetheart, I lost the whole last group I was with, I understand why you would question why your still alive and they aren't. The truth is, you ask that because you are a caring person and you’re still alive, because you are a brave young woman.”
Margo turned around to face Red and with her voice still quivering, spoke. “You really thinks so Miss Red, you think I'm brave?”
“Well of course dear, look at all you have been through and your still around. That takes real strength, not to give in to it all.”
Margo turned back and hugged Turk, around the chest. “I love you Papa Bear.”
Turk was a little surprised by the strength of his emotions, towards the girl. Leaning forward, he cupped her face in his hands, then kissed the top of her head and whispered, “Love you too little miss, I love you too.”
Miri took note of a handful of zeds, approaching their vehicle. “I suggest we move along and finish what we came to do.”
Skirting away from the park, in case they were being watched, Turk made his way to a small riding stable, which offered tourists a trail riding experience. Pulling up through the entrance of the stable, they came to a disappointing scene. The place had obviously been picked over and the only thing they could salvage, was a couple of fence posts.
“There are a number of these in the area. We'll hit a couple more and if they are a bust too, we're gonna have to re-think the plan, agreed?” Turk asked.
“We pass a lot of vehicles, can't we just take one of those?” Miri questioned.
“I'd like somethin special, but I have spotted a couple that will work in a pinch.” Turk responded.
Red leaned forward, lightly touching his shoulder. “Where else are you thinking of looking?”
“There are some car lots near by, they are right in town though, payments could be a tad steep for our budget.”
The second stable was a little better, yielding a roll of barbed wire, some rope and a couple more metal fence posts. They also got some wrap and ointment for tending the horses, that they could make use of.
As they pulled out, Turk squeezed Margo's hand. “Here's hopin third times a charm.”
The third stable was a larger operation, but as they pulled in, it didn't hold much more promise than their first two stops. The large plantation style home out front, had been looted as was the adjoining gift shop. Next to the stables was a large equipment barn, with the door blocked by a large combine. As they got closer, they could see a message painted on the door. “DEAD INSIDE KEEP AWAY”.
Turk got as close to the door as the big combine would allow and tapped on it, with his club. “I don't hear nuthin.” Turk banged on the door again, this time as hard as he could. “I don't think anythin is movin in there, what the hell would somebody be tryin to hide, though?”
Miri went with Red and Lizzie down one side as Turk and Margo, took the other. Once the women got around the side, Miri stopped Red.
“What are we wasting are time here for? It is obviously picked over, like the last few places and I am not going to have us walking into a barn full of zeds.” Miri objected.
“Turk has got good instincts, I trust him. He's not going to do anything rash, or expose these children to unnecessary danger.” Red replied.
“Just having them out here with us, is exposing them to danger.”
“They've handled worse at home and they need to learn to deal with the world outside, of that park.”
“I guess, I just hope we get what we need soon and get back.”
They met up behind the barn to find another big tractor blocking the back door, with a similar message painted on it.
“It's a mystery to me, there's a story here, but it's goin to have to wait a bit. Let's go check the stables and see what we can find.” Turk said, shaking his head.
They hadn't been in the stable more than a minute, when Margo looking out at the pasture called out. “Oh my God Lizzie, you have got to see this.”
“Can we keep them please, I'll take real good care of them” Margo begged.
“Please say yes Red, I'll help too.” Lizzie conspired.
Turk and Red looked out at the three horses and colt standing in the pasture and then back to the two pleading girls.
Red shrugged her shoulders. “At least they don't run on gas.”
“Don't get your hopes up. They could be useful to us and we could pasture them by the water tower. Right now, we don't have a trailer to haul them and them horses may not want to be around people anymore. We just don't have the time to catch em and gentle em.” Turk added.
“I was raised around horses, I could ride before I walked, I can get them.” Margo stated, with confidence.
“Let's finish what we came here for first.” Miri said, flatly.
“Miri is right, you two stay focused on what we need to do and we will see what happens.”
Almost to make his point, a lone zed emerged from a stall at the far end. “You two want to show us what you got?” Turk urged.
“Alright if that is the way it has to be, but Papa bear, you need to back me up.” Margo said, grabbing a lead roped and tying it off, about six inches from the floor. She handed the other end to Lizzie and had Lizzie stand inside the opposite stall.
“When I tell you Lizzie, pull the rope tight.” Margo instructed.
Red stepped in the stall with Lizzie and Turk and Miri took up positions, behind Margo. Margo drew her knife and motioned to the zed to focus its attention, on her.
“Now Lizzie.” Margo yelled. The rope went taught and the zed tripped up, falling face first on the ground. In a flash, Margo buried her knife in the base of its skull. “Okay, let's find what we need.” Margo commanded, moving forward to search the stables.
Turk followed along with Margo and as he passed Red, he gave her a wide eyed expression and raised his hands, not quite sure what to make of the change in attitude, Margo was showing. Their search turned up some more of the horse care items, but also a large first aid kit. The stable was prepared to deal with almost anything that could happen to their guests on the trail, from simple cuts, to broken limbs and major trauma. Their search also came up with a short extension ladder. The equipment barn had windows to illuminate the loft area and the ladder would let them get a look inside, without having to open the doors.
“Well let's get this stuff loaded up and see what's the story in that barn.” Turk directed.
“Then get the horses.” The two girls said, almost simultaneously.
“One step at a time, ladies.” Red cautioned.
“So what do you see?” Miri asked.
“I see a horse trailer.” Turk answered, at which Lizzie and Margo looked at each other and silently clapped in glee. “I see a nice truck.” Which made Miri smile for the first time, on this run. “I sure as hell don't see a barn full of zeds.”
“How do we get in there?” Miri questione
d.
“First, we take a look see from the other side.” Turk responded.
Turk moved the ladder to the other side of the barn and peered inside. “Yeah there is something moving in there, but its still not a barn full.”
Turk climbed up onto the tractor, released the brake and took it out of gear. “Alright girls, hop up here and when I start pulling it back, you turn it away from the building. It's not going to be easy, your going to have to work together.”
Turk hooked a tow strap and the cable from his winch to the tractor and began to back up the willys. The brakes on the tractor had locked from sitting so long, but with some persuasion, the tractor began to move, unblocking the front door.
“Red, you and Miri hold tight here, while we clear the back entrance, I'll give a holler and we'll open the doors at both ends, together.”
Red Rises (Book 2): Dead To Rights (HZA, Vol. 4) Page 18