His eyes shifted slowly. He lifted his arm and it flopped down. His eyes stared without blinking.
“Can you walk?” Tate asked. “Hey.” He snapped his finger in front of the man’s face.
He received nothing. Not a blink, not a sound. Nothing.
“Something’s wrong. Let’s get him back to base to see Robi,” Tate said and started to lift the man. “This guy needs some help.”
<><><><>
Jeb was still zonked. On the couch, semi on his side, he slept. Robi placed a bottle of water on the table by his head, along with a glass. She opened the water, poured some, and looked at the time.
Turning to wake him, she jumped when his eyes popped open.
“Yeah, it’s time to get me up.” Jeb reached up, threw his arm around her waist and yanked her down to the couch.
Robi struggled and she wasn’t giving in. He grabbed her legs to lift them on the couch, she put them back down. He pulled her down on the pillow and she pulled back to a sitting position.
“I’m not cuddling,” Robi said.
“Do I strike you as a cuddler?” Jeb asked sitting up.
“No.”
His chest against her back, he whispered in her ear, “But, don’t you think since you knocked me out …”
“Nope.” Robi stood.
“Question.”
“Answer.”
“That stuff you knocked me out with? Is it supposed to give me a headache?”
“No.”
“Man, I have a horrible headache.”
“I can get Martha or …” as she handed him three pills, “take these.”
“Wait a second. If that stuff isn’t supposed to give me a headache, how did you know to get me an aspirin?”
“Tate whacked your head on the door frame when we were carrying you in.”
“Oh.” Jeb downed the aspirin. “I may have to put Martha to the test.” He rubbed his eyes. “Where is she?”
“With Mas.”
“Where’s he?”
“By the car. He won’t leave. He’s scared.”
Jeb swung his legs over the couch and rested them on the floor. “Did he say why?”
“Yep.” Robi nodded. “But he keeps going back to his native tongue. Unfortunately none of us speak Turkish.”
“And you don’t have any idea of why he’s scared?”
Robi shook her head. “We know it’s not the bugs. Something to do with night.” She shrugged. “Anyhow …”
The door opened and Nick raced in. “Mom.”
“What’s wrong?” Robi asked.
“We found a survivor.”
Upon hearing that, both Robi and Jeb flew out.
They kept him at the house next door and away from everyone, just on the outside chance he had something.
Robi didn’t think so. In fact, her diagnosis was the man had been malnourished, in shock and if the forty-something guy didn’t eat or drink soon, he would die. He was nonresponsive, and didn’t speak. Manny and Bishop named him ‘Bob.’
He could barely lift his head, let alone walk. Robi sent Tate to the hospital for an intravenous unit and she pumped him with saline to hydrate him.
Of course, she was just a nurse. Everyone really waited for Doc’s opinion. And they all stood around the man while Doc examined him.
“Dead.” Doc removed his stethoscope. “Yep. Dead.”
Jeb rubbed his chin. “He’s breathing.”
“Yep. But still dead.”
Jeb glared at Tate snickered. “Uh, huh,” Jeb nodded. “So should we bury him?”
Doc shrugged. “Up to you. Right now he has the strength to unbury himself, so it’s your call.”
Bishop raised his hand. “If he’s breathing. Moving. Eyes open and looking about. How is he dead?”
“Doesn’t have a heart beat.”
“Ok, enough,” Robi spoke up. “Doc, I examined him.”
“Are you a doctor?” Doc asked.
“No.”
“I am. Dead.”
Robi scoffed. “He is alive. He has a heartbeat.”
“Did you hear it?”
“It’s faint.”
Doc looked at everyone. “That means she didn’t hear it, she’s just covering.”
Robi rolled her eyes.
Doc rolled his right back. “This intravenous is useless. You’re pumping through veins that aren’t pumping.”
“What do you mean?” Robi asked.
“I couldn’t get a blood pressure on him.”
“I did,” Robi replied. “It was low, but it was there.”
“Hmm.” Doc nodded. “Must have died somewhere in between your exam and mine. But he’s dead. I assure you. Might as well just forget about him.”
As Tate was explaining to Doc that they would just leave him in the house, and there was no reason to waste energy burying him ...Robi walked out.
Bishop found her standing on the front lawn of the house they all would share. Robi didn’t move.
“Hey, you,” Bishop approached from behind. “What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, Doc’s rambling. You never let it bother you before,” Bishop said.
“He said the guy was dead. Clearly he isn’t.”
“So what?” Bishop shrugged. “Why are you losing your cool about it?”
“I didn’t say I was.”
“No, but you questioned Doc. Usually, you’ll just let him go. So, can I ask why are you letting his eccentric imagination get to you?”
“That guy gets to me.”
“Bob?”
“Yes, Bob. Why did they leave him? Where is everyone else? I didn’t …” she dropped her voice to a whisper, “I didn’t hear a heartbeat, Bishop.”
“No shit?”
“No shit.” Robi folded her arms tight.
“Is he really dead?”
“No!” Robi snapped. “He’s not dead. His heart rate is weak. Bob isn’t dead, he’s dying. But there’s more, I can’t put my finger on it. And …” She turned, stopped and tilted her head. “Why is Mas sitting in the Humvee?”
“Beats me.”
Robi walked over to the Humvee. She opened the door, and was greeted with the dinging. “Mas? You put the keys in the ignition.”
“Cars of both,” Mas answered.
“Why?” Robi asked.
“Ready we should be to leave. Set does the sun soon.” He shuddered.
Robi gave a single nod, an exhale and turned to finish talking to Bishop. But he was already walking into the house. “Where are you going?” she asked.
“To get my things.”
“Why?”
“If Mas says we should be ready to go. I’m listening. He knows shit.” Bishop walked into the house.
Robi sighed out in aggravation. “Everyone in this group is insane. Everyone.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Directly on the street, right outside 1443 Hopper’s square, a small campfire burned. The entire gang, with the exception of Mas, sat around that fire. They had eaten dinner there. After discovering yet another town where electricity had survived, they also discovered a few packs of frozen hot dogs.
Hot dogs on an open fire. Then coffee and marshmallows.
They sat on over turned milk crates, enjoying the fire. The temperature was actually cool for July, but the fire kept it comfortable.
Jeb extended a bottle of beer to Robi.
“Thanks,” Robi took it. “Did you check on him?”
“He now has Martha with him,” Jeb crouched by Robi.
“Did you speak to him?”
“He’s says he is getting ready. He took … he took our belongings out of the house and packed up the car.”
Robi peered over her shoulder to the two Humvees parked in the driveway. “He is really dead serious about this.”
“I know.” Jeb scratched the bridge of his nose. “What do you want to do?”
“You think maybe we should leave here in a bit.”
“Appease him?” Jeb asked.
“Possibly. I know he’s only one person, but still …” Robi faced the group, “what does everyone think?”
“About?” Manny asked.
“Leaving in a little bit. I know we all decided to settle for the night, but Mas is really being paranoid.”
Manny nodded. “Mas scares me. He’s psychic. If he is scared, I’m scared. I say let’s finish up the marshmallows and head out.”
Greek shook his head. ‘Driving at night is so dangerous. Especially now.”
Tate added, “So we'll take it slow. Pull over at first hotel we see.”
“Goddamn aliens,” Doc grumbled. “He knows we’re gonna get attacked.”
Jeb finally stood and he stood behind Bishop who sat next to Robi. “You took my seat.”
“Mine is open.”
“Why would you take my seat?” Jeb asked.
“Why did you care?”
“Fine.” Jeb stepped over Bishop, then over the fire to take the seat across, if for no other reason except to stare at him.
Manny cleared his throat. “As I was saying. I think my biggest guilt comes from the fact that I was seeing another woman, too.”
“Why?” Robi asked.
“Why am I guilty or why was I seeing another woman?”
“Seeing someone else.” Robi drank her beer. “I mean, this was someone you just had a baby with.”
“I’m superficial. Or was,” Manny said. “Plus high. I was always high.”
“No excuse,” Robi said. “What do you mean superficial?”
“She got fat.”
Robi’s mouth dropped open. “You found another woman because your pregnant girlfriend got fat.”
“And stayed fat.” Manny nodded. “Real fat.”
Tate snorted a laugh. “Was it only for sex?”
“Yes, that was it.”
“Oh my God,” Robi gasped. “That is really shallow. You don’t strike me as shallow.”
“I’m usually not. But she got fat,” Manny said.
“So you said.” Robi added.
“How much?” Doc asked. “How much weight did she gain?”
Manny fluttered his lips. “A lot. She was one twenty when she got pregnant. Five foot five. Perfect. She gained a hundred pounds and lost three. I swear it was all in her butt.”
Bishop shook his head. “I’m gonna have to side with Robi, here.”
Jeb smirked sarcastically and mumbled, “Figures.”
Bishop ignored him. “This was a woman who bore your child. Heavy or not, it shouldn’t change the way you felt.”
“It didn’t,” Manny defended, “I still loved her. But … but it was impossible to …” he cleared his throat, “put it this way, I wasn’t ‘man’ enough to find my way.”
“Whoa,” Nick exclaimed. “Dude, that’s a big butt.”
Greek added, “Or a small penis.”
Nonchalantly, while drinking her beer Robi said, “Manny doesn’t have a small penis.”
Choke.
Not just Robi, everyone coughed and choked.
“What?” Robi asked. “I saw his penis when he leaned against that boiler and got burned. It’s not small. Get your minds out of the gutter. God.”
“She did,” Manny nodded. “She saw my penis. Anyhow, that was the problem.”
Tate said, “Did you try creative manipulation?”
“Guys!” Robi winced.
Manny replied, “How do you creative manipulate without making the woman feel bad? You don’t.”
“Guys!” Robi winced again. “Bishop, your turn.”
“I’ve been thinking … but it’s hard to think when you’re listening,” Bishop scratched his head. “OK, the most recent thing I feel guilty about is my parents. They died in the drop … obviously. But they died having sex.”
“Uh!” Nick blasted. “Dude, that is like horrible. Did you find them?”
Bishop nodded.
Tate laughed. “Sorry. So why are you feeling guilty. Did you like stare at them …”
“Uh!” Nick grunted. “Stop. Did you?”
“No,” Bishop defended. “I just sort of let them stay in the position.”
Robi lit a cigarette. “That’s nothing to feel guilty about. Really. I would have done the same. Who’s next?”
Greek raised his hand. “Did you guys know that Weatherford, this place here, was very instrumental in the westward expansion?”
Bishop looked at him curiously. “How is that a confession?”
“It’s not. But I thought I’d share,” Greek said. “People used to stop here on the way west. Like us. I really don’t have a confession. I lived a good life, unlike you heathens.”
Jeb laughed as he twirled his rifle in the ground. “I told a woman I was gay because I couldn’t think of any other way to get out of the relationship.”
Robi laughed. “Oh my God, and she bought it?”
Jeb shrugged. “Yeah.”
Bishop chuckled at that as well. “I can’t see anyone buying the fact that you’re …” his stare went outward, “hey, is that Bob?”
Everyone looked.
He was more of a shadow in the distance, walking slanted.
“Where’s he going? He must be feeling better. That IV did the trick, Robi,” Bishop said. “Hey, Bob!” he called out, “over here guy.”
Bob stopped.
Bishop called out again, “Come on and join us!” he waved his hand.
Then Bob … grunted, spun to face them fully and raced top speed their way.
“Wow,” Bishop said. “He is doing better”
He arrived at the campsite within seconds.
“Hey, Bob,” Bishop said. “Join …”
As Bob reached the circle, he growled loudly, and then with arms extended mouth agape in a groaning cry, he lunged forward and onto Bishop, knocking him back and onto the ground.
“Holy shit!” Robi jumped up. In fact everyone did.
It happened so fast, Bob was on Bishop and Bishop was fighting. It appeared as if Bob was actually trying to bite him. Robi drove her foot into Bob’s, sending him rolling from Bishop. She reached for him, and as Bishop turned to stand, he screamed.
Bob had sunk his teeth into Bishop’s calf.
The butt of the rifle slammed hard into Bob’s head then Jeb turned the rifle around and fired a single shot. Bob released his grip on Bishop and rolled over.
Bishop grunted loudly in pain, grabbing his leg.
“Guys,” Manny called out.
“Let me see,” Robi said quickly crouching down to him. “Let me see. Move your hands.”
“Guys?” Manny called again. “Look.”
All of them turned and looked. At the end of the street was a mob. One of them in the distance groaned out. It was like a starting bell and the entire mob of two hundred or so, ran toward the campsite at full speed.
“Fuck!” Jeb started firing. “Everyone in the trucks! Now!”
Manny, Greek and Doc ran.
“Get up, get up!” Robi urged as she helped Bishop to his feet. “Nick, run!”
“What the fuck are they?” Jeb fired.
Tate saw his shooting was useless, one or two went down. He turned, and hoisted Bishop over his shoulder. “Big brother, let’s go!” He raced to the Humvee. “Robi!”
“Jeb!” Robi tugged him. “Now.”
“I’m not running from a group of fuckin’ people that …” he switched the rifle to automatic and blasted out in machine gun style. “Fuck, won’t go down.” He spun on his heels, hightailing it with Robi to Humvee one.
Greek and Doc had already jumped into the lead Humvee with Nick.
Behind them, in the other, Manny slid into the driver’s seat. “Is everyone in?”
Tate all but threw Bishop in the Humvee and jumped up front. “Now we are.”
Manny started the vehicle. “Thanks, Mas. Come on Robi.”
“Keys, keys.” Robi looked. “Thank you Mas.” She turned o
ver the ignition. “Martha.”
“Mas has her,” Jeb answered. “Now go. Go. Go.”
Slam!
The first of the mob hit into the car.
Slam. Slam.
Before they knew it, both vehicles were immersed in a sea of bodies, rocking and hitting the Humvees.
Robi screamed. With a hard hit and a ‘slam’ a man jumped on the hood of the Humvee and gnawed toward the window.
She shuddered. “I hate zombies.”
“They aren’t zombies,” Jeb argued.
“Dude, they’re zombies,” Nick said.
Doc peered out the window to those trying to eat their way in. “Zombies.”
Greek nodded, “Zombies.”
“They aren’t fuckin’ zombies.” Jeb bit his bottom lip. “What is the hold up, Robi? Hit it!”
Robi threw the truck in gear and peeled out. One, two, three of them flipped over the hood, and the vehicle bounced and thumped with each person they hit in their high speed escape.
From the speedometer that read fifty, to the rear view mirror, Robi kept shifting her eyes, foot hard to the gas, watching not only the Humvee behind her but the ensuing mob as well. “How fast can they run?”
“Almost as fast as us,” Jeb said.
“How far until we’re safe?” Robi reached for her radio, fumbling.
“I got it.” Jeb took the radio. “Who do you want to talk to?”
“Mas. Ask him how far until we’re safe.”
“Fuckin’ safe now, just need better ammo to …”
“Radio him!” Robi snapped.
“Fine.” Jeb took the radio.
Greek kept peering back. “They’re gaining on H-2.”
“I know,” Robi said as she drove.
“Mom, up there, turn, that road takes us to the highway, remember?” Nick asked.
Robi drove. “It’s so dark.”
Doc was calm. “Alien virus did this. Reanimate our dead to kill us. All aliens.”
“Enough,” Jeb said then finally got through on her radio. “Thank God. Manny ask Mas how far until we can stop running.” Jeb paused. He had to wait not only for Manny to ask, but Manny to translate. “OK, thanks.”
“How long?” Robi asked.
“A few miles. Mas says they stay close to home.”
Robi sighed. “Thank God.” She lifted her eyes to the mirror to check the progress of the chase.
The Last Mile Trilogy Page 18