by Damon Novak
“I’m ready.” She held out her hands.
I shrugged and glanced over at Georgie, who gave me a wink and shrugged back.
“Here you go.”
She took the gun easily in hand. Just as I was about to show her how to charge it, she did it herself.
“Okay, that was pretty impressive, I gotta say. Now, the red dot –”
I never got to finish. She’d already powered it up, had the stock to her shoulder and her eye level with the sight. With three quick trigger pulls, she put three clean holes almost dead center in the top of the life preserver.
She lowered the barrel to the deck and looked at me. “This is easy.”
I looked at Georgie. “Y’all punked me, didn’t ya?”
“Her father took her to the range a lot. He used red dot sights, too. So, yes.”
“And y’all thought it might be funny to mess with me.”
“We weren’t wrong,” said Roxy, a smile on her face.
We saw Liam pull the lever and raise the rifle slowly, and everyone shut up. He aimed for a long time.
“Now squeeze that trigger like you’re just bending your finger,” whispered Danny. “Got one of those dots in your sights?”
Liam nodded and fired. A hole appeared near the top of the life preserver, just to the right of the right-side circle I’d made with the marker.
“Good job!” I said. “Like you been doin’ it all your life.”
He lowered the barrel and looked at me, and I automatically checked his finger. Off the trigger, just like I’d told him. “I played a lot of shooting video games,” he said. “Xbox. This sight’s kinda like the one on my video gun.”
“I didn’t have the luxury when I was growin’ up,” I said. “But that said, I did start with a real gun when I was a helluva lot younger than you.”
“I guess so,” he said. “Can I shoot more?”
“Hell yes,” said Danny. “One lucky shot doesn’t a marksman make.”
As he continued to shoot, even improvin’ on his first shot, Roxy called Terry over and gave him a nice long lesson on the Ruger. By the time it was over, there were tired trigger fingers and satisfaction that in a pinch, everyone could defend themselves.
Ω
There were some canned string beans in the cupboard, along with some corn, and we had that crapload of tamales, which was what I chose to eat again. They were damned good, and I didn’t think I’d get tired of ‘em anytime soon.
The moon was partial but bright. After dinner, I bummed a smoke off Lilly, who was down to a single pack of Marlboros. She reluctantly agreed to give me one, and I slipped up on the bow, sittin’ crosslegged just behind the rail, starin’ out at the dark Gulf, wonderin’ how we’d all make out.
“Sleeping quarters are getting tighter now,” came a voice behind me.
I turned to see Georgie. Everyone else was still in the salon. I was glad. “Come on over and sit. I’ll scoot over.”
“You’d better slide back first, or we’ll be fishing you out with that boat hook back there.”
I smiled, slid back, and patted the gelcoat. She eased down, crosslegged like me. “It’s nice tonight.”
“You come up here to talk about the weather?”
She shook her head. “You come out to hide and smoke?”
“Busted,” I said. “Don’t like smokin’ in front of doctors.”
She reached down, her two fingers extended, and I raised my eyebrows, givin’ her the smoke. She hit it good, breathed it in, and exhaled.
“Better be ready to steady me,” she said. “It’s been a while since I’ve had any nicotine buzzing around in this brain.”
“I learn somethin’ new about you every day.”
“Every nurse I knew smoked,” she said. “I bummed off them. Never bought a pack for fear I’d get hooked.”
“It eases tension for me,” I said. “You really pulled one over on me with Roxy. I felt like an idiot.”
Georgie laughed. “It was all in good fun. She’s a great shot. Far better than me.”
“Don’t believe a word you say anymore.”
She took another hit and gave the smoke back to me. “Let’s talk sleeping arrangements. I want to sleep in your cabin if you don’t mind.”
At first, I didn’t know what to say. No way was I gonna turn her down, but now all sorts of questions jumped into my head. “You mean, in the same bed?”
“That would be most comfortable, yes.”
“And I still get to sleep in the bed?”
“It’s your cabin, I think.”
“Hell, I stole this boat. It’s as much yours as mine. I just needed the biggest bed to handle my size.”
I swear I saw Georgie blush. She saw me see, and blushed some more, then shook her head, smiling. Her eyes met mine. “I’m glad you found me.”
“I’m glad, too,” I said. “And before you change your mind, two things.”
“Yes?”
“I sleep in the nude. Only way I can. Second, I’m a cuddler.”
“Do you have someone you normally cuddle with?”
“I don’t have a girlfriend if that’s what you’re askin’,” I said. “Last breakup was a bitch. Literally. Red Rover lost a windshield on that one.”
“You must’ve instilled passion.”
“It wasn’t passion. It was crazy got instilled in her, and I didn’t do it.”
She leaned back on her arms, her hands planted on the deck behind her. She filled her lungs with air, and my eyes went right to her tits, like steel to a magnet.
Two big, round magnets.
C’mon, at least I’m honest. Plus, she knew. I know she knew what she was doin’, because once my eyes fell there, she cracked her eyes open, lookin’ straight at me.
Plus, she was smilin’.
“Sorry,” I said, jerkin’ my eyes away. “I’m still just a man, even durin’ a zombie apocalypse, if that’s what this is. Plus, your shirt’s about two sizes too small.”
She laughed, and it was a nice sound to my ears. “We can cuddle,” she said, resting her hand on my leg.
“What about Roxy?”
“She’s used to sleeping with Terry. Plenty of those benches out there turn into beds. Plus, I don’t think I’d want her to share your bed.”
“Never gave it a first thought,” I said.
I flicked the smoke out into the water and she scooted closer to me, hooked her arm around mine, and leaned her head on my shoulder. I rested my head atop hers.
“Georgie,” I said.
“Yes?”
“I don’t know. Nothin’ to say, just … this is nice, that’s all. Best night I’ve had in a long time.”
Without skippin’ a beat, she said, “Cole Baxter, the night’s far from over.”
She turned her face up to me, and I could see the moisture from her freshly licked lips glistenin’ in the moonlight. I lowered my head, parted my lips and kissed her.
Next thing I knew, her hand was on the back of my head, and she breathed through her nose as we made out in the warm summer air.
I didn’t know about her, but I was really lookin’ forward to bedtime.
The mornin’? Not so much.
Ω
We all settled in early. That night, in a fit of passion and what felt like a mutual desperation to feel normal again, Georgie and I made love.
I gotta call it that, because while we may not actually be in love yet, it was tender and passionate at the same time. Wherever our bodies touched, it was like an electrical charge, sendin’ goosebumps up and down our spines that each one of us could feel on the other.
I hadn’t done it three times in one night for at least five or six years. Didn’t know for sure I still had it in me.
Guess it comes down to the partner. Georgina Lake had the moves, she had the body, and she had everything else. Needless to say, I was pencilin’ her in on my mental calendar for more of the same, ASAP.
But it was mornin’, and we had some import
ant shit to do. Before we called it a night, Danny and I figured out our next stop if this went well. Figured another 225 miles or so north from Steinhatchee would get us near Fort Walton Beach, along the panhandle.
I still didn’t like the sound of Deadman Bay. We’d have to get through that first.
She spooned me on my left side, my arm around her shoulders, her knee bent over my legs. I liked the feel of her breath comin’ out of her nostrils, blowin’ across my chest. It just felt good.
I rubbed her shoulder. “Hey, Doc. Rise and shine.”
Before she opened her eyes, she smiled and stretched. “What time is it?”
I checked my watch. “Already 7:22. Half the day’s gone.”
“I don’t think you did any airboat tours at night,” she said, openin’ her eyes and lookin’ at me. “I was the one on nights, remember?”
“You got me there.”
“So, we just get up and go?” asked Georgie, sitting up and leaning on one hand.
“Me and Danny can do it,” I said. “No sense in riskin’ everyone.”
She smiled and slowly shook her head. “Nope.”
“Nope?”
“This messed up world is all of ours now. Every one of us needs to learn how to face down the challenges, as well as our fears. Do you know how hard it was to actually cut into a living human being the first time? Even with all the book knowledge and cadaver work we’d done before?”
I thought about her question. While I know very well that cuts heal, they do leave scars. Like cuttin’ paper and tapin’ it back together. It might be stronger than before, but that cut leaves its mark, and nothin’ can ever undo it.
“Good point. Even Liam?”
“You and Danny are good teachers. He’s old enough.” She looked down at me and smiled again.
“Come down here, wouldya? I’m strainin’ my neck lookin’ up.”
She smiled, and I loved the lines that formed at the sides of her mouth. She plopped back down beside me, and I pulled her in close again. “I know. Liam’s more than old enough, but today’s kids are kinda soft. Southern boys not so much, but it feels like they’re guiltin’ the manliness out of ‘em these days. Like if they have masculine tendencies, they’re the exception rather than the rule.”
“The boys are definitely more feminine,” said Georgie. “Sensitive, too. Not sure how that plays out for the world. Not sure it even matters anymore.”
I knew what she meant without askin’. What did it matter what boys grew up to be if the dead were walkin’ the earth?
I took a deep breath and let out a big sigh. “Might as well get this show on the road,” I said, sittin’ up. “But Georgie?”
She looked up at me. “Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
There was more I could’ve said, but we both knew all of it without any words. I think we’d known it from the shower I took outside Baxter’s that day.
“Get your butt dressed. Time to get our zombie-killin’ crew through Deadman Bay and into Steinhatchee, Florida – whatever the hell that is.”
“If it’s got something other than tamales and string beans, I’m all in.”
Ω
The DP-12 shotgun strapped over my shoulder and the Glock on my waist, I was ready. I let Liam handle the Henry, ‘cause he liked the classic design and he felt pretty comfortable with it.
Roxy knew how to handle the Ruger like a champ, and she chose a good equivalent for Terry, who’d really come along the evenin’ before.
I gathered everyone on the rear deck. “Okay. It’s still up to you whether you leave the boat or not. You’re all welcome to come along, but you gotta keep your eyes open. Just like with goddamned terrorists, you see somethin’, you yell somethin’. Call out and we’ll all come runnin’. This is a team right here, and nobody’s less important than anyone else. Got it?”
They all nodded.
Danny said, “When I get off, my job’s to find a small skiff we can tow behind us. I need a volunteer. Who wants to come with me?”
Liam raised his hand. “I will!” he offered.
I’d seen Lilly’s shoulder twitch, but Liam was too fast. I knew my sister, and I saw the disappointment in her eyes.
“That’s good. You watch my back out there, and I’ll watch yours. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” said Liam, tossin’ his red hair from his eyes.
“You do the honors,” I said, noddin’ toward the flybridge helm. “You’re still a better boater than me.”
“I saw you mannin’ those thrusters,” said Danny. “Saved my ass. You pilot. I’ll be beside you.”
I shrugged. “Good enough.”
We went up top and Danny called back down, “Y’all get ready to switch the bumpers if we need you to. Depends on where we dock.”
The Sea Ray’s motors were reliable; the big diesels fired immediately. Once they settled into a smooth idle, I called for Lilly, who was crouched near the bow rail. She powered up the anchor winch.
She gave me a thumbs-up a few seconds later, and I waited for her to scramble back to the port rail before movin’ the throttle forward, turnin’ the wheel right to point our nose from Deadman Bay into the Steinhatchee River.
As we approached, I felt the hairs standin’ up on the back of my neck. The smell of fire got stronger again, which made me scan well beyond the inlet before us. Sure enough, black smoke still billowed in the mornin’ light, remindin’ me again how everything had changed.
We had a good distance to navigate down the canal leadin’ to the fillin’ station before we’d get there.
“Lookie there,” said Danny, pointin’ at the large and small boats adrift all around us. Most had either hit shore and gotten tucked between overhangin’ mangroves, or they’d floated into other boats and gotten hung up.
We heard the thump of feet behind us and we turned to see Terry emerge. “Hey,” he said. “Just so you know, lots of bodies in the water. Here and there. I know you had trouble with their clothes getting caught in the propellers.”
“Thanks, Terry,” I said. He disappeared down the steps again.
“There’s one. Crank to port,” said Danny.
I did, and saw the deadhead’s arm come up outta the water like he was at a Christian music concert.
“Why the hell don’t I know how to sail?” I asked. “I could avoid refuelin’.”
“You see old Floki on Vikings, man?” asked Danny. “Bastard was stuck on the water for days, no wind to be had.”
“Yeah, yeah. Unlikely on the Gulf of Mexico, but I get your point. Plus, need to get away from those floaters when they get too close.”
“Ain’t that the problem,” groaned Danny. “Just ‘cause they’re floatin’ don’t mean they’re true dead.”
True dead, I thought. Words we’d never thought to put together before.
We both looked down and saw a body in the middle of a roll from front to back. As the dead woman’s face rotated into view, she clawed at the sky and was taken under by the wake of the Sea Ray.
“Hard to get used to,” said Danny. “Man.”
The canal was wild on the south side, all mangroves and other natural canals feedin’ off it. On the left side, it was seawalls and boat slips. Ahead I saw the fueling dock and the red and green pumps. Figures were movin’ on the dock, but it was still too far away to tell if they were alive or dead.
I said, “The more people get off this boat, the more worried I’m gonna be while we try to get refueled. You wanna jump out first and give it a scout beforehand?”
Danny looked ahead. “Yep, those are those dead things up there. Lookit how they’re shufflin’.”
I did, and no response was necessary. “Just take ‘em out fast. Not a whole lot of activity.”
“Nope, if what you said about the fireworks is true, we fire a couple times and they’ll come from everywhere.”
“Yeah, I’d rather shove ‘em into the water than fire the gun. If you
can, give ‘em a trip.”
We motored closer to the fuel docks. Unlike our last experience, there was no boat occupying the closest slip. I was able to swing it toward starboard and back straight in, bouncin’ off the 10-inch thick layer of slit tires they’d stacked up and mounted to the seawall as bumpers.
He tied us off, then ran back up. I cut the engines.
As I reached the bottom of the steps, Roxy, Terry, Georgie, Liam, and Lilly were all there.
And they were all starin’ at me.
“Where’s Nokosi?” I asked.
“We shut her in the big bedroom,” said Georgina. “She was on the bed last I saw.”
“Good,” I said. “Don’t need her jumpin’ off the boat or anything. Anyway, y’all see how vulnerable that swim step is? Once those dead bastards make it up on there, they’re on the boat. It’s as easy as fallin’ off the seawall.”
“Get to the point, CB,” said Lilly.
“My point is, we need someone to stay on the boat and shoot anything that comes aboard that ain’t us. Otherwise, we could come back to an infestation.”
“I’ll stay here if nobody minds,” said Terry. “I’d rather, anyway.”
“Alone?” asked Roxy. “You sure?”
Terry nodded. “Nokosi’s here, and the sun’s up nice. I’ll relax on the rear bench, catch some early morning rays.”
“Leave the dog in the cabin. She might be trained to run toward gunfire or something. And Terry, don’t fall asleep,” said Georgina. “You hear me?”
“Yes, yes. Thank you. I have my trusty firearm.” He held up the long gun and flashed her what I’d call a Marilyn Monroe smile, complete with a wink.
“Me, too!” said Liam, his barrel pointed toward the deck and his finger well off the trigger. I know, because I checked.
“Lilly, you said you, Roxy and Georgie were gonna check the store and grab anything we could use. Lighters, batteries, flashlights, food, whatever. If we get the tanks filled pretty fast, we’ll come over and help.”
“Keep your eyes open,” said Lilly. “Liam, you’re coming with us, so that applies to you, too.”
“I wanted to go with Danny and CB!” he said.
I walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Buddy, you’re about to pass up goin’ into a store and bein’ able to grab all the candy you want. Free. It’s your call. What’s it gonna be?”