Knight of the Dead (Book 4): Realm

by Smorynski, Ron

  Robert and Ellie, along with a few of the new survivors, the elderly ones, were sitting about in the farming area. Dad saw they did plenty of work. Robert tried to act busy as they were chatting, sitting in the shade. Dad smiled politely.

  He saw the old people busy working, nervous, seeing Dad like some prison warden. He realized, even in their weak old state, they were trying. He saw the pain and suffering in their eyes that they were trying to hide. A little old lady, weaker than anything, was sweeping. Something Dad would never do, yet the cleanliness of the walkway meant something. She hid her watery eyes from him. He knew she had lost her whole family. An adult son? An adult daughter-in-law? Grandchildren? Everyone?

  "Hello," Robert said, interrupting Dad's emotional crash.

  “How's our water supply?” Dad asked, shaking out of, trying to act nonchalant.

  “Oh, uh,” Robert was thinking as he poked the dirt with the wrong tool, “well, we used all we collected that wasn't contaminated. There was a lot of contamination by the attack. Some, we poured out, cuz we couldn't risk it. But I'd say it's an issue. We're gonna need more water soon. Or use up those emergency earthquake containers. They're big, but that would be our emergency water.”

  “Well, this is an emergency. You got the rain water collectors cleaned and set up again?”

  “Oh yeah. Hopefully, we'll get some rain soon,” Robert said, standing up to talk to Dad, and not act like he was working a small plot. “I got a filter system setup, plastic boxes with play sand and cotton stuff in it. Kind of slow but works. Made some charcoal too.”

  Robert guided Dad to a nearby classroom. Within, Robert had a shoddy system of plastic bins and holes. He motioned how one would pour water through to filter it. “Still need to boil it. I just don't know how safe anything is with zombie crap in it. So I'm avoiding that.”

  “Okay wow, that's good,” Dad nodded, not sure what to do next.

  Robert turned back to the outside. He waved at the newly plotted lot. “This is the third attempt at planting. We keep getting attacked. We're going to keep losing our crops and seeds.”

  "How's the rooftop farming coming along?"

  "It's a lot of work to get stuff up there. We got some up there, the tomatoes and vine stuff, but a little tougher for other crops. I think we should do more, so we have back-ups too. But like I said, lotta work to get stuff up there."

  Dad wondered about that. He looked around at the courtyard rows. Even if they fenced it off, a swarm of those crazy bastards would just run over it, destroying everything again. They needed to move the crops away from this centralized area, somewhere where they wouldn't constantly run across them in the inevitable attacks. “What if you potted them and put them in other yards? Jerry and Julianne had a home garden. It's safe there now. Well, have a guard, but could you use it?” Dad inquired. He nodded to the outlying streets, the bungalows and homes.

  “Out there?” Robert asked. He didn't look scared. He pondered it and nodded in agreement.

  “Yeah, just build up different areas."

  "Expand outward?"

  "Just remember, have a guard and move slow. Plus, we got lots of blockades now, spreading out. I doubt they'll see you. Maybe put up tarps or covers while you work if needed."

  Robert sighed with enthusiasm. “Yeah, I think we should do that.”

  “As long as no one goes crazy or alerts okay,” Dad said. “I want you to be in charge, take whatever you need. Get it done.

  Robert looked glum. He was old, but able. It was going to be hard work but he knew it had to be done.

  “Just take your time, bit by bit. It ain't like we got anything else to do,” Dad said, peering at them all sitting and resting under the awning of the east wing walkway. He gave the little old lady sweeping a smile. She smiled back. It helped.

  Robert nodded, smiling shyly. Ellie was occupied with the others. All of them were old and feeble. Several needed walkers but relied on the younger ones helping them. Now they had to rely on each other. Dad wasn't keen on helping. He knew he'd just be a jerk about it. There were ten of them. He turned keeping a nice smile and realized he counted how many there were, as opposed to knowing them.

  He walked down the walkway of the east wing building, past the classrooms and to the small gate they used to access the east side. No one was there guarding that gate. It was heavily fortified. There were several blockades of cars and dumpster beyond, keeping out any wandering zombies.

  Across the street were the apartment buildings. One was the hell hole full of hooligans that Dad killed early on. The next one adjacent they ransacked some of the doors and supplies, getting motorcycles from it. They had motorcycles parked in the classroom next to the exit. Nick took care of them. His new Harley was in there. He thought of Melany. He had not seen her since they returned the day before. She was beautiful, but not for him. She seemed strong and virile. She'd make Duanne happy, which was good. He needed to be happy. At least he assumed they'd hook up, hopefully marry.

  He didn't see Eva either. He shook off the thought of romantic drama. He was so glad he had his wife, his family. Once again he thanked God for his wife, his life, and his family. And no I don't want to have sex with Melany!

  29. Bulwark

  “Sir Knight?” someone said, jolting Dad out of his odd thoughts.

  Dad turned to see Ray come up riding a bicycle. Ray got off adroitly, having a tool belt, tools, and his sleeves rolled up. Ray, like everyone, had protected armbands on and one shiv for defense. He also had a hammer, crowbar and ax, all on his well fitted tool belt. He looked impressive.

  Dad knew Ray came from the playground or parking lot, where they were still building up the walls. “Knight?”

  “Yeah, you, Sir Ronan the knight, or should I say king?!” Ray said, fluttering his brows and looking excited.

  Dad curled his brow.

  Ray looked beyond him, past the gate, and to the apartment buildings across the street. “I was thinking. We ought to expand to those buildings.”

  “Expand?”

  “As we get more survivors, we need more space. Those buildings are defensible and solid. Just gotta block up the doors better. The alley and walkways between them are narrow. They already got tough fences and gates, so we just add height and supports. Probably block off the first floor windows. Course, we took the doors out, but only a few. They still have the main doors, and we could create some sort of evacuation path.”

  “I don't know if we can feed that many,” Dad grunted. "But sounds like a good plan."

  “Everyone's gotta work,” Ray chimed.

  “And fight.”

  “That too,” Ray sighed. “There's plenty of food out there. We just need able bodies to go out and search the buildings. And, we gotta get those car blockades up, block by block, expand outward. Carefully, of course, expand out, cause it can really keep us safer.”

  “How's the wall coming?”

  “Well, it can keep out stuff for awhile. But let's face it, we're in unknown territory. We got fire plans. We got fall back walls we're setting up now. And we got the Keep we can defend. We need more fighters for sure,” Ray listed off.

  Dad was amused to see Ray ride off on his bike, back to work. He saw Julio and Juanita on kindergarten tricycles. They moved pretty fast. Julio carried a sack with power tool batteries in it. He was going back and forth with batteries, taking dead ones to get charged, and charged ones to be used here and there. Juanita was carrying around water bottles and snacks. They had a system.

  Dad approached Juanita as Beth gave her stuff. She was going to cycle it out to whomever was working on the walls with Ray. Obviously it was Amador, some new folks, and probably Stu and Tom. Dad wanted Stu and Tom to guard and not to work, to be fresh. He figured Tom knew what to do.

  "Make sure they always have a guard," Dad said to Juanita.

  She nodded enthusiastically. "Si, only one! Guard! No work."

  "Yes," Dad replied.

  She cycled off.

 
; Dad looked up to the roof. He didn't see anyone but he was near the building so he'd only see them if they were on the edge. He did see tarps and banners as coverings slowly sway in the breeze. He thought he'd go visit up top.

  First, he followed Beth into the offices on the first floor. These had keys that Dad assigned to Beth and Katrina. These were solid smaller rooms that had been used for administration, file cabinets, and teacher's printing stuff. That was all moved out and the food and water supplies were stored there. They decided to use these rooms to control the issuing of food and water. Beth let Dad follow her into a room. They were done with the mid-day meals and were sealing up boxes and bags inside.

  “She is very beautiful,” Katrina said.

  “What?” Dad wasn't sure if he was addressed or she was just talking to Beth.

  “The new lady, Melany,” Katrina said. “She told us how you rescued her. Her knight in shining armor! Hah ha!”

  Dad nodded negative. He was trying to recall all the events of yesterday but there was so much. He didn't recall any knight in shining armor escapade. “Where is she?”

  “Oh, she is with your wife, working on the armor,” Katrina said.

  Beth gave Dad a look.

  Dad hurriedly exited and went upstairs. Might as well get this over with he thought. Get what over with?

  Duanne came down the stairs, wiping off crumbs. “Hey buddy!” he said.

  Dad acknowledged, in a fan struck sort of way, but realized Duanne was addressing Rondo who was still following Dad around. Dad was the third wheel. Duanne petted Rondo roughly, getting Rondo jumpy and excited on the stairs.

  “Okay, little dangerous here on the steps,” Dad groaned, stepping up.

  Duanne kept petting him and chuckling, not looking at Dad. “Ahh, he's alright!” Duanne continued on. Rondo reveled in his joy following Duanne. He then looked up at Dad and sulked, turning to go up and follow Dad.

  Dad rolled his eyes. He turned and went to the armoring classroom. There he saw his wife, her face aglow. Within, he immediately saw Melany, Cherry, Eva, Maria and Amanda, all working hard, making armor and weapons. Dad felt a wave of relief. It looked like they were all getting along fine.

  Amanda was in her corner, plopping down more weapons. He admired her work ethic and courage. She looked a little perturbed, like she wasn't really part of the group. Dad avoided a cringed response to her skulking look.

  He saw Eva working behind, staring daggers at the back of Melany's gorgeous blonde head. Great, dad thought with angst.

  His wife, Cherry, and Melany were chatting and sewing armor, getting along just dandy.

  Dad blew out air. “Just checking in.”

  “We're doing great honey,” his wife chimed.

  “You look smaller without the armor. I thought you would be big, like Duanne,” Melany noted.

  His wife chortled.

  Dad looked down at his body.

  30. Holy Moly

  Dad clambered up to the roof from the auditorium way. He peered over to see what was going on. Wow, he thought. There were a dozen kids all crouched and sitting. Jake and Charlotte were giving them gun lessons. There weren't enough rifles to go around but almost. They had a few rifles and a few 22s, which were good for head shots. They had a few AR-15s which, though not automatic, shot the same larger caliber as the fully automatic capable M-4 assault rifles.

  They had the one AK-47. Dad recalled they did not have very many of its larger caliber rounds left. They also had a Russian bolt action sniper rifle somewhere. It used the AK-47 rounds but it was not out. Perhaps it was in his room?

  Nick used quite a few rounds when they rescued the first large group. Charlotte and he shot to holy hell a horde of them blocking their path to the school. It was an amazing barrage of carnage. Dad will always be proud of Charlotte for doing that. It saved them all, including her dad. Did Dad ever thank her? Of course he did, in those moments on the roof when he sat with her, hugged her, and both thanked Jesus. Daddy-daughter time with her was always with Jesus. He was happy he brainwashed her early, knowing Jesus, like it was second nature. He smiled at that.

  He recalled Jake used the rest of the large caliber rounds against the giant spindly abominations when they scaled the mound to get to the rooftop. That was probably the end of that rifle and its use.

  The new rifles and ammo they got were from Duanne and the others’s former hideout. It was the rich movie producer's panic or fallout shelter. He stocked up on ammo and a few illegal assault weapon style M-4s. They were modified as Hollywood props, then apparently, re-modified back to their illegal state. So there was that. Dad wasn't too sure these new kids were going to fight. At least the swinging lessons kept them all busy.

  He did see a confidence exuding from Maggy and Carl. Both were Charlotte's assistants. Sofia was there too. They seemed able, somehow. He wasn't sure. But delegation was important, especially for kids. Dad didn't want to deal with them. He liked seeing Jake there with Charlotte showing them the rifles and Trish, sitting amidst them, talking softly and building up their courage, especially the younger ones like Amy amongst the new kids. Let them take care of them. Dad had other things to think about.

  Charlotte stopped the lesson and, in a crouched posture came over to her dad. “Hey dad?”

  “Yeah?”

  “When we getting Sean?”

  “We?” Dad smirked.

  “You. When are you getting Sean?” Charlotte huffed.

  “I dunno,” Dad said.

  “He keeps asking.”

  “Asking?”

  “Yeah, we use a whiteboard and talk to him,” Charlotte said, pointing to a whiteboard and dry erase markers under a tarp.

  “Oh, is he healed? Can't he ride back?” Dad asked.

  “He's ready but his bike is broken. And there are eight others.”

  “Eight others?”

  “Yeah, he's training them. They have to hide at the top of the building,” Charlotte answered. She tugged at Dad to go over to the other side of the roof. She hustled keeping low, though Dad, even slightly bent, was way taller than her. At such a distance and high up, Dad didn't see zombies reacting to them. And in this area, they pretty much blockaded off all the visible areas anyway.

  Charlotte plopped down on some cushions against the edge and pulled up a rifle. The kids and Jake crowded around. Dad felt trapped. Jake handed him an M-4 and Dad got comfortable next to Charlotte as he looked through the scope.

  Dad waited for Charlotte to talk as he checked out the high rise building where Sean was. The banner “Sean's Here” was still up.

  “Eight others, huh?”

  “Yep.”

  “We gotta rescue them all?” Dad exhaled.

  “Yep.”

  Dad looked about. He was definitely in the high rise apartment buildings down by a large Target department store. There were several large shopping malls in that area, and several large apartment high rises. It would most certainly be dense with zombies and jammed up streets full of cars and buses.

  “No way to get to him, and them, to rescue all of them. The area is swarming with zombies for sure,” Dad whined. “He can't get out of there, sneak out, and find a bike and get back?”

  “He ain't leaving them. I already asked,” Charlotte answered.

  “They got plenty of supplies, water and food,” Jake added, getting another rifle to look through. “He said others were holding out too, but he believes they all got killed. He said thousands of infected are in the area. He can't find any bike close enough to use, to lure them away.”

  “Even if I lured them away,” Dad sighed. “They couldn't drive here. The streets are all blocked up for sure. There is no way they could all come here in a car.”

  “What if you cleared up the road Dad?” Charlotte asked.

  “Oh yeah, I'll just move all the cars out of the way. Come on,” Dad said, annoyed at her idea.

  Everyone sat silent. Charlotte felt embarrassed. The kids coughed and sniffed but said nothin
g.

  “I just meant, you could use the zombies,” Charlotte finally choked out.

  Dad looked at her.

  Jake set his rifle down. “Charlotte? You mean he uses the zombies, that horde, to open up the street?”

  “Yeah,” she barely responded, feeling hurt. She snaked her hand and made a motorcycle sound. "Vvvvrroomm..."

  Dad set his rifle down and looked at her. “Holy shit.”

  "Don't swear," Charlotte huffed.

  "Holy moly!" Dad shook, quivering, thinking about it. "Holy moly!!"

  "Yeah Dad, see. I know a thing or two!" Charlotte glared at him.

  Jake and Dad high-fived.

  "Make a damn freeway throughout the city!" Jake said.

  Dad rubbed his chin. "It's risky."

  "Always is," Jake replied.

  "You can do it Dad. You can open up those streets anywhere, anytime!" Charlotte chimed. "Vvvroooom!"

  31. Let Us Pray

  "Dad rides again," Lena sighed. The younger survivors, the young adults, were gathered in the training area. Cory was looking more and more Indian, or Native American, more and more warrior like. Lisa was with him. It was obvious he had won her affection. Stu was hurt but knew he had to accept it. Marcus and Lena were together. The next generation was forging their future, their relationships.

  There were other youth, quite a few girls. Stu had hope as he glanced to and fro at the new survivors. It was a mix of boys and girls, but more girls. And none were strong or virile, the boys that is. The tougher ones had gone out to try and save them. The courageous ones tried to get water or food, or help. They failed. Perhaps some girls tried too. But these ones were young, weak, timid. They had suffered and lost a lot. It was the few weaker ones that were left. It was all they had to work with, to rebuild. Stu saw this group like it was a whole new story, of struggling young adults in this horrific hell. He could see them, together, creating their own story. His mind began to categorize them into who could possibly do what, who might have potential, who was attractive to him, and who probably wouldn't make it.