The Rabid Mind

by Bruce Buckshot Hemming

  “I have one of those fold up Army cots you can use and an extra sleeping bag, because it might get a little chilly in there for a few nights.”

  “Sounds fine to me. Thank you.” Jim handed him the cot and walked him outside to show him where to set it up.

  “I hope there are no hard feelings. I just have to protect my daughter the best way I see fit.”

  “I understand. I escaped with a young woman from Denver and had to kill her when she attacked me. She had been bitten and I didn't know it.” He set the cot up in the woodshed and then grabbed his pad and sleeping bag from the car. Just before dark, Sandra walked out and called him to dinner.

  She smiled, “Here you go: sourdough biscuits and venison roast, with dehydrated potatoes and gravy.” She sat out on the porch with him while he ate.

  “Wow, this is the best meal I’ve had in a month. Thank you,” he muttered as he dug in. “These biscuits are wonderful. Did you make them?”

  She blushed. “Yes they are! It's my grandmother’s recipe. I make them every year for up here at elk camp. It’s a family tradition.”

  “Wow...did I get lucky.”

  After a long pause, Sandra spoke again. “So how old are you?”

  He quickly answered, “Too old for you.”

  “Hey, I’ll be 20 next month, mister. I’m not a little girl.”

  “Okay, I’m sorry. I just didn't want your Dad coming out here with his 12 gauge.” He laughed out loud.

  She smiled. “I see what you mean. He’s a good guy, just a little over protective, but that’s understandable, right?”

  “Sure. I would be the same way over my daughter. If I ever have one.”

  He was almost done eating when Sandra said, “I’ll bring some hot water and soap for you to clean them up and then you can leave them out on the porch for the next three days.”

  “You are a wonderful cook. Thank you. That was the best food I’ve had in years.”

  She smiled. “Bachelor huh?”

  He tipped his head down. “Yes ma’am.”

  Sandra was attracted to Matt the moment she laid eyes on him, but she had to take it slow and get to know him first. She came out and handed Matt the soap and water to clean his dishes. He quickly washed them, setting them on the porch to air dry.

  Jim came out and lit up a filtered Camel. He offered Matt one. “No thanks; never started.”

  “Good for you. The end of the world is coming and I’m still smoking, but I only have enough to get me through winter.”

  Matt smiled, “That’s good. I wouldn't want to be trapped up here with anyone trying to quit smoking come January.”

  Jim smile. “Better get some sleep. Long day tomorrow. We have a lot of wood to cut and get ready for winter.”

  Matt turned back towards Jim, “No problem, Sir. I figured I’d have to work for my food anyways.”

  “That’s right. No free lunches here, son, but we are fair.”

  Matt chuckled, “I’m not afraid to work.”

  “Good, I’ll see you at daybreak.”

  Matt nodded and took himself to the wood shed, where he settled in for the night.

  Chapter 15

  The next day Matt was up bright and early. Jim was sitting on the front porch drinking coffee. The frost crunched under his feet as he walked up.

  “How did you sleep? Want some coffee?”

  “Yes please,” Matt replied.

  Jim walked in the house, came back out with the pot and sat it on the rail. Matt grabbed his metal blue enamel cup from last night and poured himself a cup.

  Matt sat down with his coffee and said, “Now for the sleep well part. If it’s okay with you, I'll sleep in the back of the SUV tonight.”

  “Why, is it too cold in there for you?”

  “No, it was the mice playing Indy 500 the full length of my sleeping bag, and finding the winner being crowned on my nose.”

  Jim laughed. “Sorry. I never thought about that.”

  “That’s okay. What’s the plan for today?” Matt was eager to know.

  “We need to get in firewood and lots of it. I figure we need 6 cords put up for the winter and we only have about 1 and 1/2.”

  “Good deal. Let's eat and get to work. It’ll feel good to be doing something besides running and hiding for a change.”

  After breakfast they loaded up the pickup with wood cutting equipment. Jim told Matt that Sandra would be staying back to keep an eye on the place.

  “Okay, where are we heading?”

  “Up the mountain a little bit. A big winter storm came through a couple years back and busted down a bunch of trees. They’re seasoned dry wood.”

  They worked well as a team, with Jim cutting them down to 4-foot lengths. Once they had enough to fill the truck, Jim proceeded to cut them to woodstove size - 16-inch in lengths - while Matt stacked them in the truck. Once the truck was full, they drove back to camp and unloaded the wood into the shed. They arrived just after 1 p.m., with their third load.

  “Time for lunch, Matt,” said Jim as he stretched to crack his joints. “If we can do that again this afternoon, we'll be in good shape. We can split the bigger ones later on. How you doing on winter boots and clothes?” Jim asked.

  “I need it all. These are insulated hiking boots, good in the fall, but not for winter. Coveralls, winter jacket, hat and good winter gloves are what I need to pick up.”

  “Okay, tomorrow we ‘ll go to town. We need more gas anyway. That should be our last trip until spring. We can finish up the wood this week and then next week we need to focus all our effort into getting a couple of elk for our meat supply. We have a small propane freezer, but it’s only 7 cubic feet. If we stick to just pure meat, with no bones, and then make a bunch into jerky, we should be fine for meat until next fall. We’re not in great shape for veggies or fresh potatoes, but we have plenty of dehydrated and instant to make it until spring.”

  “How about propane? How much does the freezer use?”

  “I never ran it for more than a month at time, but I think it uses about 10 gallons a month. Figure 6-10 gallons for the stove and oven, let’s say 20 gallons a month at most. We have a 400-pound tank around back and we fill it up every fall, which is a hundred gallons. I’m hoping that will see us through until spring and then we’ll be switching the small ones around every week.”

  That night Matt slept much better in the back of the SUV, but, as tired as he was from all the hard work, he could have easily slept through the mouse race too. He woke at daybreak, tired, sore and stiff. He realised he had been working too many soft jobs and now was paying the price.

  That morning, they had biscuits and gravy for breakfast. Matt ate half a dozen biscuits, twice what Sandra and Jim had. Sandra watched as Matt devoured every last one of them.

  “You always eat like this?”

  Matt laughed, “It's your slave driver dad making me work for my meals.” He laughed, “But with your cooking, it's worth it.”

  She blushed. “Thank you.”

  Jim walked out on the porch, “Slave driver huh?”

  Matt smiled, “Good. I hoped I said that loud enough for you to hear.”

  Jim laughed, “You'll thank me come January, when the north wind blows and we have enough wood put up.”

  Matt replied, “I’m sure you're right. I’m just giving you a hard time.”

  “Yeah I know. Working next to someone helps you understand the kind of person he/she is, so I’m thinking you'll do.”

  “Oh gee thanks, I think.” Sandra smiled at Matt. “So I guess that was a compliment,” he asked Jim.

  “About as close as you’ll get from him,” she coughed.

  Jim said, “Okay,” as he lit his camel, “After I finish this smoke, we’re heading to town. Sandra, you know the rules - lock the place up and stay out of sight until we return. If anyone tries to come in, you shoot them first and then ask them to leave.”

  “Yes daddy.”

  They drove to town in his truck. Jim gav
e Matt his 12 gauge with five “00” shells, plus another 15 shells on the sling, mostly birdshot, but at close range it worked great. Jim carried his .44 mag pistol.

  “We’ll head to the sporting goods store first to get you outfitted. Hopefully they have boots in the right size for you. What size do you wear?”

  Matt replied, “Ten.”

  “Pretty common size; we should be able to come up with them.” Jim drove through town first and then circled around where he could.

  “What are you doing?” Matt wondered.

  “Looking for killers. It’s much easier when we’re hunting them instead of them hunting us. Know what I mean?”

  “Yep, but they don't like bright sunlight.”

  “No, but we’re looking for other survivors too. It’s just best to take a quick drive around before we get out of the truck.” They finished driving around and no one was in sight.

  They parked and entered the store, with Jim carrying a propane lantern. He lit the lantern as they headed to the snowmobile boot section. They found 9's, 11's, 11's, a pair of 12's, another pair of 9's. Just then Jim said, “Hey look. One size 10 on the display table.” In the cabinet below they found its mate. “There you go.”

  They grabbed winter jackets and snow pants, gloves and hats. “Okay, you load these in the truck.”

  Matt walked to the door and stopped, looking around before exiting. It paid to be careful. He thought he saw something move out of the corner of his eye, but when he looked it was nothing. He was getting jumpy. He placed the collection up next to the cab of the truck so the wind wouldn't blow it away. He had a feeling someone or something was watching him.

  He walked back in and went over to Jim. “Let's get the gas and get out of here. I have an uneasy feeling someone is watching us.”

  “Really, did you see something?”

  “Nope, it’s just a feeling, but it’s strong. Let's go.”

  “Uh, we have to stop at the little drug store and get some stuff for Sandra.”

  “Okay, then let's grab the gas and go. I can't explain it, but my instincts are telling me to get out of here right now.”

  They drove over to the drug store and Matt stayed outside, standing guard with the 12 gauge in hand and ready to fight. What was the matter with him, he wondered? Was he getting jumpy because he’d found a nice place and was afraid to lose it? No, he thought. It was that unshakable feeling you got when someone was watching you. It was the feeling that there are eyes watching your every move.

  Jim came out with large box containing first aid supplies and feminine hygiene products. “I grabbed some ampicillin too, just in case. The druggies already hit the place and got the speed and other drugs they like, but there was ampicillin left.”

  “Good thinking, now let's go.” Matt urged Jim.

  “You sure are jumpy. What’s the matter, you feeling okay?” Jim asked.

  “I just have that feeling of being watched. I can’t explain it.” Matt tried to shrug off the feeling. Stopping at the farm truck, he quickly filled up a 5 gallon can.

  “That brings us to almost 3/4 of a tank of gas. That should be enough to finish the winter wood and still have enough to come down in the spring.”

  Matt was looking around nervously. “Let's go.”

  Jim wondered if Matt was hiding something from them? “Something you are worried about running into? What is up with you today?”

  “Nothing like that, Jim. I have no one chasing me if that’s what you mean. I guess I am just being paranoid. You have a really nice set up and I am nervous we could lose it to looters, or that the infected are following us up there.”

  They drove a while in silence and then Jim said, “About time we have a little talk. I see the way you and Sandra look at each other and it's only natural. I expect that sometime this winter you two might sleep together.”

  Matt started to stammer, “Uh.”

  “Relax son. I remember being your age. I just ask you treat her with respect and use protection and, if you do get her pregnant, you be a real man, stay with her and be a father and protective husband.”

  “Okay Jim, I can do that for you. But I’m not trying for that.”

  Jim laughed. “I’m sure she is not going to be easy and she is going to put you through some tests, you know, to see if you’re good enough for her. You know women think differently than we do.”

  Matt said, “Yes, we all know that one, but my main concern right now is to get ready to survive this winter and be useful to both of you.”

  Jim laughed. “So far so good. If by tomorrow night you don't freak out and try and kill us, you can sleep inside on the couch.”

  Chapter 16

  Jim and Matt had been watched the entire time they were in town. Mike and his two fellow meth heads had come across the state from Colorado Springs. Dale and Brad were out scouting the town when they heard the truck come in and they hurried to hide. Brad was always lagging behind and was almost seen as he ran around the corner. Mike had been watching the whole thing from a second story window in a house close by.

  Dale was only with them because he was genius at making meth. He was kind of crazy and he needed his stove to cook the meth, but now that the rules and the law were gone, they could set up anywhere they liked. Mike was the largest of the three and kept the other two in line with brute force. He was nineteen years old, a year older than the other two. He had been kicked out of his home and every foster home he had ever been in. He was in and out of jail, arrested for petty theft and drug possession and, most recently, for beating up his girlfriend. The bitch had smoked up all his meth and didn't leave him any. In his eyes, she deserved it.

  They’d survived this far because of their street smarts and willingness to get brutally physical in a flash. Mike proudly carried his SW .40 caliber pistol on the police belt he took off a dead cop, who had been overrun by the infected. The other two carried 9mm pistols. They were all slovenly, with long unwashed hair and missing teeth. The meth was all they needed to stay high and it was what kept them together.

  They had watched the two men carefully. They had to live close by, Mike thought to himself. They’d come into town like they’d been there a lot. Mike noted that they knew which streets to turn down to circle the town and what streets were dead ends. They walked into the store like they owned it.

  After Jim and Matt had left, the three thugs met up on the street. Mike ordered Dale and Brad “You two go find a hammer and a punch, so we can get gas for the car. We need to find out where those two are living. We’ll follow them, kill 'em and take over their house and supplies.”

  Mike, Dale and Brad had driven into town in a Cadillac Escalade they had stolen. The Escalade was tall, big and had plenty of room to carry their stuff, but it sucked too much gas.

  The two expertly jacked up a random car nearby. Dale crawled under, punched a hole in the gas tank and slid a bucket underneath to catch the gas. He spilled gas on himself as he did so. It ran down his arm, soaking his shirtsleeve. Brad got the other bucket ready to swap out before the first one filled up. As he slid the other bucket to Dale, more gas spilled on him.

  Mike yelled at them, “You two morons stop wasting the gas. Be careful.” ,Mike walked back to the Escalade and drove it over just as Dale crawled out from under the car with the second bucket in hand. Mike continued to order them around, “Don’t just stand there. Get it in the gas tank!”

  They poured the gas from the bucket into a 5-gallon gas can and then filled the Escalade.

  “Come on! That isn't even a quarter of a tank! Get your heads out of your asses and get to work! We don't have all fucking day for you to get gas. We need to find out where those two fuckers are living. We need a place with food and heat.”

  He turned and smiled to himself, “We’ll let those two local yokels do all the work and then we can live on their supplies while they take a dirt nap.” If they could just find a woman to share, that would be good. They didn't need a woman each, just one to take care o
f the three of them. As long as he was first every night, he didn't care if the other two had their way with her afterwards. Besides, one woman was easier to control than three. Their last one had been caught by the infected the previous week. She had been as dumb as a box of rocks and stubborn. Mike kept telling her to avoid the alleys and dark places, but you just couldn’t talk to people hurting for their meth. They had run out and she was on a mission to find more. The infected tore her to shreds in an attack that was brutal, even by Mike’s standards. Mike’s small gang killed the three that had grabbed her, but it was too late to save her.

  Finally they had three quarters of a tank of gas and took off, looking for the two men. They stopped at every driveway, looking for tracks they could follow. They came up with nothing - the last house was empty. They kept driving out of town, stopping at every turn off looking for tracks. Nothing. Finally they hit the dirt road with fresh tracks leading out. As Mike got out of the SUV, the two morons got out, squabbling back and forth. Mike walked over and backhanded the back of Brad’s head.

  “Shut up and listen.”

  “For what, a moose mating call?” Dale grinned as Brad snickered, while rubbing his head. Mike grabbed Dale by the collar and, muttering through clenched teeth, said, “If I wanted a fucking comedian, I would have brought one with us. Now SHUT THE FUCK UP BEFORE I RIP YOUR HEAD OFF!” Brad looked down at the ground.

  Then they heard it. A chain saw up on the mountain. Mike smiled, “Found you!” He drove up the road for two miles, then shut off the SUV and listened. The sound was still there, but still a long ways off. About the sixth time he stopped, he could see wood smoke. He parked the SUV, ordering his two partners to stay in the vehicle. “I’m going scouting. Don't make any noise. We have to figure out how to take this place over.”

  Mike grabbed his 10 x 50 binoculars and walked up the road. When he was within 100 yards of the cabin, he walked off the road and studied the layout. Wood smoke was coming from the cabin, but where was the truck? Then he heard the truck coming down the mountain. At first he panicked, wondering if they would run into the Escalade. Too late, he thought, I can never beat them to it. I just have to wait and see what happens.