Mike and Jimmy looked at Jack. They had expected this, and couldn’t hold it against him. If they were being honest, they would rather have someone a little better suited than Jack at handling the nastiness they would come across.
“We can ask. If someone else wants to go, then I don’t have a problem with it.”
“Thanks Gordy,” Jack said, hating the feeling that he was wimping out on his friends. He knew that he couldn’t handle another day like that without losing it, though.
“If you guys want to take a walk I can show you what we’ve been working on this morning, while you were out gallivanting around the neighborhood.” Gordy smiled as he said it, understanding that his friends had just had a horrible day.
Jimmy had seen Tam and the girls out in the ball field when they had walked back into Camp. His family had come running over, all three throwing their arms around him. Mike had seen his girls at the same time, but Lisa had been nowhere in sight.
Jimmy agreed to go with Gordy, while Mike went to find Lisa. Jack begged off, wanting to go lie down.
Gordy and Jimmy walked down to the front gate, where the work on the wall had begun. Jimmy stood impressed by the pace of the work.
Jonathan had offered to help out by operating the lawn tractor with the trenching arm attached. It was work he could do easily, with little physical effort. He had started by digging a narrow trench from the gate, about three feet from the edge of the graveled road, following it up towards the Camp.
While Jonathan had been trenching, Sam and Calvin used the truck to begin moving the railroad ties up the road, tossing them out of truck next to the trench. The trench went three feet deep, and twelve inches wide. These dimensions gave Gordy and Rick plenty of room to maneuver the ties into place and stand them on end. Once each tie was stood up to the next, one of the men would strike the tie with a sledgehammer, pushing them together snugly. Every few feet, they would take time to shovel dirt back in around the edges and tamp it down tightly.
Jonathan dug a trench that followed the road, until it curved in towards the Camp. At the curve he kept going straight, to the edge of the woods that led to the area behind the main house complex. He had dug nearly three-hundred and sixty feet that morning.
“We want to get this section along the road built first,” Gordy explained to Jimmy as they walked. “Once this part is done, we’ll move to the other side of the road, begin clearing out all this timber so that the guard stand we are thinking of putting up on top of the sports building will have a clear line of sight.
“When we have that cleared, all those trees will give us more timber for the wall, which we’re going to start encircling the entire Camp with, but that’s going to take a lot of time.”
“Why so much time,” Jimmy asked, “I thought with the chainsaws and that trench digger it wouldn’t take long at all?”
“We found earlier today that once we get into the wooded areas it will,” Gordy told him, “because we’ll have stumps and roots to deal with. That was something we hadn’t taken into consideration when planning this out. Today we may get fifty feet of wall done, in clear open ground. Once we get into the woods we might get ten feet a day done.”
Jimmy thought for a moment, then asked, “And how many feet is this wall going to be?”
“Rick and I walked it off this morning; right after you guys went out. We figure something close to forty-seven hundred feet.”
“Damn, almost a mile of wall. That’ll take well over a year, and that’s only if you can get that ten feet a day.”
Gordy simply nodded. “A lot of work ahead of us, Jimbo, more than just the wall, too. Why don’t you go visit with Tam and your girls for a bit before supper, or find something relaxing to do, you and the other guys deserve it after today.”
Jimmy wandered slowly towards the ball field where he had last seen his family. He thought he might spend some time with them for a little while, but decided against it when he saw that Lynn and Tamara where holding school outside for the children.
He wondered at the necessity of it, teaching the kids reading and writing and math at a time like this. He guessed that maybe it brought a sense of normalcy to their day. After everything that had happened the children deserved even brief moments of something familiar and comforting.
He felt that a little normalcy would be great, and made for the dispensary building that Jan and Anna were working to set up. He knocked as he opened the door, startling both women.
“Jesus, Jimmy, you almost gave me a heart attack.”
“Sorry, Jan. I came to see if you or anyone else had brought any books with them?”
“Well, we have a little library set up in here, just a few small shelves of books, mostly survival, or homesteading, medical texts, stuff like that.”
“Nah, I’m looking for some escapist fiction,” Jimmy said, smiling. “I could use a few minutes in another world, away from this one.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t carry a book with you.”
“I did, Anna, but I’ve read that copy of The Stand like seven times. It’s kind of falling apart. Besides, I’m in the mood for something a little more light-hearted.”
Anna just nodded as Jan told him, “I’m sorry, I don’t have anything, although I’m surprised Gordy didn’t try to pack his entire library. He would have if I hadn’t made him put the books back when we were packing up.”
“Tam said the same thing to me when we started grabbing stuff to head for the old school. I’ll ask everyone at dinner later, maybe someone will have something. Thanks Jan, later Anna,” Jimmy said, waving to the women as he stepped out the door.
Jimmy did not get the chance to ask the group about books at supper.
****
There was someone on watch duty at all times. This person carried their day kit, rifle, sidearm and a compressed air horn. Though the air horn was loud, most felt that it was the best way to ensure that everyone heard the alarm, in the event of an emergency.
The evening, while cool, was still pleasant enough to eat outside. Jonathan had returned home, sufficiently worn out from the long day, to go directly to bed. Everyone had taken their meal to the pavilion behind the main house, enjoying the ‘just out having a picnic’ feel to the evening. Utensils were dropped and a few people even yelled out loud when they heard the short blast of the air-horn from the top of the sports building.
Tamara and Calvin took the children inside, with Tam huddling the children in a corner together, while Cal took up a post at the front door, holding one of the FN P90’s salvaged from Harlan Capp’s dugout cache.
Jan, Lynn and Lisa ran quickly to the dispensary, locking themselves in the small building. All three were armed, and ready to defend their provisions should anyone attempt to break in.
Though Dean was still in pain from his injuries, he and his sister Anna both stayed behind the main house, getting lost in the shadows of the building as they had been shown. Dean carried only a pistol, as his still-slung arm and bandage-covered eye would not allow him to wield a rifle with any accuracy. Anna held one of several Bushmaster M4 carbines the group owned.
Sam had been on ‘Top-Watch’, which was simply climbing a ladder to the top of the sports building and using it as a watchtower. Rick had run over, shouting up to Sam, asking what was wrong.
“Lights moving around down at the Cambrey place,” Sam yelled down to Rick, “two I think.”
“Stay up there, watch our backs.”
Rick ran back to the remaining members of the group waiting in front of the main house. “Sam says he saw at least two lights moving around down at Jonathan’s place. Could be trouble for the old man.”
Gordy looked at his friends for a moment before saying, “We need to hurry, Rick you lead us down there. Whoever it is most likely heard the horn blast, they may be watching for someone, so everybody be careful.”
Following the tree line as close as they could to the house, they split into two groups. Rick, Jack and Gordy went left, w
hile Mike and Jimmy took right. They made their way safely around the house without incident, meeting at the front steps.
Moving up the steps slowly, and staying to the farthest outside edge of the treads to lessen the chance that a creaking step would giving them away, the men gathered around the front door.
“Listen old man, we know you have gold and shit in this house! Somebody old as you always has gold and fancy jewelry stashed away.” Rick listened closely to the deep voice, trying to judge its location within the house.
“Yeah, and what the hell you been doin’ back here?” A second, more nasal voice asked, “All the damn racket you been makin’ has the dead fuckers walkin’ crazy circles in town.”
From what Rick could tell, both men were standing near each other. Turning to his combat companions Rick signaled that Gordy and Jimmy would go in quietly, taking a knee to the left and right of the door, while he and Mike would move forward into the house. He motioned to Jack to stay on the porch and watch the rear.
On Rick’s signal each man moved as quickly and quietly as possible. Jimmy went to the right, taking a knee beside a large reclining chair. Gordy went left, around and behind the door, rifle aiming into the room. His knees hurt like hell, moving like that. He would have to get an ice pack on them later.
Mike and Rick went straight forward, crouching low, the deep pile of the carpet silencing their footsteps. They moved toward the kitchen, where they could hear Jonathan telling them to “Just take whatever you want, I won’t stop you”.
Both of the intruders had their backs to the large arch doorway leading from the kitchen into the living area. Stepping lightly Rick moved up behind the man that at the moment was telling Jonathan, “Damn right you won’t, fucker!”
He had pulled his arm back to strike the old man when a voice behind him said, “Hi.” Both men jumped, the one ready to hit Jonathan grunted and stumbled backwards tripping over his own feet. The other one screamed much like a woman in a horror movie, a urine stain spreading rapidly over the front of his filthy jeans. Mike and Rick would later laugh about the reactions, but were too busy at the moment.
Rick reached out, grabbing Trippy by the shirt, preventing his fall and dragging him in close. Mike struck the screamer in the forehead with the butt of his rifle, knocking him backwards and over a chair. He stepped around the chair, only to find that Screamer was out cold.
Face to face with Trippy, Rick gave his best snarl and said, “What the hell do you think you’re doing, asshole?”
Trippy tried to pull away from Rick’s grip, reaching up with his right hand to push at Rick’s wrist. Rick’s free hand snapped up, grabbed the hand and deftly bent the index finger against the back of the hand.
Trippy began to scream instantly, the pain in his hand flaring like a pile of magnesium hit with a spark. He began to go down on his knees, but Rick raised the hand high, not letting him. He could not stand, and he could not go down, and that caused the pain to increase to the point where the man was about to pass out.
Rick slowly lowered the hand, but kept the hold, allowing the home invader to go to his knees. Rick grabbed a handful of wispy beard, jerking Trippy’s face up so he could look him in the eye.
“I see you smacked our friend around a little before we got here,” he referred to the dark bruise growing on Jonathan’s cheek bone. “For that alone, I should snap your damn neck.”
Trippy looked into the dark blue eyes staring at him and tears began to course down his face. He knew this man could do it, and easily. He could also see that he wanted to do it. He tried to speak, to beg for his life, but the words would not come. His throat was locked up in fear.
Gordy and Jimmy walked into the kitchen; saw the man laying unconscious on the floor, and the one being held by Rick. They also saw the bruised face of their friend.
“Everything under control, Rick?”
Without looking away from the man he was keeping in a very painful grip Rick replied, “No problems, Gordy, just about to have a talk with this guy about other people’s belongings.”
“That old man there, he’s a good man; and you pigs came here to hurt him, take what didn’t belong to you. Jonathan, it’s your house. What do you want me to do with these two?”
Jonathan Cambrey sat silent, old eyes far away from this moment in time. When he looked at Rick it was plain to see that the old man was tired, world weary. Jonathan stood up from his chair, walking towards the long hallway that led to his bedroom. Just before he entered the room he had shared with his wife for many good years, he turned back and said softly, “Let them go, Rick.”
Rick wanted to protest, choosing instead to honor the man’s wish in his own home. He released Trippy, letting him stand. Mike lifted the other man to his feet, slapping his face to rouse him. Screamer’s eyes opened slowly, taking a long moment to remember where he was.
The men took both of the intruders outside. “Listen to me boys; I don’t give one fuck about either of you. But I want you to know that if I see you anywhere near this place ever again I won’t hesitate to put a bullet in you, and I damn sure won’t say ‘Hi’ before I do.”
“Get the hell out of here, and do NOT come back here,” Gordy told them. They stood watching the two thieves until the darkness swallowed them.
“Would you have really killed them?” Jack asked.
“For just a second there I really wanted to bash that guy’s face in. I wouldn’t have killed him, though. They’re trying to survive, I get that, but survival doesn’t have to mean losing your damn humanity. Besides, they have to be pretty stupid to think hording gold is going to make a difference now. Food and ammunition are the real currency now.”
Chapter 12
Mike, Jimmy and Sam spent the next week on what Mike started calling “Grab-n-Stab”. In that time they were able to clear the entire length of Saverton Drive to Highway E, including the short Sherman trail that branched off at the southern end of Saverton Drive.
Each new door they approached was a possibility that one or all of them could be seriously injured or killed. A lot of their time was spent simply going slow and being cautious.
Every building was also a treasure hunt. They found food and bottled water in nearly every house. Ammunition of various calibers was in abundance as well, though they found few guns, mostly shotguns and hunting rifles. Once everything was collected from just this stretch of road they would have a nice storehouse of goods.
Several more chainsaws were found, as well as mowers and lawn tractors. Some would start; others Sam thought would run with the right parts and maintenance.
One house they felt must have belonged to a dealer of prescription medications. Boxes of empty pill bottles were found under a bed, which led the men to believe that the house may hold some secrets. After an hour long search, they found two loose wall panels that hid several small boxes of bottles filled with pills. These they took back to Jan, who was pleased with the find, citing that they would always have need of prescription strength painkillers, which is what most of the pills were. She stressed to them that they watch out for antibiotics of any kind.
Two houses had locked metal gun cabinets, for which they were unable to find keys. The cabinets were left until they could bring back tools with which to pry them open.
The men found far more dead and decaying bodies than they did reanimated ones. Of all the buildings they had searched since the horse farm, everything from houses to sheds to barns, they only encountered six of the living dead, none of which had posed a great threat to the men.
One of the best finds, especially for Sam, was in a garage on Sherman Trail. After clearing a small, neat house, they stopped to take a break, sitting down at the kitchen table.
Opening a bottle of water, Jimmy looked at the two men with him for a moment, and then asked, “Do you guys think we’ve had it too easy?”
“What do you mean, “Too easy”? Mike asked in return.
“Well, I guess I mean has it been too easy. Everyth
ing that’s happened so far, that is. Everything around us has gone nuts. If it’s not face-eating zombies, then it’s psycho bastards killing people. Yet we escaped Hannibal, got to the island like we planned, then right away we move up to the camp. We meet a nice old man who’s willing to share his food and help us. We find tools and working equipment that seriously make life up here so much easier. I don’t know, I just seems like…”
“Like you’re waiting for Lucifer’s Hammer to fall?” Sam asked.
“Exactly,” Jimmy said, “and that was a great book, by the way.”
“Seemed fitting. I’ve been feeling the same way. Everything I’ve ever read says that an EMP will send us back to the 1800’s. Maybe it depends on the type of EMP or severity of it. Maybe if it was a solar type it would be worse. It’s hard to say. But we have some great advantages and I’m not going to look too hard at them.”
“Sam’s right, Jimmy, I wouldn’t analyze it so much.”
Jimmy chuckled, “That’s the same thing Tam said to me.”
“I get what you’re saying, I really do. I still can’t believe we’re in this shit. I keep thinking that I’m going to wake up in front of the T.V. with some old Romero flick on. We’ve been damn lucky to this point, and I think we take it and keep going. Really if you look at it, it isn’t luck. We’re just finding and using things others have left behind.”
“I know, Mike, and you guys are probably right. We can’t trust lives to luck though.”
Jimmy stood up, pacing around the small kitchen. These thoughts and more had been weighing on him lately. He found it difficult to simply set them aside, even if his friends were right.
When he stopped pacing he found himself standing in front of a small closet or pantry door. Opening it he stood there for a moment, staring inside, and began to laugh.
Sam and Mike looked at him, wondering if he had just went over the edge when Jimmy bent over, picked something up and turned around.
He held a box labeled Bat Creek Brewery, and inside the box were twelve 22 ounce dark brown bottles.
American Revenant (Book 2): Settlers and Sorrow Page 7