Seeking Sanctuary (Walkers)

by Davis-Lindsey, Zelda

I'm happy. So there. And stuck my tongue out at him. Childish I knew but it made him chuckle and drew nasty looks from the others.

  Brat. He thought. I smiled even bigger.

  It felt like we must of walked 20 miles following a deer trail when we finally spotted the small herd of mule deer. My heart began to race as we studied them from atop a small rise. Using hand signals we indicated which one each would shoot and almost as one we did just that. Me, Mason, Andy, and Riley got a nice doe while Clint killed a buck. We quickly field dressed them then unwound the plastic sleds we had packed into Clint's backpack to drag them back to the fort on. Going back took longer so I was able to admire my surroundings. There were eagles nests in the tops of the trees and some of them were playing in the slight breeze. Multi-colored butterflies darted to and fro in the high grass while birds twittered to each other in the trees. Two sand hill cranes squawked as they flew over, nearly giving Andy a heart attack while a cloud of no see-ums swarmed over head.

  We must have taken a wrong turn because we found ourselves standing in front of a cave. We discussed it for a few minutes then decided to come back another day. The meat needed to be cooled soon or it would spoil. But we kept the location of the cave in our minds as we turned to go back to the fork that we'd missed the first time. I spotted a small lake to our right and told Mason about it. Then he spotted the UFO hovering over the lake. We stared at it for a minute then continued on our way. Nothing we could do about it, so why waste time and energy staring at it. We decided we would check the lake out later. A mess of fish would be great. After we got back to the right path, Mason marked it with two or three rocks stacked together so we wouldn't miss it the next time. It was getting late in the afternoon when we finally saw the fort and by the time we got to the gates, I was as hot and sweaty as the guys.

  Everyone descended upon us with a lot excitement. Sarah and Lacy took over the meat detail while the rest of us went to our cabins to clean up. Abby and Nevada helped keep the kids rounded up while Melody and Mercy fixed up stuff to go with the meal. Howard was getting the grills ready. We needed several to cook all the meat and Howard was busy making like a chef, his big overalls and black felt cowboy hat jumping back and forth between the grills.

  Randy and Duke went to Hazels to see if she wanted to eat with us while chairs and small tables were brought out so we could relax in style. It was a good day. No one had seen any ghosts and we'd killed one walker and several deer. Yep a good day for sure. Of course, the day wasn't over yet and anything could happen and it usually did but I was being optimistic. I couldn't help it. Deer steaks were on the grill and the smell was pure heaven.

  “They're back.” Andy yelled from the catwalk near the front of the fort. Nevada got a chair and put a cushion in it, then hung a small blanket over the back for Hazel. She'd quickly became our favorite person and more so for Duke and Nevada. I'm not sure why but she was likeable even if she was a bit rough around the edges. Hazel had a crowd of kids around her as they escorted her to her chair.

  The deer was wonderful, the company better. We were sitting around the compound watching the children play when I heard a trail whistle.

  “What's that?” I asked and immediately everyone glared at me. I realized I had parroted Mandy's saying but it was out and there was nothing I could do about it. I shrugged then repeated it, “Well, what is that?”

  “Sounds like a train whistle but I can't tell from which direction. It seems to be bouncing all over the valley.” Flynn said, as Randy ran to the catwalk with his binoculars.

  “The train tracks run from Whitefish to Libby but has to go north then back south because of the mountains. I think, however, we aren't more than about two miles south of them.” Hazel said. “Someone should tell them to stop blowing that horn or every walker in the area will be on them like ugly on an ape.” As she drank her tea, the rest of us just stared at each other. Where does she come up with that stuff?

  “I'll get my helicopter if someone wants to write a short note I can fly it to the train and tell them to shut up.” Duke said, then he was gone. He'd picked up the remote controlled helicopter in New Mexico and installed a small camera on the bottom of it so we could see 'around corners' as he put it. I didn't know the radius but I guess we're about to find out.

  I grabbed a napkin off the table and wrote, 'stop blowing the horn, walkers are drawn to the noise, be quiet and someone will come for you. Write a note back to let us know how many of you there are' and signed it Fort Majestic. I folded the napkin and was ready when Duke and Mandy came out with the helicopter. I think it was called a Chinook cause it was long like a bus and grayish brown. It had a small compartment inside so I placed the napkin there. When all was ready, Clint held it up in the air while Duke ran the controls. Mandy came back out with a laptop and we watched as it flew between trees and over meadows in the general direction Hazel had pointed out. At some points I got dizzy as it zig-zagged through the valleys to the train.

  We found the tracks first. We weren't sure which way to go from there so we turned right. After watching the train ties zip by at an amazing speed, I turned away and caught Hazel watching me. “I can't stand it either,” she said and smiled.

  “So where's Baby?” I asked as Duke made weird noises as he flew the copter.

  “Oh, he decided he would guard the house. He does that so well, don't you think?”

  “Yes, I think he makes a wonderful guard. I can't imagine what else he could do.”

  “Oh, well, he makes a great companion. I don't know what I would have done without him to talk to. At first he got excited every time one of the walkers would make a noise, then I'd have to quiet him. It was a hell of time there for a while.” I saw Flynn over her shoulder mouth, 'what a mouth'. I tried not to grin since she smacked him on the head for cussing a few days beforehand. She became interested in the laptop so I looked also.

  The helicopter was coming upon the train. I had no idea where he was going to land the thing since there were only a caboose and two train cars attached to the engine. Duke hovered above the front windshield of the engine until the fool saw the copter and stopped blaring the damned horn. We saw several walkers on the steps and outside the door so he wouldn't be able to get to the helicopter. He pointed to his right and when Duke flew that direction we saw a window that had been slid open. It looked like it would be wide enough to fly the helicopter inside, so Duke very carefully maneuvered the helicopter through the window and set it gently in the man's hands. He just stared at it for a moment then held it up and stared at the camera. His nose hair needed trimmed. I looked away.

  He looked to be around 35, but from the way he was dressed and the long beard he could've been 60. The damned camera swung back and forth, to and fro for what seemed like forever before it settled on the console of the engine and we watched the man stare at us for several minutes. I about to mouth off something obscene when he grabbed it again and it jiggled some more. He'd found the note.

  He read the note then started to look for something to write with. I guess he looked everywhere cause soon he faced the camera, and shrugged his shoulders. Then he held up the note, pointed to the part that asked how many people needed saving and held up one hand fingers splayed, closed it, opened it again and repeated the procedure one more time before holding up four fingers. By my reckoning that equaled 19 and we had no room for them. Duke flew the copter up and down a couple of times in a kind of nod to let him know we got the message before working his way out of the window and down the side of the cars.

  The windows showed the faces of several frightened people in the second and third cars but the caboose only held what looked like walkers. Lots and lots of walkers.

  “Well, I need to get my tired ass back to the house. We are going to have company. It was a wonderful picnic my friends but the time has come to welcome more lost souls. Paul said this day was coming and it has.”

  “I'll be happy to take you back, Miss Hazel,” Randy said, “and if you need me to st
ay and help I'll sure be happy to do that.”

  “Me too, Miss Hazel,” Riley said as he placed the afghan around her shoulders, “It would be my pleasure to escort you home.”

  “We'll both take you home and make sure it's secure for your new guests.”

  I was having trouble keeping a straight face.

  What a crock. Lacy thought.

  Yeah, but cute. Looks like we need to make a trip tomorrow so we need to start planning. I'd like one day when we didn't plan a damned thing. A spontaneous day, like a Sunday. Know what I mean, Lace?

  “I agree,” Mason said next to me making me jump. He put his hand on my shoulder to calm me and to say he was sorry. “It seems like forever since we were at the lodge and could just laze a whole day away with no worries.”

  I sighed because I thought of the lodge often. Sleeping in and lounging before the fireplace in my flannel jammies and thick socks watching the flames warm my toes with the sound of crackling wood. I sighed again. Soon, dammit.

  I could hear the sound of the trucks leaving the parking lot to take Hazel home. The helicopter returned soon afterward and I set about writing another note asking how many adults, children, injured or sick. I also said anyone bitten or turned would not be coming back with us. I didn't know how they would take that but it couldn't be helped. We'd have to put them down sooner or later anyway so why bother with it and put our people at risk? I had a short pencil and shortened it even farther so it wouldn't throw the helicopter off kilter. Duke sent it and the note back to the train telling them someone would come for them tomorrow.

  I told him to see if anyone would let the helicopter into one of the cars so someone else could give us some information. It wasn't like I didn't trust the engineer but it seemed like he was cut off from everyone else and they would know more about their condition than he would. I left him to mess with the train while I helped clear away the days festivities.

  Duke made several trips to the train until the helicopter finally needed a rest. We had a general idea of the condition of the people on the train and it wasn't good. The caboose was full of walkers. One had been stuck between the cars until they finally dislodged him yesterday and the caboose door was locked from the outside. So everyone that was left, and more accurate count was actually 17, were malnourished and dehydrated. It seemed like every time they tried to get off the train and get some water the fool in the engine would blare the horn and the walkers would come running. He hadn't figured out that the noise was attracting them. We couldn't send food and water by way of the helicopter, it just wasn't made to transport anything bigger than the note and pencil, so we told them to hold on one more night and we'd be there tomorrow.

  I stood on the catwalk and watched the sun set. It had been a wonderful day. The food was wonderful, and I was surrounded by the people I cared about most. I don't know why I was feeling out of sorts about the new people. They'd be staying at Hazels house and I wouldn't be seeing much of them. Right? Man I hoped so, with every fiber of my being. I didn't like people as a general thing. Not their personalities but their physical selves. I'd discovered that there were people I liked to refer to as 'vampires'. They don't suck your blood but your energy and you could tell when you were near one by how quickly you tired in their presence. People made me nervous and the idea of these people just plain made me sick. I hope it wasn't a foretelling. I just didn't need any more paranormal 'abilities'.

  Chapter 17

  Our little caravan of two, horse-drawn wagons and two horses with riders, slowly made our way to the train. The horses and wagons were borrowed from Hazel. They were used for hay rides during the fall. Joe and Sandy manned one while me and Mason got the other. Actually, Mason and Joe were the only ones that knew how to handle a two horse team and I was hanging on since Clint and Flynn wanted to ride the horses. We should all learn to drive a wagon because one of these days that may be the only way to go, driving wagons and riding horses.

  Lacy, Sarah, Melody and Randy were at Hazels helping to get the place ready for the new people. Duke, Mercy, Howard, Samantha, Ken and Jill remained at the fort. I couldn't imagine settlers coming across the nation sitting in a wagon, and arriving intact. I know now why in the movies you see most of them walking beside the wagons. I swear, my kidneys felt like they'd been rearranged. Since we weren't on any real trail, we bounce over large rocks and deep holes, making me concerned about losing a wheel. I couldn't admire the countryside because my attention was focused on hanging on for dear life. I couldn't look at anything because as soon as I did I was jerked another direction. I hated it and was resolved to kick one of the boys off a horse on the way back. They needed to feel the 'frontier experience'. But then in most of the old westerns I'd seen the men were on horseback making the women drive the wagons. Okay, nevermind.

  The men had poured over maps of the area before heading out so they knew about the ravines and creeks. We avoided as many as possible but when we did have to cross one I got off and walked. The water was ice cold but it felt so good to walk, I didn't complain. Mason wanted me in the wagon though in case of walkers. We were in the mountains of Northwestern Montana, how many walkers could there be? When I'd finally decided we'd never find the train, I heard the whistle again.

  “What part of 'don't blare the horn' does this fool not understand?” Mason said as he maneuvered around a huge boulder. I would've replied but I was too damned busy hanging on.

  “Didn't we tell that fool to leave off the horn?” Clint said, as he rode up even with Mason.

  “Yeah, but he don't seem to have much sense. I'm more interested in who made him an engineer. He can't seem to follow directions.

  We suddenly came out of the trees and there before us was a beautiful old train. The red caboose almost rocked with the many walkers inside wanting out. Two coach cars were between it and the blue engine. Three walkers were on the engine trying to get the door open, while another stood on the steps leading to the door, trying to push the walker in front him off the steps. The walker in the back was an old mountain man, from the looks of the beard, jacket with leather fringe (I didn't think they actually wore them) and fringed boots. They hadn't seen us yet, cause the fool was still blowing the horn. You could see him inside and when he wasn't blowing the horn he was stabbing at the walkers with what looked like a broom handle through the window on the side, nearing falling out in the process. I nearly fell off the wagon when a shot rang out (thanks Flynn for the warning) and one of the walkers crumbled on the stairs. Everyone's attention was on us then, and before they could get off the engine they were destroyed and we could approach the train.

  Flynn rode to the opposite side of the train to clear that side before we motioned for the people inside to come out. They didn't. Hmm. So I climbed the extra three feet of steps and they wouldn't let me in. What the hell? I turned and shrugged my shoulders at Mason who sighed, tossed the reins to Sandy, and climbed off the wagon. Joe was at the other car trying to get those people to open the door. I finally gave up and leaving the crazy people inside to Mason, headed to the engine. He was still inside.

  I knocked because it was a door dammit and that's what you do when confronted with a closed door. Besides, if he tried to stab me with that broom handle I was apt to take it away from him and beat him to death with it. I thought these people wanted to be rescued.

  “I though you wanted rescued,” I said to the door. Then I knocked again. I was starting to feel unwanted staring at that blue door. “Come on, fool, you're being rescued here. Time to act like it.”

  The door slowly opened then the fool who needed his nose hairs trimmed peered out at me. I just smiled, see, no harm from me. He looked behind me then stepped out and looked all around. Geez, talk about rude.

  “So you ready to get out of here or would you like to blow the horn some more?” I asked as I brushed past him and off the engine. I was so done with him. I heard him walking behind me back to the first car. He still hadn't said anything. I guess it was embarrassmen
t, he really stunk. He'd need clean pants real soon, or I'd loose my breakfast.

  People were being gently herded out of the cars and into the wagons. The ones in the worse condition were being seen to by Joe. We handed out Gatorade and energy bars and wrapped blankets around them as we settled them in the wagons, making room in the other wagon for the ones that were to sick or weak to lay down. They didn't make much noise just murmured thanks or wept quietly. They were a sorry lot.

  The kids seemed to rally faster than the adults but then that's the way of children. I don't know why but they just bounce back quicker. They were helping the adults settle in, reassuring them that all was well. One little boy of around 10 years old looked questioningly at me after reassuring an older adult and when I nodded he smiled, lighting up his dirty little face. Once we had everyone loaded, Clint and Flynn busied themselves with destroying the walkers in the caboose and throwing them out onto the ground. When I looked at Mason he said, “That caboose is too nice to let them rot inside. Might want to use that it one of these days.” I agreed. It seemed like it took all day to get to this point but when I looked at my watch, I saw it was only a little over an hour. It would take another hour to get to Hazels. I felt sorry for all the jostling those people took on the return trip but I'd been there done that, so I rode behind Clint who rode in front of the wagons and didn't get to see their misery. Chickenhearted of me I know but there was just nothing that could be done for it.

  I was able to admire the beauty of the Flathead National Forest. It was named after the Flathead Indians who lived in the area. They were called that by the first Europeans who came to the area. The Flathead call themselves Salish, meaning “the people”. The area is beautiful, full of abundant wildlife, tall, snow covered mountains and lush valleys all abloom with every color. The air was still a bit cool but fresh like sheets dried in the sun. A flash of light brought my head around so fast that my neck popped, again. There hanging, over a bunch of aspen trees, was our UFO. Just watching, again.