“And we really shouldn’t move Connall now that we have him secured,” Steve said. He rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. “If you all can redistribute the other Scouts, I’ll leave my vehicle behind and drive Connall’s van. I’ll take Stan with me, but I don’t think any of the others should stay with us. I can leave a note in my truck with my contact information in case help comes. They can call me for details about the accident.”
Jeremy nodded. “That should work. I know Shaun can take more and I said I could take four more if we shuffled gear into your truck.”
“We can still move some of the equipment around so you can take more,” Steve said. “But now I’m thinking we put some in the van. I won’t be taking more Scouts and that will leave additional space for equipment. I just don’t want to leave anyone a good reason to break into my truck, is all.”
Shaun joined the three men just as Steve finished speaking. “Break into your truck? Why would anyone do that?”
Mike smiled at Shaun. “We were just deciding what to do next. Steve thinks we should leave his truck here so he can drive Connall back. He thought we should throw extra gear into the van so his truck isn’t such a big target.”
“So you’re thinking of leaving for the city? Makes sense,” Shaun said with a nod. “We’ve got to get these boys back.” He looked at the moaning Connall. “Connall too, it seems.”
“It’s agreed then,” Mike said. “Let’s get as much equipment into the van as we can and let’s get the heck out of here!”
Chapter 6
The Scout convoy, now comprised of only four vehicles, cautiously travelled down the gravel road, a healthy distance between each. The dust was still a problem. Once again, Mike brought up the rear of the group.
They were lucky and didn’t encounter any further accidents along the gravel road. After thirty minutes of driving, they had their first indication of civilization when the road changed from gravel to asphalt.
The Scouts were silent right up until they made the transition onto the smoother road. Kyle spoke up then.
“Dad? What happened to Scouter Connall?”
Mike looked at the boy. “I don’t know, son. Trevor said they got to a farmhouse that was burning. Connall pulled into the yard to see if he could help. There were already people on the ground either hurt or dead. A couple of those people apparently bit him.”
“Bit him?” Kyle asked.
“That’s what Trevor said.” Mike leaned ahead and looked up into the air through the windshield. He could see a column of smoke beyond the next rise. “If the smoke ahead is any indication, we are probably pretty close to that burning farmhouse.”
“We’re not going to stop, are we?” Kyle asked.
There was a sudden silence and lack of breathing from the back seat. “I don’t know Kyle. If it looks like we can help anyone, we should. Knowing that there’s danger means we will be that much more careful though, okay?”
“I guess, Dad,” Kyle said. He looked out the window of the truck at the passing trees. He was silent for several minutes before he spoke again.
“Dad, I’m worried. What if what happened to Scouter Connall happens to you or to any of us?”
“We will just have to watch each other’s backs and make sure it doesn’t, Kyle,” Mike said with a sad smile. “Keep in mind we don’t even know if anything is really wrong with Scouter Connall or not. He may just have a bad virus or something that is making him hallucinate.”
“Hallucinate? Really, Dad? I don’t think Scouter Connall was hallucinating. That bite you told me about was real, wasn’t it?” Kyle said.
“It was real,” Mike admitted. “But I can’t say whether he is delirious or if something more serious is wrong.”
“But, Dad….” Kyle began.
“Kyle, I know you are all worried,” Mike interrupted. “But I want you boys to remember a few things. The first is Scouting is about more than just earning badges and going camping. Scouts are meant to use the things they learn to help others. That’s why Scouter Connall stopped at the burning house. He saw a problem and tried to help.”
“And look where it got him,” Kyle said.
“You’re right, Kyle, but I doubt that Connall knew the danger he was in. People in trouble don’t usually attack their rescuers. We can’t let what happened to him prevent us from doing what’s right. The only difference is we know what can happen and we will be careful to avoid the problem.”
“I guess so, Dad,” Kyle said. By his expression, the agreement was made with great reluctance.
The truck crested the hill and Mike and his passengers got a first look at the source of the smoke. The farmhouse had once been a two-story wooden building. Now, it was a single story high with most of the second floor already collapsed into the lower floor.
“Oh, my goodness,” Mike said. He slowed the truck and pulled it over behind the line of the three other Scout vehicles that had parked outside the gates of the farm. As described by Trevor, there were several bodies on the ground. The only difference was at least one of the bodies was still moving.
It appeared to be hunched over and feeding on something in the middle of the yard. It ignored the sound of the Scouts standing outside the gate.
“Okay, guys. You can stay in the truck if you want,” Mike said, opening his door. “If you do decide to get out, I want you all to remain outside of the farm yard. Whatever happens, if one of the leaders tells you to get out, you run, don’t walk, as fast as you can. Do you understand?”
He looked at each of them until they nodded. Kyle was last and for a moment, Mike thought he might refuse.
Kyle finally nodded. “Okay, Dad. But only if you promise me you won’t do anything stupid!”
“Stupid? Me?” Mike asked, with a laugh.
Kyle didn’t so much as crack a smile.
Mike sighed. “You’re right, Kyle. I need to be careful so I can get you boys home in one piece.”
“No, Dad,” Kyle corrected. “You need to be careful so I have a father tomorrow.” He looked at his friends. “And so we have a Scouter to teach us as well.”
Mike grimaced, but nodded. “I take your point, Kyle. No foolish risks.” He closed the truck door. “Now, remember what I said and stay on this side of the fence. Come on, let’s join the others now.”
The man and four boys quickly joined the Scouters and Scouts who stood looking at the carnage in the farmyard.
“We should do something,” Jeremy said. “Some of those people might still be alive and need our help.”
“I don’t like this at all,” Steve said. “But I do agree with you. Here we have a problem where we know there are victims present. Still, after what Trevor said happened to Connall, we need to do this very, very cautiously.”
“I’ll go,” Jeremy said. “I can’t stand this waiting and whoever or whatever that thing in there is, it might have the answers we need.”
Mike looked at Kyle. “I’ll back up Jeremy. But I won’t go without my heavy jacket, leather gloves and one of the axes. I promised the boys I would be careful and those things will help keep me safe.”
Steve nodded his approval. “Good thinking, Mike. Bare arms that can be bitten or scratched when we might have a virus on our hands wouldn’t be prudent.”
“Kyle, would you find me the sharpest axe we’ve got?” Mike asked.
“You got it, Dad,” Kyle said, then ran to the back of the blue Ford SuperCrew.
Mike went back to his truck and dressed in the heavy clothing. Maybe he was being foolish, but with Connall out of commission, Mike was the next one with first aid training. The people in that yard might need his help. With that thought, he grabbed his backpack and threw a first aid kit into it.
Might as well have it handy.
By the time he was finished dressing, Kyle had a two-foot-long axe ready. He also handed Mike a bandana.
“What’s this for?” Mike asked.
Kyle shrugged. “In case there is a virus, if you put it
over your mouth it might help prevent the spread of germs or whatever.”
“That’s good thinking son. Thank you.” Mike took the items from his son and gave him a hug.
Ordinarily, Kyle would have pulled back with so many of his friends around. This time he leaned into his father. “Be careful, Dad. I love you.”
“I love you too, Kyle,” Mike said. “Now, help me tie this bandana around my face before I change my mind.”
Kyle went behind his father and carefully tied a double knot in the kerchief. Mike gave it an experimental tug to ensure it would stay. Everything was set.
He met Jeremy, who was now similarly garbed, at the fence. Jeremy carried a heavy poplar stick about three metres thick and a metre long.
Mike raised an eyebrow at his fellow Scouter.
“Walking stick,” Jeremy said unconvincingly.
“Then you can call this a persuader,” Mike said, holding up the axe. “Just in case someone gets carried away. Now, Mr. Jeremy, whenever you’re ready.”
“Why me?” Jeremy protested.
“Because you volunteered first,” Mike replied. “I said I would back you up, remember.”
“Fine!” Jeremy said, and started toward the lone, moving creature in the yard.
Mike immediately fell into step beside his fellow leader and the two crossed the yard at a careful pace.
The creature was kneeling on the ground facing away from the two men and didn’t seem to be aware of their approach.
Jeremy called to it. “Hey, you! What happened here?”
The creature lifted its head from the body in front of it and looked up into the air, head swaying from side to side.
“That’s right,” Jeremy said. “I’m talking to you!”
Mike tightened his grip on the axe.
The creature leaned back down to the body and Jeremy raised his stick. “Hey! I asked you a question!” He tapped it on the right shoulder.
The creature did not stand up, but spun on its knees to face Jeremy. As it turned, Mike got a good look at what he had thought were simply long, tattered pants. The thing had charred stumps where feet should have been. White bone protruded from the burnt flesh.
Its face was covered in blood. The expression, one of mindless hunger, made it seem less human and more demon. It hissed at Jeremy and lunged toward him.
“What the hell!” Jeremy said as he stepped back. His foot slipped on a loose rock and he fell backward.
The creature crawled toward Jeremy and the Scouter frantically tried to fend it off with the stick while fighting to regain his feet. Each time Jeremy tried to rise, his feet slipped and he fell back again. The thing kept moving closer and closer.
Mike tried to distract the creature away from Jeremy. He smacked down on its posterior with the flat part of the axe blade with a soggy thump.
There was no reaction. The crawling horror mindlessly continued moving toward the Scouter. Out of the corner of Mike’s eye, he saw Connall’s son Trevor fighting the other Scouters to come to Jeremy’s aid.
Mike could see no option. Something had to be done fast before any of the boys got involved. He raised the axe and brought it down on the thing’s leg below the knee. It barely slowed its attack on Jeremy, leaving the severed piece of limb behind.
“Kill it!” Jeremy screamed. He swatted at the attacking thing with the stick but it mindlessly moved on.
Mike gulped and gripped the axe again. There was no time to think. He raised the weapon and swung down on the creature again. The axe head struck it just behind the skull. It dropped flat to the ground.
The blow did not completely remove the head from the torso and the creature slowly crawled on its belly toward Jeremy, its head dragging along like a forgotten balloon.
Mike swung one last time, completely removing the head from the body. It collapsed a second time and did not move again. The mouth of the head opened and closed and the white eyes with tiny black dots for pupils blinked several times before they finally closed.
Jeremy scrambled a couple metres further away from the creature and climbed to his feet. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm.
“You okay, Jeremy?” Mike asked.
“Holy crap, that was close,” Jeremy said. “What was that thing?”
“A man, I think,” Mike replied. He looked over at the Scouts and Scouters who stood silently watching them, jaws hanging open.
Only one Scout had something to say. “That was awesome!”
Mike didn’t even look up. “Peter, go find something to do!” He walked over to the abandoned lower limb and squatted down to look at it. He prodded it with the axe.
Lying on the ground, partially protruding from the shredded pant leg, it looked like nothing more than what it really was; a burned and broken body part.
Mike shook his head. What was going on here? People acting like animals…no, that wasn’t right. Animals would avoid a human unless they were rabid. People acting insane, attacking each other and not noticing terrible injury to keep attacking.
He stood and walked over to what the creature seemed to have been feeding on, steeling himself for what he was about to see.
The body was that of a young, blonde woman, maybe thirty years old. Her face, covered in dirt, blood, and soot, had the relaxed look of a sleeping babe. If it weren’t for the gaping wound in her stomach and chest she almost could have been sleeping.
Mike saw a piece of tarp and picked it up. He covered the woman’s body with it and turned to rejoin the other Scouters who were giving Jeremy a drink. The body of the attacking creature had already been covered by another Scouter.
Steve met him at the gate to the yard. “What the heck is going on, Mike?”
Mike shook his head. “I have no idea. That thing that attacked Jeremy was a man. I’m sure of it. At least, he once was. Now?”
“Do you think there might be anyone left alive who we can help here?” Steve asked.
“I don’t know,” Mike said. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone or anything moving now. A couple of us can quickly sweep the area to see. I definitely don’t want any of the Scouts in here though. Maybe the thirds can keep the rest by the vehicles?”
“Good idea, Mike. Why don’t you and Shaun take a quick look? I’ll give the Scouts some instruction and leave Jeremy to supervise. I don’t think he’s quite ready to search again.”
“Sounds good,” Mike said. He went back into the yard to check the bodies. He saw Shaun go the other way around the yard.
Mike methodically checked every body, careful not to touch, but taking the time to ensure that they weren’t breathing and there was no life. Most were obviously dead, burned badly or missing important body parts. He had almost met up with Shaun when he heard shouting coming from the Scouts at the gate.
Mike and Shaun both stopped to see what was going on. The boys were jumping up and shouting and pointing. Mike looked to see what they were looking at.
“What the hell?” Mike said. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. There could be no doubt. The woman he had covered with the tarp, the same woman who was missing most of her vital internal organs, was sitting up. He could see the body underneath moving her head.
“Shaun, I think it’s time for us to get out of here,” Mike said. He jumped. One of the bodies he had just checked off to his right began to move.
How was that even possible? That body had been severely burned. Mike could hear the crackling of charred flesh as it moved.
Shaun was already dodging the minefield of creatures. It looked like a room full of sleepers waking up.
Mike ran.
He was halfway across the yard when the woman shed the tarp and stood. She turned to face him, her cute face vacant of all thought. The horrible wounds in her chest and stomach gaped but were dry of blood. Her eyes… Her eyes appeared to be the same as Scouter Connall’s and the previously destroyed creature’s.
It, at least, wasn’t moving.
The woman started
moving toward Mike in shuffling, jerky steps. She was directly between Mike and the gate.
What to do?
She was moving faster now, making escape more difficult. Every time Mike thought about changing direction there was something in the way. More of the creatures were on their feet now, shuffling around the yard. Many were moving toward Mike, tightening the noose and making escape harder with each passing minute.
Shaun made it to the gate. Mike could see the other Scouters herding the boys back into the vehicles. That was good. They couldn’t risk the Scouts.
Mike’s legs felt heavyr and he was having a hard time taking a breath. All the hiking he and the Scouts had done certainly hadn’t prepared him for this.
There was only one chance. Going through the woman was the only way he could possibly make it.
Mike changed direction one last time and charged toward the woman. He lifted his axe as he closed in on her.
Chapter 7
Peter watched as the shambling dead surrounded Scouter Mike. Why did the Scouter get to have all the fun? And Mike had told him off when he cheered earlier. What was that all about? Peter shook his head, watching the fun from the back seat of the truck he was in. Would anyone notice if he joined in?
He quietly unbuckled his seatbelt and tried to open the door. The door handle moved loosely. He tried again, looking closely at it. Still nothing. When he finally turned his attention away from the door he noticed Scouter Shaun watching him.
“I thought one of you might get in your head to go help. I set the child locks on the door to keep you boys out of trouble.”
Peter looked away, careful not to show his disappointment. Why was everyone against him? He knew if he only got the chance, he would save the day. These dum dums had no idea what he was capable of. In his mind’s eye Peter pictured himself hacking and slashing his way through the creatures.
He smiled. It would be so awesome! He settled back in his seat. The opportunity would come. It had to! He was destined to be the hero.
***
Kyle was having his own troubles staying put. On one hand, the Scouters had been very clear – no Scouts were to leave the vehicles. It would only put the entire group in danger. On the other hand, that was his dad out in the farmyard, in desperate trouble.
Scouts of the Apocalypse: Zombie Plague Page 4