Z Plan (Book 3): Homecoming

by Lerma, Mikhail

  “Let’s get packed up,” he whispered to JoLynn. “We can eat on the way.”

  The little girl quickly packed up her belongings. She rerolled her sleeping bag just as Cale had taught her, and put it back into its case. He was surprised when she was ready before him.

  “Go on up and wait for me on the roof, okay?” he told her.

  “Okay,” she said softly and began her climb.

  Cale followed behind her. The nine o’clock summer sun stung his eyes. He squinted and waited for them to adjust. JoLynn was already looking over the front of the building down at the undead.

  “How many?” he asked as he walked over.

  She shrugged. JoLynn didn’t know to count them. Nor had Cale ever asked her to. He leaned over the edge.

  “Five,” he whispered. “I want you to stay right here and yell at them. You’ll distract them for me so I can go down the ladder and get behind them.”

  “I don’t—” she began.

  “They can’t get you up here,” he assured her. “Just shout at them. You can close your eyes.”

  JoLynn nodded hesitantly. She closed her eyes and halfheartedly wailed at them. Cale quickly worked his way down the north side of the building and flanked them. With his knife, he caught the first three completely off-guard. The remaining two anxiously sauntered toward him with gaping maws. Cale pushed them into one another and followed them to the ground as they fell. Their hands grasped at his clothing. With two quick thrusts, both sets of hands fell limply.

  “Good job girlie,” he called up to her. “Climb down. I’ll meet you over there.”

  He hurried back to the ladder after her face disappeared from the ledge. Cale looked around as he steadied the ladder. JoLynn slowly stepped out onto the ladder and climbed down. As soon as she touched the cement with her shoe, she jogged for the car. Cale was right behind her.

  “Dad!” she exclaimed as a corpse stumbled into her path from around the corner.

  Cale’s pistol was out and thundered loudly within a blink of an eye. The monster’s face on the exit side blew apart and its body fell.

  “You okay?” he asked her.

  She didn’t answer. She was in shock. Cale scanned her for injuries then rapidly sat her in the car. More infected were coming from the south.

  “Cover your eyes!” he told her before shutting her door.

  JoLynn kept her eyes open this time. Cale leapt over the hood of the car and scrambled into the driver’s seat. The vehicle started right up and the wheels squealed as he pushed on the gas pedal. He swerved around the undead in the road. Cautiously he drove the six blocks, passing the general store on his way out of town.

  “Where do they come from?” she asked as they passed the last of the reanimated corpses.

  “I don’t know,” he offered. “Some of them get lost in the forest and then just wander out.”

  “How do they keep finding us?” continued the six year old.

  “Well, they can smell us I think,” answered Cale. “They also go by sound.”

  “They can smell us?” she sounded surprised.

  “I think so,” he replied.

  She wrinkled her nose and pouted.

  “What?” laughed Cale.

  “I just don’t know how they can smell anything when they’re so stinky,” explained JoLynn.

  “It’s weird, I know,” he chuckled.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “Home,” answered Cale.

  “We are?” she squeaked.

  “Yep. After we get to this next place and get some gas,” he elaborated.

  “Are there kids there?” questioned JoLynn.

  “Probably,” he smiled.

  “Will I have time to play with them?”

  “Maybe,” Cale teased her.

  He had every intention of letting her play. It was going to be a long ride back home, it’d be better if she were all wore out for the trip.

  “Please?” she begged.

  “Sure,” he grinned.

  After a few miles, there was a bend in the road. Tall grain elevators towered over the trees. A massive wall had been constructed around the entire town. Cale slowed the vehicle. A posted sign instructed him to park and dismount the vehicle. In the road leading to the large wall was a series of barriers prohibiting anything larger than a bicycle to pass.

  “These people are serious about their security,” chimed Zach.

  “No shit,” whispered Cale.

  He and JoLynn parked the car and walked past the obstructions. A group of people lined the top of the wall. Cale hesitated a moment when he realized they were in ACUs. A soldier sat behind a large .50cal machine gun. Two others had M16 assault rifles and the fourth soldier had a civilian hunting rifle. Their weapons were aimed at Cale the entire time.

  “Put your hands up,” he said to JoLynn. “Like this.”

  He raised his hands, keeping them in plain view, as did JoLynn.

  “Stop!” shouted one of the soldiers when Cale was within fifteen feet.

  Cale examined each of them. No rank. No nametags. No patches of any kind. All three of the men had shaggy heads of hair. One of them had a mustache that was completely out of regulation. The other two were women. Both of them wore their hair down. He couldn’t be sure, but none of them looked military. But then again, neither did he.

  “What business do you have here?” barked one of the women.

  “I was told I could trade here,” answered Cale.

  “Depends. What are you looking to trade?” countered the woman.

  “I just want some fuel,” he replied.

  “You can’t have any,” she said bluntly.

  “I’ve got plenty to trade for it,” he said as he went to drop his bag.

  “Don’t fucking move!” she screamed at him. “Or Ryan here will cut you in half!” she nodded to the man behind the machine gun.

  Cale instinctively scoffed.

  “I’ll fucking do it!” threatened Ryan.

  Zach laughed and Cale let out a chuckle.

  “What’s so God damn funny?” demanded the woman.

  “For starters,” began Cale. “It’d be easier for him to cut me in half if he had a round loaded. He doesn’t even have an ammo can up there. Those two don’t even have magazines in their rifles.” He pointed at the man and woman with M16s. “And from what I can tell you’re the only one who might have any rounds.”

  The guards looked at one another. He was right.

  “I’m not here to cause any trouble,” Cale assured them. “We’re just here to trade. We’ll be out of your hair in a couple of hours, tops.”

  The guards all looked to the woman with the hunting rifle for their next move.

  “We don’t allow newcomers to carry firearms,” she informed him.

  “Of course not,” agreed Cale.

  She looked over her shoulder and shouted. “Two to come in!”

  The gates opened and more people in ACUs approached him. Like the ones on the wall, many of them held M16s with no magazines loaded. A few others had civilian rifles and shotguns. Cale and JoLynn were escorted in, then his firearms were taken and the gates closed behind them.

  “What’s in the bag?” demanded a man.

  “Just supplies and provisions,” Cale answered.

  “Guns?” he followed up.

  “No,” added Cale. “But there is ammunition in there.”

  The man opened the flap and rummaged through. Once he was certain there were no firearms, he handed the bag back to Cale.

  “Welcome,” he said coldly.

  “Thanks,” Cale retorted sarcastically.

  JoLynn stayed close to him as they walked through another blockade and into the town. People buzzed about. Oblivious to his presence.

  “Holy shit,” exclaimed Zach. “They have an armory.”

  “That explains the uniforms and the weapons,” deduced Cale.

  A large community garden occupied half of an empty lot. The other half
was home to children’s play equipment. But there were no children. Cale could see that this community was highly organized and built up. Rows of RVs were parked evenly apart. Tables were set up where the town’s folk would exchange goods. As they wandered around Cale noticed that they also had livestock. Chickens ran wild around the area while goats, cows, and pigs roamed in their pens.

  The further in they went the more they saw. Some of the residents were living in actual homes. A passerby looked at Cale suspiciously. Suddenly he felt multiple eyes upon him.

  “It’s your clothes, buddy,” Zach offered.

  Cale smiled in an attempt to look friendly. He fought the urge to talk to Zach. He didn’t want to unsettle anyone. A man approached Cale from the armory. He had a friendly smile on his face as he extended his hand.

  “Name’s Jim,” he said calmly. “What can we do for ya?”

  Cale shook his hand. There was a split second where Jim was shocked at his missing fingers, but he quickly regained his composure.

  “Well,” began Cale. “I’m looking to trade for some fuel.”

  “Gasoline or diesel?” inquired Jim.

  “Gasoline,” smiled Cale.

  “I know who just to talk to,” he replied.

  He gestured for them to walk side by side, as they went.

  “Where ya from?” asked Jim.

  “Kind of all over,” Cale answered.

  “And whose the little lady?” he continued.

  “This is my daughter, JoLynn,” offered Cale.

  “Nice to meet you, JoLynn,” Jim waved at her.

  JoLynn positioned Cale between herself and Jim.

  “She’s shy,” explained Cale.

  “That’s okay,” Jim smiled at her. “All the kids are in school right now, but should be coming out for recess any minute now.”

  “You have a school!” squealed JoLynn unexpectedly.

  “Sure do,” laughed Jim. “Kindergarten through eighth grade actually. What grade are you in?”

  JoLynn wasn’t sure. She looked at Cale for an answer.

  “She’s kind of in between right now,” he stated.

  “Ah,” responded Jim. “This here is Stacy. She can get you anything you need for the right price,” he stopped him at a woman’s table. “Now if you’ll excuse me; I’ve got a few matters that need tending. But if you need anything just ask for me.”

  “Thank you,” Cale smiled and nodded to him.

  “Hello,” said the woman cheerfully.

  “Hello,” reciprocated Cale.

  “What can I—” she began.

  “Can I go play with the kids?” shouted JoLynn.

  Children began filing out of the armory and onto the playground.

  “Sorry,” Cale apologized for JoLynn’s interruption. “Go ahead. But stay where I can see you,” he cautioned her.

  “Okay,” she dropped her bag and ran.

  Cale and the woman shared a laugh as the little girl ran away.

  “What’s her name?” the woman asked.

  “JoLynn,” smiled Cale as he watched her join a couple of kids.

  “How old is she?”

  “She’s six.”

  “That’s a fun age,” the woman added.

  “Sure is,” grinned Cale.

  “So,” she began again. “What can I do for you?”

  “Well, I’m looking to trade for some gasoline,” he explained once more.

  “That’s kind of tough to get,” she confessed.

  “I have plenty to trade for it,” he stated as he pulled off his pack.

  The two of them bartered back and forth for a few minutes. Many offers were made, then counter offers. Until finally an agreement was met. It wasn’t going to be enough fuel to get him home, but he could definitely get back to Wray. He handed over what had been agreed upon.

  “It’ll take me a while to get it ready for you,” said the woman. “But I’ll have someone meet you at the gate when you’re ready.”

  “Thank you,” replied Cale. “There is one more thing you could do for me actually.”

  “Sure,” she grinned.

  “I have a picture of my wife and…” He began to pull out the photo.

  She raised her hand and looked away. “I’m sorry. I don’t do that.”

  “Don’t do what?” Cale said surprised. “I just want you to look at a photo.”

  “I can’t,” she replied.

  “Why not?” He was upset.

  “Do you know how many people come in here waving photos around?” she asked.

  “Please. Just one look,” pleaded Cale.

  “I’m sorry. No,” she reaffirmed. “No one here will look at it. I hate seeing the disappointment when I tell someone no. Or worse,” she continued. “When I say yes, then have to explain that the person in their picture is dead. I can’t do it anymore.”

  “I’m just looking for—” he argued.

  “I’m sorry,” she repeated. “Your gas will be ready within an hour.”

  Stacy quickly scurried away. Angry, he returned the picture to his pocket.

  “That’s it,” said Zach solemnly. “It’s over.”

  “It is,” Cale said to himself.

  Cale put his pack back on and grabbed JoLynn’s. He stood a few yards from her and watched her play. She smiled and giggled as she made new friends.

  “They’re staring at you.” Zach pointed to the adults in the area.

  He didn’t care. Cale watched his little girl have fun. JoLynn bounced from group to group savoring every game and every interaction. Maybe he should stay here. He looked around at the concerned parents. Cale knew where he wasn’t wanted. JoLynn began playing with a boy. He looked to be about her age, maybe a year younger. A toddler girl followed them both.

  “Tag!” laughed JoLynn as she pushed the girl.

  The girl fell in the grass. Cale hurried over to assess the situation.

  “JoLynn!” he called.

  He knelt down and offered to help the toddler. She accepted, but her bright blue eyes stared at him intently. JoLynn came over.

  “You need to apologize,” demanded Cale. “She’s too little to play that rough.”

  “She’s okay,” objected JoLynn.

  “Say you’re sorry,” ordered Cale.

  “I’m sorry,” she muttered.

  Cale looked at the toddler again. She almost looked familiar. The boy came over and checked on her.

  “She’s okay,” he offered his opinion.

  “Either way,” explained Cale. “She’s sorry.”

  “My sister is tough,” stated the little boy.

  “I bet she is,” smiled Cale.

  He could see someone approaching from the corner of his eye. A concerned parent most likely.

  “Excuse me,” the woman said harshly.

  “I’m really sorry,” he began. “My daughter just—”

  Cale gasped. It was like he’d been struck by lightning. He couldn’t move or speak. The woman paused too.

  “Oh my God!” she screamed loudly.

  Chapter 43

  REUNION

  Lauren tackled Cale, wrapping herself around him. Tears streaked down both their faces as they kissed repeatedly.

  “Dad!” objected JoLynn.

  “Dad?” smiled Lauren.

  “I…I adopted,” laughed Cale in disbelief.

  “Me too!” Lauren laughed. “Callum! Marie!” she beckoned the two children over.

  Cale knelt down. “M-Marie?” he choked.

  He opened his arms to the little girl with the same blue eyes as his. Marie looked to her mother, unsure of what to do. Lauren cried and motioned for her to come closer.

  “Marie, baby,” she said softly. “This is…this is your daddy!”

  The toddler looked up at her father. For a moment, her face was expressionless, but suddenly it was like she remembered him, and smiled. Cale clutched his biological daughter tightly. In return, she wrapped her little arms around his neck and squeezed. JoLynn and Cal
lum stood back in shock.

  “JoLynn come here,” Cale smiled with happy tears in his eyes.

  “Callum, honey,” Lauren reached for the little boy.

  Both children joined in the group hug.

  “JoLynn,” whispered Cale. “This is Lauren, Marie, and—”

  “Callum,” Lauren finished. “Nice to meet you.”

  JoLynn smiled at her.

  “Hi,” Cale said to Callum.

  The five of them hugged while Lauren and Cale sobbed.

  “I…I can’t believe,” began Lauren. “How is this…”

  She couldn’t finish a single sentence.

  “Hands up!” shouted Taylor with his handgun at the ready.

  “Taylor, no!” yelled Lauren as she waved him off.

  She and Cale stood up and Lauren prepared to address the crowd that was forming. Jim and Stacy pushed their way to the front. Soon Kristie and Simon joined them.

  “This is my husband!” Lauren said proudly.

  The citizens of Mountain City were just as stunned.

  “This is Cale!” she added as she wrapped her arms around him again.

  The reunited couple couldn’t stop looking at each other. She kissed him repeatedly, running her hands across his back and chest then to his ears. Lauren could barely contain herself. Her fingers ran through his hair repeatedly. It was like she was making sure he was real.

  “This is my Cale,” she kept saying.

  The two of them smiled like fools in love.

  “Well shit!” exclaimed Jim. “I guess we’ve got a welcome home party to plan, people!”

  Everyone stood for a moment.

  “Let’s go!” bellowed Jim.

  Slowly, the crowd broke apart. Kristie hurried over; her eyes were wild with disbelief.

  “I’ll keep an eye on the kids so you two can talk,” she offered. “Marie. Callum.”

  Marie and Callum went to her. JoLynn looked at Cale expectantly.

  “It’s alright,” he said to her. “Go play.”

  He could barely believe his eyes.

  JoLynn smiled and hugged Cale before going to play with them. Together they watched their three children run off with Kristie. Then all they could do was hug and kiss each other. He held her as she cried.

  “How’d…how did you?” Lauren stammered.

  Cale laughed happily. “I don’t even…it’s all just a blur right now.”