To their surprise, Punch showed up. He had never expressed an interest in coming along until Flex opened the door and saw him standing on the porch, wearing jeans and a button-down chambray shirt. He wore a cap bearing the United States Marine Corp emblem.
“Punch, man. I’m glad you’re here. Come in, brother.”
Punch nodded and stepped inside. A cheer arose from everyone else. Punch could not help but blush and smile.
“Thanks, guys,” he said. “But I’m not sure yet. About joining you.”
“Why not?” asked Gem, standing to greet him with a hug. “We didn’t want to pressure you. We know you have a reason to stay.”
He shook his head. “Lola’s gone, Gem. She’s buried here in Kingman, but she’s always right here with me.” He patted his chest over his heart. “I feel her all the time.”
“So why don’t you carry her to Lula in that heart of yours,” said Hemp. “Come with us. My friend, you know we would all be happy to have you there.”
“Plus, you’ll make us an even twenty,” said Charlie. “Odd numbers are just … I don’t know. Odd. Round us out, would you? It’ll do wonders for those of us with OCD.”
“I’m already packed,” he said. “I guess I just wanted to make sure this shit was really over before I agreed. Looks like the dead are staying dead.”
“I’ve been monitoring the water cylinder,” said Hemp. “There is nothing at all now. It is just a half-full water container now, stagnating and still. It is over, my friend.”
“Doc’s not coming,” said Trina.
Suddenly, the faces of everyone in the room grew solemn. Trina continued: “I love him. I tried to talk him into it, but he said he’s too old to make that kind of trip.”
“I tried, too,” said Taylor. “He’s sure about it.”
“Well, thanks to Jim, you’ve become quite a physician’s assistant,” said Charlie. “Tay, you’ll get us through.”
*****
The tanks containing the gasoline that Hemp had pressurized and preserved for so many years were running dry. The remaining good fuel was only used for Rachel’s ultra light and Gem’s Crown Vic, as well as a few golf carts and scooters, but there would not be enough of it to drive the ballistic-skinned car across the country, and the plane would be permanently parked.
Over the years, they had modified several diesel vehicles to handle bio fuels, and everywhere they went, they collected every kind of oil they could find; peanut oil, vegetable oil and anything else that would burn. There hadn’t been too much use for it in Kingman proper, but when it came time to head out on supply runs, the vehicles were irreplaceable. Many in town rode bicycles, and some, like Nelson, had used skateboards.
Rachel covered her eyes every time she saw her husband kicking down the street. He’d had encounters with pebbles that had sent him flying in the past.
Five vehicles, plus a couple of flatbed trailers, would be necessary for the trip. Not wanting to use up the town’s remaining gasoline supply, Gem agreed to leave her ballistic baby in Kingman, if only for the piece of history it would be.
*****
It was just past midnight on the morning of their planned departure. Gem had awakened Flex from a dead sleep and told him to throw on some jeans and a tee-shirt.
“What’s wrong, babe?” he asked, concerned.
“Nothing,” she said. “Just come with me.”
She wore a sheer blouse with no bra, and loose-fitting elastic-wasted, silk shorts.
She stopped beside the Crown Victoria, which still sat in the driveway. She jingled the keys and walked around and got in the driver’s door.
Flex stood in the driveway and watched her. “What the hell are you doin’?” he asked. “Thing’s been out of gas for a month, Gemina,” he said.
The passenger window rolled down. “I didn’t hear a word of that,” she said. “Airplane glass, remember? Get in,” she ordered.
He did. She reached out, put her arm around his neck and pulled him to her. They kissed for a long moment before Gem released him. “We’ve done a lot of things in this car,” she said.
Flex patted the dashboard. It had been coated with enough Armor All over the years to fill the now defunct zombie-killing pit, but still, the dash was cracked by the sun, the ravages of time and the Sun’s heat making it brittle.
“Yes, we have,” said Flex. “It’s been the best Ford I’ve ever known.”
Gem smiled. “There’s one thing we haven’t done in her,” she said.
Flex narrowed his eyes. “You’re not serious.”
Gem shrugged. “You seriously think I’d say goodbye to this car without christening it?”
“We coulda done that when I was young and flexible, baby.”
“Your very name is Flex,” she said, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “There’ve always been too many people around,” said Gem. “Back when the girls were little, all the strangers we’d take under our wing. Look around, Mr. Sheridan. It’s just us.”
Flex indulged her. She was right. It was just them. He shook his head.
“Look at that big back seat. It’s calling. There’s you and there’s me, and a trunk full of weapons. I’ll get into that later. My rib’s feeling fine. Has been for a while.”
Despite his hesitation, Flex felt a stirring down below. When he reached down to adjust his jeans, Gem opened her door. “C’mon. Back seat.”
She got out, pulled her blouse over her head and dropped it on the ground. Flex opened his door, keeping his eye on her. She dropped her shorts and he realized she hadn’t put on any underwear, either.
“Goddamn, Gem,” he said, getting out. He opened the back door on the passenger side, looked in all directions, then dropped his jeans and pulled off his shirt. Sliding in the back seat, he closed the door.
“How do you look so fuckin’ good after all these years?” he asked.
“Chasing zombies,” she said. “Running from zombies. This is the moment in time where I begin to get fat and out of shape. No more reasons to run.”
She ran her fingers over his chest and stomach, then leaned in to kiss him as he cupped her breasts in his hands. “You’re still pretty lean yourself. Explain that,” she said.
“It’s pretty much the same excuse as yours,” said Flex. “Plus there are no more edible Twinkies or Hostess Cupcakes.”
“Well, I am your hostess, and I’d like to welcome you, and to inform you that I have a special cupcake for you.”
“I’m afraid I left my wallet at home, ma’am.”
Gem smirked. “This is post-post-apocalyptic America. I’ll barter a bit and trade you for your Twinkie.”
“That’s emasculating, Gem. Callin’ it a Twinkie.”
She lay back, and Flex eased down, planting a long, deep kiss on her moist mouth. Their tongues swirled against one another, their chests came together, and the smooth warmth felt good.
Flex whispered, “It is pretty roomy back here.”
As her legs curled around his waist, Gem said, “Steamy, too. Now shut up and make love to me.”
Flex shut up. For most of it, anyway.
*****
The sex lasted around fifteen minutes. Flex liked to say it was because they’d become physically efficient, and that was partly true. They knew each other’s bodies and how to please one another so well, they satisfied one another quickly.
Afterward, they sat in silence as Gem lit a roach left over from a joint Nelson had left her. She and Flex passed it back and forth until she burned her fingers, cursed, and flicked it out of the car.
“You said you had something else in mind?” asked Flex.
“Yeah, but on second thought, I don’t want to freak out the neighbors on the very day we’re leaving.”
“So you’re not gonna tell me?”
“Nope. Let’s get inside and catch some sleep. It’s a big day today.”
“It’s already been a good day,” said Flex. “Now this car’s experienced the worst … and the best.”
*****
The next morning, Flex radioed everyone to make sure they were ready to go. The Mercedes in which he, Gem, Trina, Taylor and Colton would ride was loaded up. They brought plenty of guns and ammunition, because as Hemp had pointed out, without police, the world was dangerous, zombies or not.
When they were ready, they said goodbye to their home and stepped outside. Gem went straight to the Crown Victoria and popped the trunk open. She leaned in and took Flex’s Daewoo and her Uzi out, along with two green canisters filled with rounds of ammo.
“Load up,” she said, passing him the Daewoo.
Flex filled multiple magazines while Gem did the same. “What next?” he asked.
“I’ve always wanted to try this. Let’s get back, though. I don’t need any stray ricochets.”
Flex shook his head and walked twenty feet away, where they stood behind a large oak. “You shoot from the left side, I’ll shoot from the right.”
“At what?”
“Her,” she said, pointing at the Ford.
“Not your baby.”
“She can handle it,” said Gem. She opened up and emptied her magazine, peppering the Crown Victoria with dozens of rounds.
Flex shrugged and did the same. When his gun fell silent, they both slung the weapons over their shoulders and walked over to the car. Small impressions that could not even be considered dents marred the oxidized paint.
“Shit works,” said Gem. “Glass is still perfect.”
“That car’s plowed over zombies, rammed through barriers, gotten fucked in, gotten shot at … what else, sweetheart? Wanna set it on fire before we go?”
Gem smiled, leaned forward and kissed the roof of her car. She looked at Flex. “I just named her.”
“Seriously?” he asked. “After all these years?”
“Yep,” she said. “Who gave her to us?”
“Max Romero,” he said.
“She’s Maxine. And a bad bitch she was.”
Flex patted the top twice. “Later, Maxine. Thanks.”
When they turned, Taylor, Trina and Colton stood on the porch. The girls were smiling. Colton was half asleep.
“You two are nuts,” said Taylor.
*****
The twenty-person group of travelers had agreed to meet down at the town square at 9:00 AM, their vehicles loaded up and ready to roll. Tires filled, windows cleaned and shotgun called by the front seat passengers.
Flex and Gem arrived there early. Trina and Taylor had taken Colton with them to say goodbye to their friends.
“You nervous?” asked Flex.
“It’s over a thousand miles,” she said.
“Should be interesting. We’ll find out what kind of people this shit left behind.”
“There’s bound to be more like Maestro and Abaddon out there, right?”
Flex shook his head. “I hope they’re few and far between, but yeah, you’re probably right. I’m sure they’re out there.”
“Max and Isis need to have babies, Flex. We need lots of babies. This world can’t survive unless people start screwing like bunnies.”
“Are those gonna be your parting words to the people of Kingman?”
Gem laughed. “It’s damned sure going to be part of it. Fuck ‘em if you got ‘em, I say. We should’ve burned all the condoms and birth control pills with the rotters.”
“All those pills expired anyway, and the condoms probably all dried up in the packets,” said Flex. “Plus it’s not our job to worry about the entire human race. Our focus has been to keep us and our families alive all these years. Yeah, I hope for the best, but at the same time, the best I can hope for is a long life with you. Whatever else happens, we’ll be long gone.”
“If we run across any hot dudes along the way, Trina or Taylor better go for it,” said Gem. “No matter what you say, I want those two pregnant within a year or two.”
“Look at ‘em,” said Flex. “That won’t be a problem.”
They heard someone approaching from the street and turned to see Ashley Wright. She was a very thin woman in her late thirties with spiked, blond hair.
“Hey, Ash,” said Gem. “Come to see us off?”
“Sort of,” said Ashley. She sat on the bench beside Gem. “I’ll miss you guys.”
“We’ll miss everyone,” said Gem. “How’s it going with the kids?”
Before the onslaught of zombies, Ashley had been working closely with autistic children, ranging from mild cases to severe, where the kids would bite and scratch, fight and kick her. She liked to joke that they had helped prepare her for what she ended up facing.
“Some better than others,” said Ashley. “But overall, there are some really well-adapted kids here. How are Ben and Colton doing? That was all pretty traumatic, and they were right in the middle of it down there.” She pointed at the ground, to what she knew were the tunnels beneath them.
“Colton was a tough kid when we found him,” said Flex. “He’s even tougher now. Gem helped him get past his mom’s death. He’s a smart kid. As for Ben Gammon, he just rolls with it – up for anything. Lita Moore acts like nothing even happened. Hope she’s not just putting on a brave face, but she seems fine, too.”
“The rest of them are lucky you’re staying, Ash,” said Gem. “You’ve got a lot to offer them.”
“I’ve been working closely with eight kids for now, but I know of a few more who need it. Their parents haven’t come around yet, but they will.”
Ashley leaned in and hugged Gem. “I’ll miss you a lot, Gem. Find a way to let us know you’re safe.”
Gem pulled away and laughed. “Once Pony Express is back up, we’ll send a letter.”
*****
Some were late, but by the time 9:30 rolled around, the caravan of vehicles was parked out front. A quad cab pickup truck, two SUVs, and an older Mercedes Benz sedan.
Giles Batchelor stood beside Hemp and Charlie, and Flex eavesdropped on their conversation between his own goodbyes.
“It’s been a pleasure, Hemp,” said Giles. “You do know there’s only one other Brit in town,” he said. “Unfortunately, he spends most of his time in Three Sisters Bar, so our occasional cuppa will be missed.”
“I’ll miss you, too, Giles,” said Hemp. “Steve likes tea; just be sure you offer a bit of a spike, and I’m almost positive he’ll show up. That way you can still spend time with a chap from the mother country.”
The men hugged and Giles said goodbye to Charlie before drifting back into the crowd.
Scofield showed up well before they all arrived, and sat with each of them for a time, saying his goodbyes. Flex watched and listened as he took Max Chatsworth aside.
“It’s been good knowin’ you, Max,” said Scofield.
“It’s been my honor,” said Max. “Believe it or not, I remember you delivering me.”
Jim shook his head. “Now I’ve never heard that before, but with you, I believe it. I want to give you some advice before you go.”
“Yeah?”
Scofield pointed, and Flex turned to see Isis standing with a group of people, saying her goodbyes. “You treat that young woman good, okay?” he said. “If you ever fight, you make up with her right away, even if you think you’re right. She loves you, kid. I think she did even when you were still inside your mama.”
“She was talking to me before I was born,” Max said, smiling. “And no, I don’t remember what she said. Don’t worry about me, Doc. No way I’m messing this up. I know we were meant to be together.”
“No two more suited,” said Scofield.
Flex smiled as the two hugged. When Max walked away, Scofield walked over and sat on the bench beside him and Gem.
Flex gave him the time he needed; he could see Scofield was emotional. The separation from his group would not be easy for him; since they had met the doctor in Concord, he had become a close friend and a valuable asset.
A woman named Helen Speirs had come with him, and now sat on his other side. She
was in her late forties, and had worked closely with Jim and Taylor. Helen was a mental health expert before the apocalypse, and when an ailment or condition couldn’t be chalked up to something physical, she often stepped in to counsel patients and help them past their issues.
Sometimes she had been successful; wildly so. Other times, the patients had just been unable to handle what the world had become.
There had been several suicides that hit Helen very hard. Hell, Flex knew they hit the whole town hard; each death seemed to dash some hopes for the future. Helen persevered, never giving up on any of them. Her counseling burdens always got heavier in the weeks following another suicide.
During those times, Helen sought the untrained but appreciated counseling of Jim and Taylor, who were happy to oblige.
Turning to Flex, he said, “I’ll do my best to take care of folks here.”
Flex knew that Gem had loved the old man, probably from the moment she saw him hug Nelson for the first time. That was a reunion that really touched her heart.
She got up and moved in front of Jim. She knelt down and began to cry as she leaned forward to wrap her arms around him. He hugged her back, hard. “I’ll miss you, Gem,” he said. “We’ve been through a lot together.”
Nelson walked up and Gem released Scofield. “I think maybe there’s someone you need to spend more time with than me,” she said, nodding toward Nelson.
“Hey, Gramps,” said Nelson.
Jim grunted to his feet. Flex didn’t think he’d ever seen his friend look sadder.
“Nel,” said Jim. “You’re doin’ the right thing. Don’t you worry about this old man. I thought I’d never see you again before you showed up in Concord.”
“I know this sounds nuts, Gramps, but these years with you have been some of the best of my life. You got to see me get married, and you got to meet your great granddaughter. More than that, she got to meet you and find out what a cool, smart dude you are.”
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