Charlie cocked his head and looked at me. “You’re very good, you know that?”
I smiled. “I’ve been told, but I never believe butt kissers.” I ducked as both Sarah and Charlie threw their water at me.
I stood up and thumped Charlie on the back. “Let’s get moving. I want to get what we can from town today and start our supply buildup for the trip.”
Charlie stood up and picked up Julia. Jakey protested until Sarah picked him up as well. They both went down to Charlie’s room to drop off the kids with Rebecca, who loved watching them. They came back and we all went down to the school yard. Nate was training a man in the center of a circle of men. I was pleased to see Carl Witry again, taking up his role as trainer/zombie actor. As I watched him go through his motions, I noticed he had refined his actions and varied his approach in several ways. It wouldn’t be so easy to get one past him.
Nate held up a hand as Charlie, Sarah and I approached. All heads pivoted our way as we made our way across the yard. I stopped in the ring and shook Carl’s hand, happy to see him again. Carl moaned at me and I bopped him on the head with my fist.
“Nice to see you, Nate.” I said, looking around. Nineteen men sat cross legged in a circle, dressed in various outfits and festooned with a variety of weapons. Not many had guns but they all seemed capable.
Nate waved the man he was training over. He was a thin young man, roughly twenty-five, with short-cropped blonde hair and light blue eyes. I was sure in the day he was pretty effective with the opposite sex. I saw him sizing me up as we came over and I smiled. Some things never change.
Nate introduced us. “John, this is Trevor Jackson. He was the leader of the group we picked up on our way here. They were holed up in an old warehouse in Molena and were running low on food when we bumped into them.”
I shook Trevor’s hand. He had a firm grip and looked me in the eye. Somebody had raised him right. “Nice to meet you, Trevor. Good work in keeping your men alive through the mess.”
Trevor shrugged. “Just did what I thought I should do. These guys elected me leader, though I ain’t sure I deserve it.”
Wow. Deja vu. “I’m sure you did.”
Trevor shrugged again. “Well, they’re your men now, Nate says you’re the leader of this group. And since we joined up that means me too, I guess.”
I chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. With the group you have here I’ll likely be sending you out on your own to clear homes and hunt for supplies. I can’t be everywhere and groups that are used to working together are a huge asset. As a matter of fact, I have a job for you right now.”
Trevor perked up and stepped closer as I pulled out a map. “We’re here,” I said. “The trench is here.” I pointed to a line that circled the area. “I need you to take seven men and clear this area here, and send seven more to this area here.” I pointed to two opposite sides of the map. “Work your way through the homes, and remove any zombies you might find. That means closets, basements — everything has to be checked.”
Trevor nodded, memorizing the locations. I continued. “Meet up here, then work your way back. Don’t take any unnecessary risks and don’t take anything from the houses except food and weapons if you find any. The homes are going to be occupied, so no damage if you can help it.”
Trevor nodded, then motioned at his group. I stopped him and said, “I need five men to come with me for a supply run. Who’s steady?”
Trevor pointed to five men who stood up and came over. “This is Jim, Kyle, Carl, Steve, and Bryce,” he said. Charlie, Sarah, and I shook hands with all of them.
“This is Sarah and Charlie. They’ve been with me since the beginning and I trust my life to them,” I said. I looked at Trevor. “You still here?”
Trevor grinned and jogged over to the gate with his men. I watched them go, then addressed the five men. “I’m John Talon and I will never ask you to do anything I wouldn’t do myself. I will fight with you and for you and I only ask that you try not to do anything stupid that gets you killed or more importantly, anyone else killed. Deal?”
The men agreed as one and I outlined the plan for the day. “We’re taking the truck over to the strip malls on the main road past the trench. We’re looking for supplies for the town as well as the trip south we’re going to be taking in a few days. I figure we stand the best chance along that area. Let’s go.”
We went over to the side of the building where we kept the vehicles. The school had a tall chain link fence around it which served as a barrier in case of attack. A large number of zombies could tear it down, but for the occasional Z it was fine. I hopped into the Nissan Xterra with Sarah and Charlie jumped into the pickup. The men split up and we had Carl and Bryce with us, while Jim, Kyle, and Steve rode with Charlie.
We pulled out of the school and moved towards State Street, which would take us directly to where we wanted to go. We passed a number of homes and businesses and I hoped Trevor and his crew would have good luck clearing them out and we could move our people in before too long. The homes were in pretty good condition and didn’t seem worse for wear for the winter. We would have to see. We also passed a lot of cars that had been moved to the sides of the roads. Tommy and Charlie had managed to do that with the bulldozer and back hoe. We could see movement in between the houses and in some of the windows, and I silently wished Trevor luck in his job.
We had just about reached the trench when three zombies stumbled out into the road ahead of us. They were about fifteen yards ahead and closing in. I stopped the vehicle and got out, pulling my crowbar out and checking my SIG. Charlie got out of the truck and joined me at the Xterra.
The zombies lurched forward and began moaning. Two of them were females and they all looked nasty. Their skin was peeling off, and white bone showed through in places. Their clothing was in tatters and decaying teeth gnashed and clacked in anticipation.
They were bunched together, which made things more difficult. I nodded to Sarah, who stepped out of the Xterra and readied the. 22 I gave her before winter. She was only going to intervene if something went wrong, but I didn’t see that happening. I signaled to the new guys to hold fast. “This won’t take long,” I said.
The zombies started to close in, and Charlie and I bolted into action, I taking the left and Charlie taking the right. We ran right at the zombies, then split at the last second, stopping directly to the left and right of the trio. Our sudden movement had confused the zombies for a split second, and that was all we needed. I slammed the crowbar into the head of the one that faced me, an average looking zombie with long, oily hair hanging in thin strips in front of her face. As she fell back I kicked the second one in the hip, sending him sprawling. Charlie buried a tomahawk in the head of the zombie on his side and swept down with his second one at the zombie on the ground. I reversed the crowbar and jammed the chisel end into my zombie’s head, crushing it and ending her struggles.
Charlie was having a little trouble. He swung his second tomahawk, but the zombie moved, causing the blade to skip on the road and the only damage done was a couple of sparks. I stepped over with the crowbar and using a golf swing, smashed the zombie in the side of the head as he crawled towards me. He spun around and Charlie used the momentum to bury the second ‘hawk in the zombie’s head.
Charlie cleaned off his blades on the dead Z’s clothing, and I looked around for more adversaries. I didn’t see any in the immediate vicinity, so we mounted up and drove down the street. Leport was an old town, so the business and homes on the main streets were near to the roads. I really got a sense of closeness which made for a tense ride. Sarah picked up on it and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. We moved towards a more open section of the town and began to see additional evidence that the virus had hit here as well. Homes with white flags on them were broken open, windows were cracked and shattered. Cars had doors open and dark stains could be seen in many places. We moved around several abandoned cars and had to move a couple out of the way. I got out and had Sa
rah move the Xterra up to bump the car out of the way. Carl and Bryce got out as well, and helped me move the car. As we finished, there was movement from a house. A small boy came stumbling out. His grey pallor and dead eyes marked him clearly as a zombie. He moved towards us on uncertain feet, yet clear in his purpose. His Spider-Man t-shirt was bloodstained and several wounds could be seen on his thin arms. I guessed him to be about seven years old. Carl moved towards him, but I held up a hand.
“Check the ground.” I said, indicating the tall unkempt grass near the little Z.
Carl looked then whistled. “Man, I never saw that. Thanks.” In the grass was a zombie who had been severely injured as a living person and was minus two legs and an arm. It was dragging itself slowly through the grass and if Carl had moved in, he would have stepped right on it. Another man once had done that and the zombie sat right up and chewed on his nuts. Didn’t get through the clothing, but the man’s hair changed from dark to light overnight.
The child zombie was a lot closer, so Carl moved aside and before I could stop him, fired his pistol, killing the Z instantly.
“Jesus! What the hell is the matter with you?” I hissed at Carl as the sound of the shot echoed down the street.
“What? What’s the problem?” Carl asked, holstering his weapon. “Dead is dead, doesn’t matter how.”
I moved in close so my face was inches from his. “Dead will be us if you don’t exercise some discipline. We’re totally out in the open here, in case you hadn’t realized. If you plan on being breakfast for some Z’s, that’s your business. But don’t get me killed for your stupidity.”
“Christ, lighten up, Trevor says…” Carl’s voice drifted off as he listened. Moans and sounds of movement came from all around us, and we could see a lot of movement in between and in houses that wasn’t there before. Several shapes unfolded themselves from the ground, and began that telltale lurching in our direction. If I had to guess, at least twenty zombies knew where we were and were headed our way.
I glared at Carl and shoved him towards the vehicle. He ran in, apologizing the whole way. I shook my head at Charlie’s vehicle and got back into the Nissan. I threw the vehicle in gear and drove off, with the pickup close behind.
Bryce was fingering his weapon and Sarah reminded him he was in a car. “Just because your partner here is a dumb ass, doesn’t mean you need to be.” Bryce let go of his gun while Carl just looked down.
I said nothing as I moved quickly down the road, trying to get as much distance as I could from the sound of the shot. Zombies will triangulate on sound, God alone knows how, and will come to investigate. If we weren’t there, they would lose interest and return to their wandering. If they saw us, they’d follow until the end of the earth.
We moved past more desolation and I could see many more shapes moving and heading our way. I stuck my hand out the window to signal Charlie I was going to speed up and he flashed his lights. I had an idea and with a shitload of luck we might be able to pull it off.
I moved down the street and pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store. Several cars and all of the windows of the store were smashed. I had a hunch this raid was going to be a bust, but I decided to give it a roll anyway. You never knew. Back in the old complex, I once went into a convenience store that had its windows caved in, but apart from some stuff on the floor, the place was nearly untouched.
We parked the vehicles near the front of the store, facing outwards. I did this so much out of habit that if things ever got back to normal I’d be backing into my garage for the rest of my life.
We all got out of our vehicles and Charlie and Sarah immediately swept the front of the store. Sarah nodded to me and I smiled, turning my attention to the five guys we had brought with.
“Well, gents we need to secure a perimeter before we head into this store to look for supplies. Take those cars and move them into a barricade.” I indicated the abandoned cars in the lot. “Leave a space for us to get our cars out, but do it fast.”
I smiled as several glares focused on Carl, but they managed to keep their complaining to themselves. I went over to the shopping carts and started moving them out to the parking lot. I had a string of about sixteen of them and I pushed them around, leaving one here and there and turning them on their sides. I went back twice and left another thirty or so around the lot, then went back to where the guys had arranged the cars. They had made a semi-circle around the front of the building, leaving a space barely wide enough for the trucks. I was actually impressed and said so.
“Thanks,” said Jim. He looked at the shopping cart minefield. “What’s with the carts?” he asked.
I smiled. “If we need to bug out on foot, Z’s will be slowed down trying to get through that,” I said. “They don’t really look where they’re going.”
Jim smiled and said. “I’ll need to remember that one.”
“Let’s go,” I said.
The interior of the grocery store was a mess. There was stuff all over the floor and the shelves were cluttered and disheveled. But a cursory glance indicated there was enough stuff here to make the trip worthwhile. I moved towards the canned section while Charlie headed for the dry goods. Sarah moved towards the drink section and we each had a follower. Jim and Kyle went with Charlie and Sarah and Steve came with me. Carl and Bryce moved towards the gloom of the interior of the building, the morning light not casting enough brightness to see farther.
I moved quickly, gathering what I could and handing it to Steve, who took it out to the trucks. I focused on stuff we could use and stuff that had the highest potential of staying fresh. I could hear other trips being made as other supplies were scrounged and brought out to the trucks. I could hear Carl and Bryce talking as they moved along the back of the store towards the store room. I took an armful of soup cans and headed towards the front. I bumped into Charlie as he came out with an armload of baby supplies and diapers for both Jake and Julia.
“Good call,” I said.
Charlie nodded, then stiffened. I followed his gaze and saw what amounted to about thirty zombies headed our way. They hadn’t reached the parking lot yet, but they were coming.
I sighed. “This is not a fight I needed today.” I said dropping my soup in the truck bed.
Charlie dumped his supplies. “Nobody lives forever.”
I ran back to the store and bumped into Sarah and Kyle. “Zombies are outside, we need to get out very soon.”
Sarah nodded and ran to the truck, Kyle right behind. They immediately turned around and ran back in. “They’re at the barricade!”
I spun around. “What? How the hell did they move that fast?” I said to Charlie as we moved to look.
Charlie pointed. “Your originals are still out there. These must have come from around the building.”
“Great. Let’s see if there’s another way out of here.” I ran towards the back where Carl and Bryce were supposed to be. I stopped as Carl came out of the back storage area, his arms full of boxes. “Jackpot! We found some-”A blood-curdling, gurgling shriek came from the back room. Carl turned towards the door just as a horde of zombies poured out of the back room, overwhelming him and scattering his boxes. We didn’t even have time to pull up our weapons before he was torn apart, his blood spraying out and covering the zombie that tore at his throat with its teeth. Bryce stumbled out of the back and fell down, his arm had been nearly severed, his blood pouring out. He looked up to us, his jaw torn off on one side and his bloody tongue flopped around. Two more zombies fell on him and tore at his face, ripping off chunks and stuffing them in their rotting mouths.
“Back, back!” I yelled, unslinging my carbine and firing a shot between Bryce’s eyes, ending his pain. I couldn’t do the same for Carl, who was buried under zombies. I could hear him scream, though, and that echoed through the building.
My shot brought heads around to our position and I looked at a dozen pairs of dead eyes as they hungrily stared at us. I moved back as the zombies regained their
feet and started towards us. I could see what was left of Carl and it wasn’t pretty. His face and neck had been ripped apart and an eye had been torn out. His clothes had been shredded by jagged nails and his abdomen had been ripped open, entrails spilled over the tile floor. I nearly turned away when I saw his head flop over and his one good eye looked right at me. “Sorry, Carl,” I said as I fired again, sending a round through his empty eye socket and killing him permanently.
I spun around and caught up to the group at the front of the store. They were bunched in an aisle, and I wondered what the hold up was when Charlie said, “They’re coming in the front too.”
Shit. I looked back and the end of the aisle was filled with a pack of zombies working their way towards us. Blood dripped off their hands and mouths, and eyes gleamed in anticipation of the slaughter.
We needed breathing room. I slapped Charlie on the shoulder and said, “Up.” He leaped to the shelving unit, climbing nimbly to the top, scattering rice side dishes. I climbed quickly to the top of the opposite unit then swung my crowbar down to haul up the rest. Sarah grabbed the steel and I pulled her up quickly. I waited a second for her to gain her balance, then pulled up Kyle. Jim and Steve were pulled up by Charlie just in time as decayed hands grasped and clawed at the top shelves. We moved to the middle of the units and looked down at our attackers. They filled the aisle and hungry arms reached upwards. Thank God they couldn’t climb.
Charlie looked at me from across the aisle. “Hey Moses! Wanna part the Dead Sea?”
“What’s the plan?” asked Steve, nervously looking down at gaping maws.
“How’s the front look?” I asked, stepping back as a hand groped for my foot. Sarah was keeping her rifle trained on the horde, and thankfully, the rest of the guys were keeping their cool.
Charlie moved down the aisle, ducking under a light and sign that advertised organic foods. “Clearing. Looks like we have most of them in here with us.” He had to shout to be heard over the cacophony of the dead.
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