Safe Zone

by Chesla, Gary

Megan smiled and reached over and squeezed Shaun’s arm. “What happen to the van? I don’t remember seeing where it was when we were leaving.”

  “The bastards had gone into Doug’s house and found his supply of food. After they stuffed everything they could into their saddle bags, they still had a big pile of food. So they took the van to haul all the extra food away.”

  “How did they get into our house?” Megan asked. “When we saw them drive up to the house, I grabbed Lisa and we went and hid in the supply room. I didn’t see anything else after that.” Megan asked.

  “They tied chains to the bars and pulled them off with their bikes.” Shaun answered, then he started to laugh. “The first time they tried to pull the bars off the door, the bars held and the guy on the bike flew over the handle bars and landed in the middle of the street. I was hoping that he would break his damn neck. After that they used two bikes at the same time to pull the bars off.”

  “It scared the hell out of us when we heard them running through the house.” Megan said.

  “By the way, if we ever get out near the dam again, we might see some of those biker chics wearing new dresses.” Shaun said.

  “They took my dresses?” Megan asked.

  “They had a regular fashion show out in the middle of our yard.” Shaun answered.

  “Those bitches!” Megan shouted causing Shaun to laugh.

  “What did you find at our house?” Lisa asked.

  “Our house was trashed pretty bad. The only places they didn’t get into were the two spare rooms and the basement.” Doug replied.

  “We had just finished looking over your supplies in the basement and we were coming over to get you and Megan to help us move the food when all those bikes came up the street. We ran over and hid in the field to watch what was going on and to look for a way to get you two out of there.” Shaun said.

  “We killed a zombie in our house.” Doug added.

  “You did what?” Lisa looked startled.

  “There was still one of the dead wondering around in the pulley room.” Doug said. “Shaun tapped his pole on the floor. The thing came out of the room to see what was tapping and Shaun smashed its head in.”

  “Oh Gross.” Lisa said.

  “So are we still going to Ligonier?” Megan asked.

  “There’s nothing keeping us here now.” Shaun answered.

  “Even if we’re not sure what we’ll find?” Doug asked.

  “We’re not giving up anything by leaving since there is nothing left. With the gangs and the dead flooding the area, we can’t stay here even if we could find another house to live in. Plus there’s no food around here. We have to go somewhere. Even though we don’t know as much as we would like to know about Ligonier, it sounds like the best lead we have to find someplace safe. We can’t go back towards Latrobe. We have to go away from Latrobe and the cities, so since we will be going towards Ligonier, we might as well go see what’s there.” Shaun answered.

  “I don’t like the idea of walking all that way.” Megan said.

  “I don’t like it either.” Shaun said. “But it’s not the walking that worries me, it’s not having the van for protection and to help us out run the dead. We will be out in the open the whole way. We will really have to stay alert. We run into anything out in the open with no place to run, we could be in a lot of trouble.”

  “Do you still plan on going on the back roads?” Doug asked.

  “No, I think going on the back roads would take us too long to walk, plus I really don’t know how to get there on the back roads. I don’t want to get us lost while we are on foot. It could be too dangerous. I think we should follow Route 30. It’s supposed to be a straight shot. The fort is on Route 30 on the edge of Ligonier.” Shaun replied.

  “I thought you said going on Route 30 was too dangerous? The gangs are always using Route 30. ” Megan questioned Shaun.

  “I did. But I don’t plan to go on Route 30, I think we should stay back in the trees out of sight and just use the highway to guide us.” Shaun answered.

  “Route 30 goes straight to the fort and the gangs are always out on Route 30. You don’t think the gangs have taken over the fort?” Doug asked. “I mean if others know about the fort, I’m sure the gangs know about it too. They travel in large packs, so they are able to go almost anywhere they want, except for where all the dead are, of course.”

  “Good point. We could get there and find the fort is nothing but a hornet’s nest of gangs. But we don’t have anywhere else to go and we have to go somewhere.” Shaun smiled.

  “We can’t just go and walk right in?” Lisa said wide eyed.

  “No. I think if we get in close and watch what is going on at the fort for a day. If it seems to be OK, then we can go in. If not, then we will just have to go somewhere else. It is closer to the mountains. We still have the option of living in the mountains.” Shaun added. “We might see something else we like better on the way. We have to go somewhere. We just need to keep our eyes open until we see something we think we can live with.”

  “When do we leave?” Megan asked.

  “We might as well get started. It will probably take us a couple of days walking in the woods. If we leave now and go as far as we can go today. Maybe we can make it to the fort by tomorrow night.” Shaun said.

  “Where are we going to stay tonight?” Lisa asked sounding anxious.

  “Tonight we sleep in the woods somewhere.” Shaun replied.

  “In the woods!” Lisa shrieked. “With all the wild animals?”

  “Didn’t you ever go camping when you were little? Did you and Doug ever camp?” Megan asked.

  “No!” Lisa shook her head. “My mother wouldn’t let me go camping. She was afraid I would get poison ivy or get bit by a snake.”

  “Sounds like a successful trip to me.” Shaun laughed.

  “Yea!” Megan groaned.

  “You’ll be fine. I don’t think we will run into any snakes.” Shaun said.

  Lisa smiled looking relieved.

  “I think the zombies scared them all away.” Shaun laughed.

  “Shaun!” Megan laughed. “You couldn’t just let it go at we shouldn’t see any snakes?”

  Doug grinned. “Do we have to go back and follow Route 217 over to the dam to get to Route 30?”

  “No, I think if we just head straight back through the woods behind us, sooner or later we will run into the river along Route 30. Then we just start following the river and the highway.” Shaun answered.

  The others nodded. As they turned to look at the woods behind them.

  Shaun stood and pulled Megan up by her hand. “Keep an eye out for anything that moves and call out if you hear anything that you don’t recognize what it is.”

  They all started walking.

  During the next hour, Lisa had called out and Shaun had identified the sounds of a cricket, a frog, a hawk, a squirrel and a wood pecker for her.

  “I’m sorry!” Lisa said in frustration. “Maybe I should just be quiet. I’m not an outdoor person. I don’t know what any of these noises are. You all probably think I’m a big pain in the ass.”

  Shaun laughed. “Believe it or not Lisa, I’m glad you don’t know what any of these noises are. Because of that, if there is anything out here, you will probably hear it before any of us hear it. You just keep listening and calling out.”

  Lisa smiled, happy to think she might be able to help.

  The group moved on. A half hour later, an owl, a blue jay, a chipmunk and a crow later, they saw the river through the trees up ahead.

  They all stopped for a breather.

  “How far do you think we are from the dam?” Doug asked.

  “My guess is we are up stream about half a mile. That is if we walked in a straight line. With all the trees, hills and boulders we had to walk around, I’m sure we didn’t take the most direct path. But a half mile should be pretty accurate. The further upstream we are from the dam the better, less chance of running into anyone.�
� Shaun answered.

  “I’m glad we are almost at the river. I need a drink.” Lisa said.

  “How do you want to do this?” Megan asked.

  “We can get a little closer and find a place to keep an eye on the river for a while. When we feel it is OK, I’ll go down and fill the four plastic bottles I put in my pack. I’ll bring them back and we can have a drink. Then I’ll go back and fill them up to take with us.” Shaun said. “I don’t see any reason for us all to go down to the river. We should try to stay out of sight as much as possible. This is unfamiliar territory. We need to be extra careful.”

  “That sounds good to me.” Doug said. “I bet that strategy would have been in your book?”

  “What book?” Megan asked.

  Shaun laughed. “Never mind.”

  Megan looked at Doug. “What book?”

  Doug laughed. “Shaun was teaching me all about zombies today when we went to check out my house. I told him he should write a book on how to deal with the dead.”

  “I’m sure he could write a good book.” Megan laughed.

  “I especially liked his chapter on cleaning up after encountering the dead. I think the chapter was titled Stinky Meg.” Doug started to laugh.

  Megan smiled and turned to look at Shaun. “That sounds like something Shaun would teach you about.”

  “Thanks Doug.” Shaun chuckled as he continued to study the river below.

  Shaun stood. “Let’s get a little closer.”

  They all followed him until they were at the edge of the trees. The bank of the river was only thirty feet in front of them. Beyond the river, on the hillside above the water was Route 30. Other than the chirping birds, the ones Shaun couldn’t identify, all seemed normal.

  After ten minutes, Shaun crept down and filled the bottles.

  When he returned, they broke out the cheese crackers and snacked while drinking their water.

  Lisa made a face as she bit into her cracker. She looked at the package. “These crackers expired a year ago. No wonder they are so stale.”

  “I’ll eat them if you don’t want them.” Megan smiled. “But I think you should eat them to keep up your energy.”

  “I guess I better learn not to be so picky.” Lisa said.

  “Yea.” Megan grinned. “It might be a while until we have good things like twisties again.”

  Lisa looked around. “It really feels weird being out here and not having anywhere to go home to.”

  “It does.” Megan agreed. “But we’ll find someplace soon. Just hang in there for a few days.”

  Lisa looked down. “I’m sorry about this morning. Thanks for helping me keep quiet when we were hiding in that room.”

  “I’m sorry I had to be so rough. I hope I didn’t hurt you by holding my hand over your mouth so tightly.” Megan said.

  “It’s OK. I’m sorry I was being such a baby. If you wouldn’t have held your hand over my mouth, those guys would have heard us and found the room. Just don’t tell Doug. I don’t want him to know. I’ve screwed up so much the last few days. The dead being able to get into our house was all my fault. I haven’t been much help. Please?” Lisa looked at Megan.

  “I won’t say anything.” Megan smiled to comfort her. “I’m sure you’ll get the hang of how to deal with all of this soon. Things are just so tough right now. It’s hard for all of us.”

  Shaun returned from filling the bottles the second time. “Is everyone ready to move on?”

  The girls both stood. Doug walked back over from where he was watching Shaun’s back while he was down at the river.

  They pulled on their back packs and followed Shaun.

  They walked until the sun started to drop behind the tree tops. The air started to feel colder along the river. The chirping birds slowly started to get quiet as they settled in for the night. The sounds of the night, crickets and the frogs along the water’s edge began to dominate the quiet of the woods.

  They found a group of large boulders up on the hillside that overlooked the wooded hillside and the river below.

  “I think that looks like a good place to set up for the night.” Shaun said. “Lisa, would you gather up some small sticks. I think we will be hidden enough up behind these rocks that we could have a small campfire.” Shaun said.

  “Meg, if you would watch Lisa’s back while she gathers sticks? Doug if you would come with me to watch my back, I’m going to get us some more water.” Shaun said as he pulled a small pan and a tea bag out of his back pack.

  “You’re going to make us some tea? Where did you get the tea bag? I didn’t think we had any tea bags left.” Megan asked.

  “I saw it on the floor of the supply room when we were grabbing stuff to put in our packs.” Shaun smiled. “It must have fallen out of the box and got lost amongst our other supplies before. I knew we would have to spend at least one night out in the woods, so I put it in my pack. Some warm tea will warm us up a little before we turn in. A little special treat!”

  “How much wood do you want me to collect?” Lisa asked.

  “Just an armful.” Shaun replied. “We can only keep the fire going for half an hour. When it is completely dark, the fire will give off too much light. Now, it’s dark enough the smoke trail can’t be seen and the firelight won’t stand out. But in another hour any light will stand out like a beacon. So let’s work fast.”

  “I wish we had our little hibachi.” Megan said.

  “The last time I saw it, it was flying out through the front door and bouncing around the front yard. I don’t know if they ended up taking it or not. I should have looked before we left, but I was in too much of a hurry to even think about it.” Shaun answered.

  Doug followed Shaun down towards the river. “This is going to be creepy out here tonight.”

  “Creepy, cold and uncomfortable. I hope we don’t have to do this for more than a couple nights.” Shaun said. “We probably won’t get much sleep tonight either. It definitely won’t be like last night.”

  “Even with the dead all around the house, I felt safe enough to get some sleep. Tonight, even without any dead around I’m not feeling too comfortable.” Doug said.

  “I think we should take turns keeping watch tonight.” Shaun said. “That way maybe we will feel safe enough to get some sleep.”

  “What do we do if we see something?” Doug asked.

  “I honestly don’t know. Pitch black out in the woods? I have no idea where we would go if we had to make a run for it.” Shaun said. “But at least maybe it will make us feel a little better knowing someone is keeping an eye out. Worse case, it would be better than waking up to see a bunch of those ugly bastards staring down at us.”

  “In other words, don’t think about it until we have too.” Doug chuckled.

  “That about sums it up.” Shaun laughed.

  Shaun and Doug stood inside the tree line and studied the river bank and the silent view of Route 30 above on the other side of the river. The abandoned cars that sat haphazardly in both lanes of the highway gave off dark creepy shadows across the concrete as the days light was fading away.

  Shaun signaled Doug to stay as he crept down to the water’s edge and filled the bottles.

  Twenty minutes later the small pot of tea was steaming. Shaun pulled out the small pack of paper cups and poured everyone a cup. “It’s not very hot, but it should be hot enough to warm you up a little.”

  Shaun passed out more crackers for everyone to eat with their tea.

  “Doug and I talked and think it is a good idea to take turns standing guard tonight. Meg and I will take the first watch. We’ll wake you and Lisa up around midnight or 1:00 AM. That way, hopefully we will all get a little sleep tonight.”

  They drank their tea and ate their crackers. Lisa laid her blanket out on the ground. She and Doug covered up with Doug’s blanket.

  Shaun spread his blanket over the side of a large boulder.

  He then kicked dirt over last of the coals from their small fire. He an
d Megan sat back against the rock and pulled the other blanket up to their chins and listened to the sounds of the night.

  It had been a hell of a day.

  Chapter 8

  Shaun woke Doug and Lisa around 1:00 AM to take over the watch.

  Doug started to crawl out from under his blanket and began to shiver as he felt the damp dew that had settled over his blanket.

  “It looked like you were able to get some sleep.” Shaun said.

  “Yea, I’m surprised. I thought Lisa and I were going to lay awake all night. Knowing you were out there keeping watch must have helped.” Doug answered as he tried to wake up.

  “What’s wrong?” Lisa asked as she finally began to wake up.

  “It’s OK. It’s just our turn to wake up and stand guard.” Doug replied.

  Lisa started to sit up.

  “It was quiet out here all night. I think we should be fine the rest of the night.” Shaun said, more to keep Doug calm then to be a statement of fact. Shaun knew the dead didn’t sleep. They probably didn’t even know the difference between day and night.

  “That’s good. You and Meg get some sleep.” Doug said as he stood and drug his blanket over then spread it out against a rock so he would have something to support his back when he sat down. He led Lisa over and held on to her while she sat back against the boulder. It was too dark to tell, but by the sound or lack of sound from Lisa, Shaun hoped Doug would be able to stay awake because he knew Lisa would probably fall back to sleep before he did.

  “If you hear anything at all, wake me up.” Shaun said. “Are you and Lisa going to be OK? Think you can stay awake?”

  Doug yawned. “I can stay awake, if for no other reason than it is so creepy out here.”

  Shaun and Megan arranged their blankets, snuggled up and quickly fell asleep. Shaun tried to stay awake for a while longer to make sure Doug actually stayed awake, but from everything he had been through the last 24 hours, he quickly feel asleep.

  Lisa started softly snoring as she fell back to sleep. Doug sat for a few minutes. He thought he could stay awake, but he too was out in a few minutes.