by Chesla, Gary
She heard it again. Other than the two new girls that had come in yesterday, there had only been one other girl living in the outer fort area recently. But she had been relocated two days ago.
Chapter 13
Shaun woke up. He had a strange feeling someone was looking at him.
He opened his eyes to see Megan propped up on her elbow beside him, staring at his face.
She looked startled for a moment when he opened his eyes, she apparently thought he was asleep.
She smiled.
“What are you up to this morning?” Shaun smiled.
“Oh, nothing!” She smiled again.
“I know you better than that, fess up Meg.” Shaun laughed.
“I was just watching you sleep. You were getting little wrinkly lines around your eyes, I’ve noticed them the past couple of months, but they seem to be going away the last few days.” Megan said.
“I’ve noticed something about you too.” Shaun said.
Megan held her hand up to her face and began feeling around her eyes.
“No, not around your eyes!” Shaun smiled as he held up his hands and pushed up the corners of her mouth.
Megan leaned back. “I’m getting wrinkles around my mouth?”
“No!” Shaun laughed out loud. “Your smile! You have been smiling a lot more the last couple of days. More than I’ve seen you smile in months.”
Megan plopped herself down on the mattress and rolled into Shaun.
“I just feel more like smiling.” She said.
“And I just feel like not worrying!” Shaun laughed. “Having twelve foot walls around us is doing wonders.”
“Oh, is that what it is.” Megan said as she kissed Shaun in the middle of the chest.
“I thought it was the food.” Shaun said as he kissed the top of her head.
Megan pulled back. “You were just joking about them feeding the dead zombies to the pigs? Right?”
Shaun laughed. “Yes. I saw them burning the zombie bodies down near Route 30.”
“How about the zombies they get in town?” She said looking worried.
“No, those things are practically just skin and bone.” Shaun said then added. “Besides, all that ham we have been served would have tasted like hell if that’s what the pigs were eating.”
Megan made a gross looking face, causing Shaun to start laughing again.
Megan looked up at him. “You like grossing me out, don’t you?”
“Hey, you started it.” Shaun replied.
“I know. But I think you set me up. You always set me up and then I walk right into it!” Megan said giving him an ornery look. “At least I haven’t given you any opportunities for a stinky Meg joke lately.”
“Thank God!” Shaun said.
Megan thought for a minute. “I don’t know if you are happy that we haven’t had to fight off any zombies the past three days or if you were making fun of me again?”
“I can’t win, can I?” Shaun laughed.
“Nope!” Megan smiled and cuddled up against Shaun.
He reached around her and hugged her against his chest.
They were interrupted by a knock on their door.
“Are they coming for you to go to work already?” Megan asked.
“I don’t think so? Bill told me to sleep in. He said I didn’t have to come up to the sheds until around noon if I didn’t wanted to.” Shaun answered puzzled by the tapping on their door.
“I’m going to go tell whoever it is to go away.” Megan said.
“No, I better see who it is. It might be important.” Shaun said as he started to get out of bed.
He pulled on his jeans and pulled his new green shirt over his head.
Megan smiled when she saw him put on the shirt she had made for him.
Shaun opened the door, and brought his hands up to shield his eyes from the bright sun light. It was another bright sunny day. As his eyes adjusted to the bright light the first thing he noticed was the blue sky. He had always loved clear blue skies. A rarity when you lived in Pennsylvania.
The next thing he noticed was Doug pushing two cups at him.
“Hey Doug. What’s this?” Shaun asked.
Doug was all smiles.
“Taste it!” Doug said.
Shaun looked at the dark liquid in the cup. He was going to taste it, but decided the way Doug was smiling, that maybe he should just smell it first.
He brought one of the cups up to his nose.
He smiled. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Yep!” Doug grinned as Shaun took a quick sip.
“Coffee? Where did you get coffee?” Shaun looked at Doug and took another sip.
“I got up to go to the bathroom. I saw Tim walking up the fort road in front of the cabin. I waved and he came over to say Hi. I asked him what was he drinking? He gave me a sip. Then he asked me if I wanted some. I said sure.” Doug smiled. “He went up to the main fort and brought me a little bag back. Its instant coffee, but it still tastes great.”
“I haven’t had coffee in months.” Shaun said.
“Lisa got that old pot you had put in her back pack. She has a big pot of water on the fire. Why don’t you and Meg come over and have some?”
“Sure, we’ll be right over.’ Shaun said. “I just have to go and get Meg out of bed.”
Doug turned and headed back to his cabin where Lisa was out front sitting by the fire watching the pot of water.
Shaun walked back into the cottage. Megan was still under the blankets.
“Do you have to go?” She asked.
“Close your eyes.” Shaun said as he stood in front of her with his arms behind his back. “I have a surprise for you.”
Megan looked at him warily. “I don’t know. Your surprises usually end up with me jumping out of my skin.”
“It’s a good surprise. Trust me.” Shaun smiled.
“Trust you. How many times have I heard that!” She smiled.
“Then don’t trust me, just close your eyes. I promise you will like this surprise.” Shaun said.
Megan closed her eyes. She started to say something when Shaun placed the cup of coffee under her nose.
She smiled and opened her eyes.
She grabbed the cup and took a long drink.
“Get dressed. Doug got a bag of coffee and Lisa is heating a pot of water. We’ve been invited over for coffee.” Shaun smiled.
Megan was a coffee junkie and had been disappointed when all the coffee had disappeared from the stores and delis three months ago. Shaun didn’t have to ask her twice. She was up and dressed and almost beat him to the door.
“Where did Doug get coffee?” Megan asked as they walked out the door.
Lisa saw them coming and had two more cups ready by the time they arrived. Doug also handed Shaun a small bag as they walked up to join Doug and Lisa.
“After making the coffee I divided the rest up. You and Meg can take this so you can have coffee tomorrow morning.” Doug said.
“Do they have more?” Megan asked.
“I don’t know?” Doug said. “Tim said they didn’t have much and I wasn’t to tell anyone he had given it to me. So I would make this last as long as you can. It could be the last we get.”
Shaun and Megan pulled up a chair around the fire pit and made themselves comfortable.
It was starting out to be a good day. Not only having coffee for the first time in months, but the day looked beautiful.
Doug finally broke the trance and spoke as they watched a flock of geese fly overhead. Everything about the day was bright and peaceful.
“What new projects have you thought up for us to do today? I enjoyed what we did yesterday.” Doug said. “You see George already has the other big crossbow set up on the wall across from us.”
Shaun looked to see the second big crossbow he had made, set up on the wall directly across from them overlooking the hillside, Loyalhanna Creek and Route 30.
“Tim said George had already put in
an order for fifty arrowheads for the new arrows. He has three guys up there making him arrows for the big bows.” Doug added. “I think you made a big impression on these guys yesterday.”
“Maybe that’s why we have coffee this morning?” Shaun laughed.
“If you have any more bright ideas, maybe we will get more coffee tomorrow?” Doug laughed.
Shaun finished his coffee. “Are you ready to go up and see what Bill wants us to do today?”
Doug put his cup down on the ground beside his chair. ”I need to put my shoes on first, then I’ll be ready.” Doug answered.
“I’m going to put my old shirt on first so I don’t get my new shirt dirty, so take your time. I’ll be back shortly.” Shaun said.
Megan stood and walked with Shaun. “What do you want me to do today?”
“This morning why don’t you and Lisa go talk with Lilly.” Shaun said.
“OK.” Megan said. “How about this afternoon? Could I help you with something? I would prefer not to work in the flower garden all day.”
“I’ll see what Bill has in mind for me this morning and see if there is anything I can have you help with later.” Shaun said.
Shaun was changing into his old sweatshirt. He looked at the shirt and then over at Megan. “Do me a favor and don’t wear your new green dress this morning when you go to talk to Lisa.”
“You don’t like my dress?” Megan asked.
“I think you look very nice in your new dress. Until we are sure about all that is going on here at the fort, I would prefer you don’t walk around looking too nice without me around.” Shaun smiled.
Megan thought for a second. “OK. I understand. Don’t worry.”
Shaun walked Megan over to Doug’s. They left the girls and started up to the inner fort. Bill saw them and met them in the middle of the inner fort yard.
“Good morning guys!” Bill greeted them.
“We see George has the other bow set up already.” Shaun said.
“He was anxious to set it up early this morning. He was impressed with your work.” Bill laughed. “We have the boys working to make him arrows for his new toy.”
Shaun laughed.
“George suggested we set up two more of those bows on the inner walls. Would you be willing to make us two more?” Bill asked.
“No problem.” Shaun replied. “I would need more poles and wire.”
George already had the boys cut two more poles, they’re in the carpenters shed. They should be back soon with the wire. Tim has already made you some more of those metal gadgets you had him make yesterday. I don’t mean to put the horse before the cart, but George was so excited I told him to go ahead and get the materials ready for you.” Bill laughed.
“That’s great. It will make it a lot easier today.” Shaun laughed.
“Did you put anymore thought into anything else that would make things more secure at the fort?” Bill asked.
Shaun smiled. “I did. I always had a fascination with medieval castles. The fort sort of reminds me of a castle.”
“You don’t want us to dig a moat?” Doug joked.
“That’s a good idea, but being on a hill, it would be impossible to dig a moat around the fort.” Shaun laughed.
“Loyalhanna Creek acts like a moat around the front half of the fort.” Bill said. “But the hillside would be a problem.”
“But when armies attacked the old castles, they made catapults to toss rocks and hot oil on the people inside the castle.” Shaun said. “I was thinking we might use that idea and make catapults to toss rocks out on the dead. The hillside out front is made up of tons of rocks. If we tossed a few over the wall, they would roll down the hill and crush anything in their path. It could wipe out a lot of the dead. Heave them down in the middle of a horde of those bastards and you could really reduce the numbers that would be left for you to deal with.”
Bill stood in thought.
“It’s just an idea. If you don’t like it, I was just thinking.” Shaun said.
“I like it.” Bill smiled. “What would you need to make them?”
“Some twenty foot poles, nylon rope, more concrete and some old tires.” Shaun replied. “They would be a lot easier to make than the bows.”
“Can you put two in the lower yard and two more up in the inner fort?” Bill asked.
“Sure, just send the boys out to cut eight more poles, about six inches in diameter. I’ll show them where to dig the holes.” Shaun said. “Then you can have the boys start hauling in a pile of rocks about the size of bowling balls.”
“Consider it done.” Bill said.
“One other thing that has been on my mind.” Shaun said. “When that gang destroyed my house, they burnt it to the ground. Being the fort is made of wood and old wood at that, I see a very big weak spot. It doesn’t matter with the dead. I think the fort is a perfect defense against the dead.”
“Especially with the new big bows and your catapult.” Bill smiled.
“But what if a gang decides to attack? They could sneak up here at night when we couldn’t see them and set the walls on fire. Do you have any defense against something like that?” Shaun asked.
“We have buckets near the wells in the outside yard and next to the well in the inside yard. We would have a bucket brigade carry water to the walls to dump on the fire.” Bill said.
“That would take up a lot of the guys you would need to battle the attackers. Even then, they could only focus on one fire at a time.” Shaun said.
“We worry about a situation like that. It would be nice to have a fire hose and maybe a water tanker, but those are a thing of the past. You have an idea?” Bill asked hopefully.
“I got an idea last night while I was sitting around the camp fire. I was looking over the wall at all the houses on the edge of town that are near the fort.” Shaun said.
“The houses?” Bill repeated.
“For some reason I was looking at the roofs. I used to do a lot of roofing before. I noticed all the gutters and down spouts on all the vacant houses. It would be difficult to do on the outside wall because it is so big, but the inner fort is only about two or three hundred feet square. If we went out and took all those unused gutters and ran them around the top of the inner wall.” Shaun said. “Put holes in the gutter every few feet. If a gang looked like they were going to attack, we could have one or two guys use the hand pump and start pumping water into one end of the gutter. It would follow the gutters and soak the walls all around the inner fort. It could be done by one or two guys. Soaking the wall before a fight would make it harder to set it on fire. It would put out any fires that they did get started. As a last resort a bucket brigade could work on any areas that they would manage to light. Just an idea?”
Bill started laughing. “We have been trying to figure a way to solve that problem for six months. You figure it out in a couple of days. You’re amazing Shaun. Let’s do it!”
“I’ll start the bows, send some guys out to get the posts for the catapults and dig the holes. If you have enough people, they could start taking the gutters off some of those houses. When they have enough to get started, I can show them how to attached the gutters to the wall.”
Bill started calling out. Soon, a half dozen boys were lined up in front of him listening to his instructions, then they all turned and ran off.
Shaun instructed two boys where to dig the eight four foot holes, then walked back to the carpenter’s shed to start on the bows.
By the time the lunch bell rang, Shaun and Doug had the new bows finished, the catapult poles cemented into the ground and a crew of two boys starting to line the tops of the inside walls with the rain gutters.
He was tired and hungry when the lunch bell sounded. It had been a busy morning.
Bill walked over to Shaun as the bell sounded. “I’m impressed with the gutter idea. That has been bothering me for a long time.”
“I think if you run a little water through it every day, the logs in the wall will
become damp and even that much harder for someone to catch it on fire.” Shaun replied.
“Do you think we could do that on the outside walls?” Bill asked.
“It would take a lot of gutter to cover a couple thousand feet. It would probably be too impractical to run water the entire way around the outside wall.” Shaun said. “But I suppose if you had enough gutter to run around the walls, you could soak a different section each day. It wouldn’t solve the problem completely and work as well as on the smaller wall, but it would make it harder for someone to set the outer wall on fire.”
“After we get these other projects done, I just might see how many gutters I can get the boys to round up.” Bill said.
“You worried about some gangs coming around?” Shaun asked.
Bill looked surprised for a second, then smiled. “Times are changing fast out there. I just want to be prepared.”
“I don’t blame you. You can never be too prepared.” Shaun laughed. “Say Bill, would it be OK with you if I borrowed a few bows and some arrows later today?”
“Why do you want to borrow the bows?” Bill asked looking different. For a moment Shaun thought he saw anger or mistrust in Bill’s eyes.
“I wanted to take my wife and practice shooting the bow a little. I wanted to do something with Meg to make her feel like she is doing something important.” Shaun replied.
“We have a garrison that handles the weapons and defends everyone here at the fort.” Bill added.
“I know, but it will make her feel useful. Nothing worse than a bored wife!” Shaun smiled. “Besides, I like to be prepared too. Just in case!”
Bill smiled. “Sure. When you want them, just tell George. I’ll tell him to give you what you need and set up a few targets for you.”
“Thanks.” Shaun said.
“Now go have lunch with your wife.” Bill smiled.
Shaun turned to go find Doug, so they could go have lunch. He didn’t know why, but he felt Bill didn’t seem too happy that he and Meg wanted to practice with the bows. Maybe Bill was just a control freak. He had been in charge at the fort and Shaun was sure he had been through a lot defending the fort the last six months. Sometimes when you are in charge, it is hard accepting something that is not part of the regular routine.