Safe Zone

by Chesla, Gary

  “You know Bill would never agree to something like this.” George protested.

  “The way I see it. Old Bill doesn’t have much choice.” Bear grinned. “Either he lets us come in peacefully to become part of the group and we all become one big happy family.” Bear’s expression turned angry.

  Bear stared at George. “Or we will just come in without his approval.”

  “He won’t let you come in.” George said. “I’ve heard him say it many times, you can’t come in.”

  “We’ll fight our way in.” Bear snarled. “And if we can’t get in, we’ll burn the damn fort to the ground. And with as many guys as I have, I don’t see any way you can stop us.”

  “His answer is going to be no!” George said again.

  “You go back and tell him either he lets us in, if everything starts to ease up and the people start coming to the fort again there will be enough for everyone, or we will come in and kill every last one of you and keep everything for ourselves.” Bear smiled. “Personally I would prefer it that way, but just let him know I’m temporarily in a sharing mood today.”

  Bear nodded to the guys standing around him and they all started to laugh.

  Two guys moved off and out of sight.

  “He won’t agree.” George said again then added. “And he is ready for you. You won’t get in!”

  “He thinks he is ready for us!” Bear laughed out loud. “Now get the hell up there and explain it to him, or we’re coming in. Either way we’re coming in.”

  “OK.” George said. “Wait here and I’ll go talk to him.”

  George shook his head. He knew there was going to be trouble. Bear with this many men was going to be a problem. These weren’t men, these were animals. As George looked around at the gang of what looked more like a band of convicts and not men, he changed his opinion from a band of animals to a band of ruthless killers.

  This was a losing proposition. They would be in trouble if they let them in and they would be trouble if they didn’t let them in. He wondered if they would be able to survive either option.

  He looked back at Bear. He had to give it one more try to convince him to change his mind.

  Shaun watched the conversation between George and the leader of the gang.

  The gang leader’s body language began to change. His body motions were relaxed at the beginning, but now were becoming more animated. Shaun could see from this distance, even without being able to hear the conversation, the leader was starting to get an attitude about him.

  He started to worry if George was going to be able to make it back. If the leader became anymore arrogant, he might just kill George as a display of power.

  “Bill. I think George might be getting himself in a bad situation. I’m going to sneak down and cover him.”

  “I think that might be a good idea.” Bill said. “I don’t like how this is looking.”

  “Maybe have the guys load the catapults. I’ll go down part way to watch George’s back.” Shaun said as he borrowed a bow and a few arrows from one of the guys watching from the wall.

  Bill spoke to one of the men. The man dropped down off of the platform and ran over to the guys standing at the first catapult.

  They grabbed a rock and put it on the tire and set it on the tire and pulled the ropes tight, waiting for the order to pull the catapult further back and launch their rock.

  The guy ran over to the second catapult next to have them get ready, then ran back down to the wall to watch what was happening on the road below.

  Shaun ran down to the gate. He stuck his head through the gate and looked down towards the highway. George and the gang were involved in a heated conversation. He ran across the street and hid behind the corner of the house. He began to move down the hill, careful to stay out of the line of sight of the bikers below. He was trying to get to the last house before the gas station, where he would be in a position to help George if he needed help.

  “OK, Bear. I’ll go talk to Bill. I’m sure we can work out something.” George said.

  “There’s nothing to work out. We’re coming in. It’s up to Bill how we do it.” Bear growled. “But we are coming in.”

  George turned and started to walk back up the hill to return to the fort.

  Bear turned to the man beside him. “I think we need to give Bill something to think about.” Bear nodded at George as he started up the hill. “Go kill that bastard. Let them know we are serious.”

  George walked slowly trying to give the impression that he wasn’t afraid of the bikers, but on the inside he was scared shitless. He only hoped he would be able to make it back to the fort before he got his throat slit.

  George was about twenty feet away from the bikers when he heard the sound of running footsteps behind him.

  The sound startled him and he turned to see what the noise was. He turned just in time to see a biker a few steps behind him. His arm raised above his head, holding a large knife. An arrow sticking out of the middle of his chest as he fell, face down on the ground.

  George heard Shaun yelling. “Run George!”

  George looked up the street to see Shaun holding a bow as he stood at the corner of the house by the gas station.

  He saw Shaun pull back and let a second arrow fly. George started to run as he heard another man fall to the ground close behind him.

  Shaun took his last arrow and shot it at the leader. The arrow went to the left and stuck in the bike’s tire.

  Shaun stepped out from the corner as George reached him. The two started running up towards the fort.

  Shaun waved his hands over his head, looking up at the men on the wall. He yelled. “Catapult! Catapult!”

  The bikers started their bikes. The roaring sounds of the engines echoed off the buildings and the walls of the fort. The sound was deafening.

  Shaun pulled George by the arm, off the street and into the space between two houses. They would never make it back to the fort if they stayed out on the road.

  They sound of the bikes started coming off of Route 30.

  Shaun and George hit the ground and scurried around on their stomachs to turn and see where the bikers were.

  They heard the swishing sound of the ropes on the catapults as they turned.

  Two bikes flew up the road past them towards the fort. The bikers were soon hit with a flurry of arrows. The injured bikers lost control of the bikes and slid on the pavement. The bikes began to flip violently on the street finally grinding to a stop leaving deep gashes in the pavement. The bikers did not move from where they had fallen off their bikes.

  Shaun and George shifted their gaze back to the bottom of the hill as they heard what sounded like numerous loud collisions coming from that direction.

  Large rocks from the catapults rained down hitting the pavement and crashing into the bikers.

  A half dozen bikes were laying on the pavement. The bikers tried to get their bikes back upright, but only one of the bikes was still usable. As more rocks dropped around them, they doubled up after starting the bikes that weren’t damaged and roared off down Route 30 towards Giant Eagle.

  George looked at the dead bikers lying in the middle of the road in front of them. He glanced at the mayhem down on Route 30 and looked at Shaun. “Thanks man, you saved my ass.”

  “We’ll let’s get your ass and mine back inside the fort before those guys come back.” Shaun smiled.

  They got up off the ground and ran towards the fort. They heard someone shouting, then the doors at the gate creaked open enough for them to run inside.

  As the guys at the gate were busy barricading the gate and setting the posts back down in their holes, Bill came walking over.

  He looked at George. “I guess things didn’t go too well?”

  “What the hell were they saying down there? Shaun asked. “I kept watching the leader get more and more agitated.”

  “They want to move into the fort!” George said.

  “They want to what?” Shaun looked in
credulous.

  “They said if we don’t let them in, they are going to come in anyhow. They said they’ll burn the fort down if they have to.”

  “Why the hell do they want to move into the fort?” Shaun said.

  “They said the dead are over running everything. They can’t stay anywhere without the dead pushing them out. He said they are having a hard time finding any more gas. All they have left is what’s in their tanks. They said they have to settle someplace because they aren’t going to be able to keep moving around. They feel the fort will make a good base for them.” George said. “He said if we don’t let them come in and be part of the group, they will come in and kill everyone here.”

  Bill looked to be thinking.

  Shaun looked at him, appalled by the fact that Bill seemed to be considering the biker’s demands. “You’re not thinking about letting them in here? Those guys are crazy. If you let them in here they’ll kill every single one of us. The girls won’t be safe.”

  “No. We could never allow them to come in the fort.” Bill answered. “I was just trying to figure out what they are going to do next.”

  “From what I’ve seen of these bastards, they have violent tempers. They are going to act first, then think. My guess is they will try to rush the fort. If that doesn’t work, then they will try to sneak up on us when they think we won’t expect them.” Shaun said nearly shouting.

  “What do you think, George?” Bill looked at George.

  “I would give Shaun’s idea a shot. He has been spot on with them so far.” George replied.

  “What would you do?” Bill looked at Shaun.

  “I think they will be back within the hour. I feel they will come roaring down 30 and try to storm the gate. I don’t think that is the smartest thing to do if I were them. But right now they are probably pissed. I think they will come back here while they’re still ticked off looking for some quick revenge. I would get the catapults and cross bows ready. I would hit them as they get down at the intersection. The other bows can wait and hit the ones that get through.” Shaun said. “I would put a few people on the back walls to watch out back, incase I’m wrong. If they do rush us from down on 30, we need to take out as many as we can. Once they see what they are up against to get up here from the highway, they’ll change tactics.”

  “What do you think would be there next move?” George asked.

  “If I were them and saw I couldn’t get in through the front gate. I’d wait until night and sneak up on the fort from out back. That area would be hard as hell to defend.” Shaun said staring at Bill.

  “OK, let’s try it that way first. George, have about four guys man the back walls. Shaun if you would man the catapult like you did yesterday. George, take the cross bow nearest the gate and have Tim take the other cross bow.” Bill said giving instructions.

  “When should we start shooting?” George asked.

  Bill looked at Shaun.

  “Tell the other catapult to start heaving rocks when I start. George, you and Tim start shooting those big arrows when they reach the intersection. The others know to wait until any bikers come up the street and get in range of their bows.” Shaun said shifting his eyes from Bill to George.

  “OK. Sounds like a plan.” Bill said. “But George, tell half your guys to be ready to shift to the back wall in case they split in two groups. In case they pretend to rush the front as a diversion and then come at us from the back.”

  They all nodded at each other, agreeing to the plan. They all turned and started running to get ready.

  Shaun started up the fort road to go to the first catapult. When he was between his cabin and the catapult, Megan came running out of the cabin. She ran up to him. “Shaun, was that those bikers I heard?”

  “Yea, they were the same bastards that burnt down our house. I killed two of the assholes.” Shaun growled.

  “What did they want? Are they gone now?” Megan stared at Shaun looking fearful.

  “They decided they want to move in to the fort.” Shaun answered.

  “Bill’s not going to let them in is he?” She looked horrified.

  “No. But they didn’t take no for an answer.” Shaun replied. “They said they are coming in or they are going to burn the fort down.”

  Megan gasped. “What can I do to help?”

  “Meg, just stay in the cabin. There are enough men out here.” Shaun answered.

  “I’m as good as any man.” Megan demanded.

  “I know you are. But if those bikers see any women in here, I think it will just make them more determined to get in. You can help the most by taking care of Lisa. If it gets to the point where we need help, I’ll come get you. We’ll stand together.” Shaun said seriously.

  Megan lowered her head. She knew what Shaun meant. He meant if things got out of control, he would come back to protect her to the end. They would be together when they died. They had made an agreement months ago when it looked like they might not be able to survive much longer, that they would be together. If they found themselves in a situation that they would not be able to get out of, they would face it together.

  She smiled at him desperately. “If it gets that bad, signal me or come get me. I’ll watch you. Be careful. I love you.”

  “I love you too Meg.” Shaun kissed her. “Go in the cabin now. OK?”

  “OK.” She replied. The feeling of fear and desperation that she had come to know, that she had lived with for the last six months, was returning and made her stomach feel queasy.

  Shaun ran back over to his catapult. Doug and another man were waiting for him.

  “Meg and Lisa OK?” Doug asked.

  “They’re worried but they are OK.” Shaun replied.

  “Should I go over and talk to Lisa.” Doug seemed indecisive.

  “Not now. It would only get her worked up. I told Meg if things got bad, we would come back to the cabin to be with them. Meg said she will keep an eye on us from the cabin window.”

  Doug looked at Shaun, then down at his feet as the seriousness of the situation sunk in.

  “Let’s get some rocks lined up close to the catapult while we wait. The dead didn’t move too fast, we were able to take our time. But these bikers will be moving fast. We need to get these rocks off fast.” Shaun said.

  In a few minutes they had five rocks lined up by the right post. “This should be good enough. As fast as I expect them to come at us, I don’t think we’ll have time to get off more than two or three shots.” Shaun said. “Right now just listen. We should be able to hear them long before they get here.”

  Shaun sat back against the post and waited.

  He looked around the fort. George had the wire stretched back and an arrow sat across the bow. The others had their weapons ready and just watched. The fort was silent as everyone watched and listened. The air was thick with tension, but also with determination.

  Twenty minutes had passed, but all had remained silent.

  Shaun watched as George looked at the guards on the back walls. They gave him the all clear sign.

  They waited.

  “Did you recognize any of those guys? Were they the guys that burnt our houses down?” Doug asked.

  “It was them.” Shaun answered. “I recognized the saddle bags and the chains hanging on the bikes.”

  Doug thought for a minute. “You think they just went back to Latrobe? Maybe after all those rocks came down on them, they just figured it was going to be too much trouble getting in here?”

  “No! Not these guys.” Shaun shook his head. “They’ll be back. I just hope they come back soon.”

  “Why the hell you want them to come back soon?” Doug looked shocked.

  “The longer they take to come back, the more time they have to work out a plan. I would rather they just come rushing back at us. I worry about them sneaking around the back of the fort and attacking from a dozen different places. Or coming back at night to set the fort on fire! If they come rushing back up the highway, at least
we will have them all right in front of us. It will give us a better chance.” Shaun sighed.

  Doug thought for a second, then he perked up and listened. “I think you are about to get your wish.”

  Shaun listened. The sound of roaring engines could be heard far off down Route 30. “I know. Be careful what you wish for!”

  Bill stood on the wall. He started to yell. “Here they come. You guys on the back wall stay alert in case the bikes coming out front are a diversion.”

  Everyone was alert and listened.

  Shaun quickly carried a rock over and put it in the tire. He pulled the ropes taunt. “Grab hold and be ready!”

  The sounds of the roaring engines got louder.

  The lookout at the far corner called out. “They just came around the bend. Twenty seconds!”

  “On the count of ten, start pulling!” Shaun shouted. “Shaun started counting out loud as the sounds of the bikes got closer. “Eight, nine, ten! Pull!”

  Shaun pulled. Doug and the other man started to pull. Shaun stepped backwards and watched until the poles were at the ten o’clock position. He lowered his body to create a higher arch when the rock was launched. His arms ached as the bikes came into his view.

  Pain shot up through Shaun’s arms as he waited to time his shot. He let go of the tire.

  Whoosh! The ropes shrieked as he fell back onto the ground. A few seconds later another whoosh sounded from the second catapult.

  Shaun quickly got up off the ground and rushed to pick up another rock to load.

  He saw George out of the corner of his eyes make his first shot and quickly begin to reload.

  “Pull!” Shaun shouted again as he was pulled back. Shaun tried to angle his shot further up the hill, anticipating the bikers would be moving closer to the fort. Whoosh!

  Whoosh.

  George was now on his third arrow.