Marionette Zombie Series | Book 11 | The Time Between

by Poe, S. B.

  “Jahda, take Ham back.” Bridger said.

  “No. I promised Scott I would bring help.” Ham said. “I’m going.”

  Bridger looked at Jahda and she gave him the ‘do you think I am going to drag her back to the truck look?’ He looked at the rest of them. He raised the binoculars again. The girl Ham had pointed out raised a walkie to her mouth and they could hear the sound of a large diesel truck firing up beyond the rise. Bridger recognized the sound. He had heard on the outskirts of Collier. They had been close.

  “I guess we go.” Bridger said. They started walking towards the bridge.

  “That’s far enough.”

  The girl spoke through a plastic megaphone like the ones they pass out at football games, except this one had FEMA stamped on the side instead of some team logo. They all stopped. The two groups stood on opposite sides of the fifty-yard long bridge, sizing each other up.

  Bridger did a quick headcount, and they were outnumbered at least two to one. The strangers were lined almost shoulder to shoulder across the other end of the bridge. And they all carried military rifles. Finally, Kate stepped forward.

  The New Rules

  “I want my son.” Kate said.

  “Sorry? What was that? You’ll have to speak up.” The girl spoke into the megaphone.

  “I WANT MY SON.” Kate yelled.

  “Careful now. The dead will come.” The girl said. Kate could see her smiling. She knew when she was being taunted. She started forward.

  “I said that’s far enough.” Hannah spoke again.

  “I heard you the first time.” Kate said as she walked.

  “Maybe you didn’t understand her.” A man emerged from behind the front line of people, rolling forward in a wheelchair. “That means for you to stop. Now.”

  Kate stopped. She looked back over her shoulder at Ham. Ham nodded.

  “Are you Noah?” Kate asked.

  “Ah, I see our little Ham has been telling you all about us. Just as well. We’ve learned so much about you too.” Noah said. “Quite the talker you’ve raised there. Oh, I am assuming you are Scott’s mother, what with all the ‘I want my son’ foolishness.”

  “Where is he?” Kate asked.

  “Close.” Noah said.

  “I want to see him.”

  “You will, Mom. You will.” Noah said.

  “Now.” Kate said.

  “I don’t think you’re in a position to make demands.” Noah said.

  “You don’t know what position I am in.” Kate said.

  “Really? Let’s see. First, I have your son. And unless that Humvee you arrived in is loaded down with ammo, you are just about out of bullets.” Noah said. “By the way,” He leaned in the chair to see around Kate. He looked at Bridger. “Nice hummer. You get that from the soldiers?” He smiled and turned his attention back to Kate. “So, like I said, I don’t think you’re in a position to make demands.”

  “I just want to see him.” Kate said.

  “I know you do. And that’s part of it. The anticipation.” Noah smiled.

  “What do you want from us?” Kate asked.

  “Ah, the negotiation stage. I’ve been waiting for this part. This is the whole reason we’re here.” Noah said.

  “What negotiation?” Bridger asked.

  “I’m sorry, I was talking with Kate.” Noah said. He looked at Kate. “It is Kate right?” Noah asked her. “Scott thinks it is, so…”

  “It’s Kate.” She said.

  “I was talking with Kate.” Noah said to Bridger.

  “You can talk with me.” Bridger said.

  “Interesting.” Noah said.

  “What’s that?” Bridger asked.

  “Scott said that Kate was in charge, but you made all the decisions that matter. I wasn’t sure what he meant. Now I do.” Noah said.

  “Well, I don’t.” Bridger said.

  “Sure you do. She’s the jockey. She decides which direction to go. She steers the reigns but in the end the horse, you, decides whether or not to turn, whether or not to run. I think that trust between rider and horse is so unique. How many times have you seen in movies when the horse just completely lets the rider down? Runs off at the wrong time. Lets the bad guy ride it. All these times that damn horse has been completely disloyal and yet the slightest bit of fealty and the rider readily welcomes the horse back and that trust is instantly restored. Until it’s broken again. It’s a comedic cycle. Isn’t it Ham?” Noah smiled.

  “I think you got the wrong horse.” Bridger said.

  “I’m sure I do. Nevertheless, I would prefer to let Kate make the decisions that matter. At least for today.” Noah said.

  “I’m listening.” Kate said.

  “Good. First, let’s make sure we’re all dealing in good faith here. I don't want you to think that all of this is for show. I want to make sure the object of negotiation is worth all of our precious time. Isn’t that what it’s all about, anyway? Time. The time we have here. This life. From the moment we’re born until the moment we die, it’s all about that time between. Or at least it used to be that way before death took on a life of its own. But for those of us still here, still breathing with living lungs, that time between still matters. And I wouldn’t want you to think I wasted yours, I hope you don’t waste mine. BRING HIM OUT.” Noah yelled the last over his shoulder.

  Kate stepped back a few steps as the crowd behind Noah stirred. She brought her hand to her mouth and felt Bridger wrap his arm around her waist to steady her when the crowd parted. The coffin was jet black with silver handles. Square and bare. Bridger had seen some like it before. He had escorted them back from Iraq twice and somewhere a lot more classified another time. Before they wrapped the flag around it, the coffin looked just like the one they sat on the ground next to the wheelchair.

  “What have you done?” Kate was shaking.

  “Nothing. What? This?” He motioned to the casket. “I think you have an overactive imagination. This is to keep him safe, unless of course someone accidently sealed it. Then maybe your imagination is more predictive than you are aware.” Noah smiled.

  “What kind of sick bastard are you?” Lori asked.

  “Now stop that. No reason to call people names, especially over things you honestly don’t understand.” Noah said. “Where were we? Oh yeah. The seals.”

  “Open it up.” Kate begged.

  “Oh, he’s fine. Look.” Noah nodded, and the girl undid the latch. The lid raised and Kate could see an arm pushing it up.

  “Mom?” Scott said. He blinked as he climbed out of the casket. Kate broke from Bridger’s grip and started forward. Several rounds were chambered, but the gun she saw was the one Noah produced and pointed at Scott. She stopped.

  “Uh, uh, uhh. You stay there Mom.” Noah said.

  Kate stopped.

  “It’s okay.” Scott said.

  “Are you okay?” Kate asked.

  “Now Mom. What kind of question is that? Do you think I am the kind of person who would harm a child?” Noah smiled.

  “I don’t know what kind of person you are.” Kate said.

  “Ah, a realization of a truth. You’re almost there. Here, let me help. You’re exactly right. You don’t know what kind of person I am. You don’t know what kind of people we are. Are we half dead like the one outside your walls? Are you? We just don’t know.” Noah said.

  “Seems you know a good deal more about us than we do about you.” Bridger spoke up.

  Noah shook his head from side to side. “Her.” He said. “I wanted her to get there. But there you go again, running off ahead of everyone else, trying to solve problems. Please try to restrain yourself. If you can.”

  Bridger looked over at Kate. She just lifted her eyebrows slightly. He fell silent.

  “That’s better. As I was saying, we just don’t know enough. I don’t know what kind of people you are, although Bridger seems to be determined to help me decide, and you don’t know what kind of people we are, which Bridger w
ould do well to remember.” Noah said.

  “So is that what we’re negotiating?” Kate asked. “How much we learn about each other?”

  “That’s exactly what we’re negotiating Kate. Exactly. And how does one learn about something? You were a teacher right?” Noah asked.

  “Yes, I was. You learn by listening. Observing. Working at solving problems.” Kate said.

  Noah started clapping. He smiled at the others around him and some began clapping with him.

  “I could not have said that better myself. That is exactly how it’s done. You really are catching on quickly, Kate. I think your son may have sold you short. You seem much more capable than,” He turned and looked at Scott. “How did you say it, Scott, keeping things straight behind the walls?”

  Kate’s eyes met Scott’s and she could see the disappointment. As though he had betrayed her. She turned her attention back to Noah.

  “So what do you want? What problems are we going to solve?” Kate asked.

  “What I want is to learn. About you, about your people.” Noah said.

  “Why?” Bridger asked.

  “Because I want to. And that’s all you get to know.” Noah smiled.

  “So ask us. If it means my son comes home, ask us anything you want.” Kate said.

  “If it were only that simple.” Noah sighed. “I could ask you things, and you could answer, but you’d be lying. And even if you weren’t, I would think you were. And that would just frustrate all of us. And frustration usually leads to children turning into, what was the word Scott? Deaduns? Yes, deaduns.” He smiled again. “I find that dead kids tend to taint the negotiations a bit, so I try, as best I can, to save that tactic until absolutely necessary.”

  “I hear a lot of talk and a lot of threats, but we really aren’t getting anywhere.” Bridger said.

  “You really are just a blunt instrument, aren’t you?” Noah looked at Bridger and paused. He looked back at Kate. “As I was saying, talking isn’t really going to satisfy my curiosity.”

  “What will satisfy your curiosity?” Kate asked. “I just want my son back.”

  “I know you do, Mom. But, and I want to state this now, before we go any further, there is a zero chance that your son goes home with you today. Zero.” Noah said.

  “Then why are we standing here?” Bridger asked. “We came to get him back.”

  “You’re standing here because I want you to be. You are more than welcome to try to ‘get him back’ but I think we both know where that would end up. Look around, if you thought you had the advantage you would have already taken it. You don’t. And once we’re finished with your heroic last stand, we’ll just walk right into your town and finish the rest.” Noah said. “We’re not negotiating for my benefit, we’re negotiating for yours. Now, if you would, once again, keep quiet until Kate and I are finished. Please.”

  “Stop it, just stop it. You two can measure dicks some other time. What do we need to do? What do you want from us?” Kate said.

  “Hospitality.” Noah said.

  “Like the hospitality you’ve shown by kidnapping Scott and Ham?” Lori asked.

  “I’m sorry, are you and he related? Father, daughter maybe?” Noah pointed to Bridger.

  “No.” Lori said.

  “It’s just both of you seem to love to just blurt out words that have no relation to the conversation at hand. I did not kidnap anyone. I offered hospitality to lost children. And you offer accusations and conflict. Perhaps I should rethink this entire negotiation. Maybe I should just send Scott to walk with the dead…”

  “STOP.” Kate said. She turned and made eye contact with everyone in her group. “Stop. Please.”

  “Thank you, Kate.” Noah said.

  “Fuck you. You’ve had your fun. You’ve strung us along for your amusement and I’m sick of it. Tell us what you want.” Kate turned to face him.

  “Hospitality.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Kate said. “When can I get my son back?”

  “You can have your son back after.”

  “After what?”

  “An exchange.” Noah said. “I need to know more about who you are. Like I said, it’s a curiosity. In the next few days, I’m going to bring someone to you. Someone I expect to be treated with hospitality. And I’m going to keep your son with me to make sure that happens.”

  “You are going to send in a spy to learn everything about us and hold Scott hostage to make sure you get your spy back? About right?” Bridger asked.

  “You’re like a piece of gravel. A little sharper than a river stone, but still a rock. Yes, Bridger, I am sending in a spy. I just said that.” Noah said.

  “Trade me for my son.” Kate said. “Let him go. Hold me instead.”

  “Ah, the selfless sacrifice. But I think the motivation of keeping your son alive would serve me much better with you back in your little town. You can help make sure that Collier is just brimming with hospitality.” Noah said.

  “How long? How long will this trade, this exchange, last?” Kate asked.

  “How well provisioned are you? Months, weeks, days?” Noah asked.

  “Two months, maybe.” Kate said. She glanced at Bridger. “Maybe.”

  “Let’s hope it’s less than that then.” Noah smiled.

  “You can’t do that. You can’t just take my son and do this.” Kate said.

  “Yes. I can.” Noah said. He turned and looked at her. “But what happens after this is entirely up to you. BOX HIM UP.” Noah called.

  Kate watched as two men stepped forward, one of them was larger than anyone Kate had ever met. Scott looked up at the big man and smiled. The big man reached down and opened the lid of the casket. He stepped in and sat down. She put her hand in the air as he waved at her. He laid back, and she watched as they closed the lid. She could feel the tears brimming her eyes and she could feel the burn as they hit her red hot cheeks.

  “If you hurt him…” Kate started.

  “I know, I know, you’ll do horrible things. I give you my word, he will be treated decently and will be safe. That’s as long as you hold up your end. Brimming with hospitality, Kate, brimming.” Noah turned and the big diesel truck fired up again.

  Kate and the others stood on their side of the bridge, watching as the truck disappeared over the rise.

  “What the hell was that?” Jahda finally asked.

  “I say we go back, grab every fucking gun we have and go after these mother fuckers, sorry Mom.” Josh said.

  “He’d be dead before we got close.” Bridger said. “I think we need to go back and just wait.”

  “Wait? Seriously?” Lori asked.

  “What choice do we have?” Kate asked.

  The others turned and started walking back towards the trucks. Ham, Bridger, and Kate stood and stared at the other side of the bridge.

  “I promised I would bring help.” Ham said.

  “And you did.” Bridger said.

  “But we didn’t help him.” Ham said.

  “Not yet.” Bridger said. “But we know he’s okay.”

  Jahda turned and called back to Ham.

  “Come on, you can ride with me.” Jahda said.

  “Can she ride with us? I want to ask her some more about those people. She’s really the only one who knows anything.” Kate said. “If you don’t mind.” She looked at Ham.

  “Did y’all come in the tank?” Ham asked.

  “Tank?” Bridger asked.

  “The army thing.” Ham smiled.

  “Yes, we did.” Bridger said.

  “Then yes, I’ll ride with y’all.” Ham said. “I’m gonna ride with them.” Ham called to Jahda.

  “Go ahead and walk back to the truck with Jahda, we’ll be right behind you.” Kate said.

  “Okay.” Ham smiled and turned. She half trotted to Jahda and took her hand. Kate watched them for a few seconds before she turned to Bridger.

  “What do you think?” Kate said.

  “I think yo
u’re right. We have no choice. Right now, there’s really nothing else we can do.” Bridger said.

  “What does he want? What do we have?” Kate asked.

  “Ham said they went with these people willingly at first. Maybe he’s does just want to find out how much of a threat we are.” Bridger said.

  “Yeah, and maybe they just like to play with their food before they eat it.” Kate said. “Let’s get back. We’ve got a guest to prepare for.”

  The Old World

  Tilly leaned back in the lawn chair and let the light roll across her face. The roof of the bus was warm in the afternoon sun. She looked over at Raj. He had the binoculars glued to his eyes. She closed her eyes and leaned back a little more as she pulled the neck of her shirt well below the front of her bra and let the sun warm her chest. Her boobs had already started to grow, which made Raj quite happy. She was glad Raj was enjoying them, but no one had warned her they would itch all the damned time. She didn’t even think about scratching anymore. She stood and scratched them as furiously as some high school pitcher picking his nuts between pitches with about as much self-awareness. Charlie had been gone ten minutes before she finally realized why he kept staring at her like she was a lunatic when they came to relieve them.

  “Nice.” She looked up, Raj was smiling at her. “You wanna, maybe, duck down inside the bus for a little, you know?” He asked smiling more.

  “Hell no. I figured you out. That’s how I got all itchy boobed. Tired of scratching them all the time. Nope, we not gonna be doing that no more.” She deadpanned at him. The smiled left his face.

  “I’ll scratch em for you.” He said.

  “You’re sad.” She smiled.

  “I know.” He leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. “But you make me happy.”

  Tilly stood and took the binoculars from him. He turned and walked to the ladder to climb down.

  “You want anything?” He asked. “I’m getting a bottle of water.”

  “Nah, I’m good.” Tilly said. “Raj?”

  “Yes.”

  “There’s a horse coming this way.” She said.

  “Is anyone on it?” He forgot his errand and stepped beside her. She handed him the binoculars. “I guess we let it in.”