by J. W. Vohs
Suddenly Luke was free, running at a speed he’d never known possible, howling his joy and hunger along with the rest of the hunters as the fleeing hindquarters of two cows and a calf came into view. Now he was frantic in his pursuit, somehow increasing his pace as he watched the scene unfold in the distance. The panicked cattle ran straight into the dozen flesh-eaters waiting for them at the edge of the woods, the trap sprung with deadly efficiency. The hunters mobbed the largest two animals in an instant, their combined weight and grasping hands quickly knocking the stumbling cows to the ground. As soon as the unfortunate beasts were down, two of Luke’s packmates, again, the word was just there, used large rocks to crush the skulls of their prey.
Even as the hunters began tearing at the still quivering carcasses with their hands and teeth, the big male appeared at Luke’s side and motioned toward the field. They stepped together into the open ground, where the calf was wandering about in confusion, bawling for its mother. Luke felt nothing but hunger and residual excitement at the sight of the frightened young animal; he moved to the right while the hunter who’d been at his side went left. Gracie stayed where she was but began to make a noise that somehow held the calf’s attention. It was still looking her way when Luke leapt forward and pulled it to the ground, howling in joy as his powerful partner grabbed the animal’s head and snapped its neck in one smooth motion.
Now Luke realized that he didn’t know what to do; he didn’t know how to eat. The hunter began to bite into the calf’s neck and tear pieces of hide away with his teeth. Once he had a suitable opening he stuck his hands into the wound and pulled the skin apart to reveal the bloody flesh beneath. Luke tried to bite and he tried to tear, but then he noticed that his hands didn’t look the same as the hunter’s, and his teeth were nowhere near as strong. He didn’t have time to think about the differences however, as Gracie suddenly stepped forward and hacked a foreleg free of the carcass with two powerful strokes of her axe. Together they lifted the dripping leg and brought the ragged meat to their mouths, and Luke understood the meaning of bliss when he ripped the first morsel free and felt the hot blood trickle down his throat. The warmth spread from his stomach to the rest of his torso, then radiated out to his head and limbs. He was so warm, and then warmer still as he continued to wolf down the raw flesh, a sense of joy and contentment singing from his soul. His soul…
The heat coursing through Luke’s body as he ate the warm flesh of the calf was all consuming; he couldn’t even spare a glance toward Gracie as she repeatedly called his name. Finally he did look for her, but she was gone. The calf was gone. The hunter was gone. A coldness washed over his body in waves that seemed so real, like ice water dousing his flesh. Then he woke up. Gracie was leaning over him, gently blotting his forehead with a cold cloth. A look of relief crossed her face.
“You’re back,” she whispered.
Luke tried to speak, but his mouth was too dry. Gracie knew what he wanted. She held a small cup of tepid water to his lips and he took sips from it for a while before trying to talk again.
“How long?” he managed to croak.
“Just a couple hours. It started right when you fell asleep. First you were twitching, then just burning up. You’ve pretty much been out of it, but about twenty minutes ago you promised me that you wouldn’t give up. Do you remember?”
“Not giving up,” he replied in a dry whisper. “Going on.”
For a moment, Gracie realized that Luke’s word choice was disturbing, but then remembered that he wasn’t exactly in a great state of mind. “Can I get you anything, baby?”
Luke tried to sit up, but he could barely move. “Yeah,” he rasped, “get Jack for me.”
Charlotte’s kitchen was right inside the door, and it smelled like his grandmother’s house on Thanksgiving. Carter’s sister sat Jack down on a stool and brought him a large bottle of water. “I wasn’t sure what else to do, under the circumstances, so I decided that feeding Luke’s loved ones would be a good way to contribute something for you all. Lots of folks around here raise chickens now, so I’ve been cooking up a mess of them for tomorrow.” She peered at Jack. “I don’t mean to be rude, but you look awful. I didn’t think it was possible for you to look awful, but I guess awful for you is still a lot handsomer than most guys. You need to drink all that water.”
“You always did talk a lot.” Jack leaned back and took several large gulps of the water.
“We didn’t always talk,” Charlotte reminded him.
“That was a long time ago,” Jack pointed out while memories of a distant summer flashed through his mind.
“Everything was a long time ago, now drink your water.” She waited for him to set the bottle down and reached across the table to take his hand. “Look, I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I mean, I know pain and loss, everybody does nowadays, but when Curtis died he took a piece of me with him. You know we had a rocky marriage, but we’d finally worked everything out. My kids need their dad. And I think you need your son. Curtis is gone, but Luke hasn’t left yet. I’m going to make you a sandwich, then you’re going to go check on Luke—“ Jack started to speak, but Charlotte shushed him. “It’s not that kind of wedding night, and even if it was, that part would be over by now. Carter stopped by here an hour or so ago and told me that David was setting up a tent right outside Luke and Gracie’s cabin. That’s where you belong.”
“You and your brother are both damn bossy,” Jack grumbled half-heartedly. “I can see why you’ve always fought like cats and dogs.”
“My cats and dogs have always gotten along, but my brother can be a stubborn jerk. He’s usually a stand-up guy though. Here’s a sandwich. Eat the whole thing; you need to keep your strength up.”
Jack finished the sandwich and walked his dishes over to the sink. “Thanks, Charlotte. I’m gonna head out.”
She put her hands on her hips and cocked her head to one side. A lock of blond hair fell across her face, and she pushed it behind her ear. “And exactly where are you going?”
“Right where you told me to; I’m going to Luke.” Jack wasn’t drunk, but his tongue was slightly loosened from whiskey. “You haven’t changed a bit, except maybe to grow even more beautiful. I have someone in my life, a woman I love, but if things were different—“
“Just stop. Our timing has always sucked. I’m glad you have someone—her name’s Andi, right? I did a little checking. She sounds like a woman worth holding on to. Losing Curtis is still too fresh for me anyway. We’ll always be friends, Jack. Good friends.”
Jack nodded and closed the kitchen door on his way out.
Gracie roused David, who’d pitched a tent outside the front door of the cabin at some point in the night. David set off to fetch Jack, but his brother wasn’t easily found. After almost an hour of checking various locations, and adding Carter to the search in the process, David spotted Jack walking toward Luke’s cabin. He watched his older brother approach the front door.
Jack knocked quietly, and Gracie let him in.
“How is he?”
“He’s in and out, but he’s lucid when he’s awake. High fever.”
“How are you?”
Gracie stood as tall as possible and set her jaw. “I’m ok. Really. You know he’s been asking for you.”
Jack walked over to Luke’s bedside and sat down. “Hey son, how you holding up?”
“I hope that was a rhetorical question.” Luke’s voice was scratchy, and he smiled weakly, “I’m really glad you’re here. I need to tell you a few things.”
“You need to save your strength—” Jack began automatically, then stopped himself. He knew that they were both thinking, for what?
“Come closer,” Luke directed, “I can’t talk very loud.” When Jack was sufficiently near, the teen whispered, “Don’t shoot me when I turn.”
Jack pulled his head back and looked at Luke in alarm. “What are you talking about?”
“Take me up north somewhere, away from people.” He
was fading. “I don’t want to hunt people . . .”
Then he was out again, Jack left wondering if he’d just heard the fevered utterance of a madman, or if Luke knew something he didn’t about the effects of the virus. After a conflicted moment he decided it didn’t matter: he wouldn’t let an enemy come back after the transformation, let alone a loved one. When Luke opened his eyes as an infected, Jack would shoot him.
CHAPTER 4
Hundreds of miles to the north of the tragedy playing out in Vicksburg, members of the Fort Wayne settlement were raucously celebrating the news of the improbable victory that had arrived over the radio a few hours earlier. What was believed to be at least a few hundred hunters were still prowling the area across the river, the waterway being the main protection for the civilians who’d sent their soldiers to Mississippi. Still, they’d been living with that threat for months and weren’t about to miss out on the opportunity to enjoy a party in honor of the amazing outcome of the battle. A rare, early-November blizzard had rolled in from the northern Great Plains and was smothering the fledgling community with heavy snow driven by a howling wind. The weather was keeping the revelry inside for the night, and most of the inhabitants had gathered in the large meeting hall inside of the old water treatment plant where they were enjoying a feast, music, and even dancing. Members of a popular Indianapolis rap group called SkRiLLa and the Zoo Crew happened to be among the refugees in Fort Wayne, and with the generators powering their beats and microphones, hip hop was alive and well in the Hoosier state.
Although it was past midnight, Carter’s wife, Deb, was staying close by the radio, hoping to hear from her husband. She was alone when a call came in from Lori Alberts in Vicksburg.
“Hey Deb, do you sleep in the radio room? I think you’re always there.” Lori sounded uncomfortable, like someone making small talk before breaking unhappy news.
Deb understood the tone instantly, “What’s wrong? You should be celebrating right now.”
“It’s Luke,” Lori responded, obviously starting to cry. “He’s been bitten.”
“You mean through his gear? Are you saying he’s been exposed to the virus?” Deb knew the answer, but didn’t want to believe it.
“It was a freak accident after the battle; I guess he took his glove off. Gracie was there, with Jack, David, and Carter—“
“Is Carter around? I want to talk to him.”
Lori blew her nose. “I could probably find him for you. He’s with Jack right now. There’s more news, pretty unbelievable really. It turns out that Luke is Jack’s biological son.”
“What? That’s crazy . . .” Deb began.
“Not really. I guess David figured it out; Luke’s mom had been Jack’s high school sweetheart. They broke up, and she moved away without telling Jack she was pregnant.”
Deb raised her voice in anger. “So Jack finds out that Luke is his son just in time to watch him die?” As she took a deliberate breath to calm herself, she noticed Andi standing in the doorway, open-mouthed. “Listen, Lori, just tell Carter to call me when he can. Tell him I said to stay by Jack’s side. I need to figure out how to break the news around here.”
After signing off with Lori, Deb turned to Andi. “You heard?”
Andi sat down next to Deb, unsure of what to say. “I don’t know what I heard. I think you said that Luke is Jack’s son, and that Jack has to watch him die.”
Deb summarized the conversation with Lori, and Andi was truly speechless. The two women quietly sat together in the radio room and fought to maintain their composure.
Andi was the first to break the silence. “How are we gonna inform everyone else about this?”
Deb seemed to be staring at something only she could see until she finally shook her head in confusion. “I just can’t think about it right now, I really can’t.”
“Do you think we should try to let Christy know? And Vickie and Sal? That entire group that fought their way through from Cleveland is like one big family; they love each other.”
Deb wiped away a tear before explaining, “They all headed back to the ranch as soon as we got the news about our big victory over Barnes. Well, Vickie was still there, but Christy, Sal, and the kids left for Trudy’s a few hours ago. I think we should let them celebrate tonight and send word about Luke tomorrow.”
Andi nodded in agreement. “It’s not like they can do anything about it. I wish I was with Jack; I can’t imagine what he must be going through. Maybe I should try to get to Vicksburg as soon as possible—”
“Carter’s there,” Deb cut in. “I know it’s not the same thing, but those two have been to hell and back together. If you want to go, I’m sure we can arrange it, but don’t worry about Jack being alone. He’s not.”
“I won’t do anything until I talk to him,” Andi decided. “My girls are going to be devastated, and so are a lot of other people. So many other people . . . we have visitors here from Middle Bass. Should we tell them? What about Father O’Brien?”
Deb shrugged, “We’ll have to tell everyone eventually. I don’t personally know the guys who just got here from Middle Bass, but I think one of them knows Luke pretty well. They almost drowned together, and Luke saved his life.”
“What’s his name?” Andi asked.
“Lieutenant Heder,” Deb replied, “but everyone just calls him Red.”
“That’s right,” Andi remembered. “Gracie told me about how Luke had jumped into Lake Erie in full armor to save the guy, and all he could do after they were pulled from the water was crack about the name, ‘Red Heder.’ I think he’s hooked up with somebody Luke met when the Cleveland group was trying to get here last summer.”
Deb stood and stretched. “Well, if Red and his buddy had gotten here a few days earlier, they probably would have been in Vicksburg themselves. I don’t know if they have good luck or bad: they might have been killed in the fighting, but I wish Lieutenant Heder would have had an opportunity to return the favor and save Luke’s life.” Deb was a soldier’s wife, and thought that she had hardened herself to the risks involved with loving a warrior, but she still covered her face with her hands for a moment as she was once again reminded that Luke was dying.
Andi didn’t trust herself to reply without weeping, so she sat quietly and listened to the fierce wind blowing outside. Deb was wiping her eyes as the sergeant of the guard appeared breathlessly in the doorway. He was a member of one of the Utah platoons Hiram Anderson had left behind to protect the city after he and the other soldiers deployed to Vicksburg.
“Ms. Wilson?”
Deb pulled her hands from her face and looked at the concerned soldier. “Yes?”
The sergeant looked from Deb to Andi and back again. He immediately realized that he’d come at a bad time, but awkwardly continued with his report. “I’m sorry to interrupt you right now, but I’ve got two guards who were pulling wall-duty unconscious in the snow—”
Deb was instantly all business, her personal concerns immediately pushed aside as she tried to process the sergeant’s message. “Are they okay, was it the storm? Hypothermia?”
“No ma’am,” the sergeant quickly explained. “It looks like somebody hit ‘em in the head and knocked ‘em out.”
Clearly alarmed, Deb glanced over at Andi before turning back to the soldier. “Who’s on the wall now?”
“I have four men up top and two squads patrolling behind them. There were footsteps in the snow leading back this way, but I have no idea who did it or why.”
Andi jumped in and took over the questioning. “Do you have any idea how long they were out? What could have been their attacker’s motive? Is there any evidence of hunters on the bridge?”
The sergeant held up a hand to try to slow Andi long enough to answer her first question. “The injured men weren’t shivering or dangerously cold when we found them, so I’m guessing that we got there fairly soon after the assault. As for motive, it looks like whoever took out my guards spent some time digging along the base of the
wall; piles of fresh snow were used to try to hide the holes.”
“Why would somebody in here try to dig under our wall?” Deb asked in bewilderment.
“For no good reason,” Andi declared as she reached out and gently placed her hand on the sergeant’s arm. “What’s your name, Sarge?”
“Devon Ferguson, ma’am.”
“Ok, Devon, I’m coming with you and we’re going to go check out the bridge.” From the expression on the young sergeant’s face, he seemed less than pleased. There was a slight edge to Andi’s voice when she asked, “Is there something you want to say, Devon?”
“Just that nobody calls me Devon. All the guys call me Fergus.”
Andi smiled. “Sorry, Fergus. I need to grab my coat from downstairs and pick up some gear, but we need to check those holes for explosives—”
Suddenly a bright flash erupted from the direction of the wall blocking the only bridge connecting the heavily fortified peninsula with downtown Fort Wayne. Then the sound of the explosion rolled over the building with enough force to blow out windows, knocking Andi and Deb to the floor while bringing the party down the corridor to a screeching halt. After a few seconds of stunned confusion, the sergeant was helping the women to their feet when another soldier came rushing in, snow plastered on his beard and a look of apprehension in his eyes.
“Sarge, we just heard a chopper fly above the bridge from the direction of the city, and hunters are already howling and moving this way.”
“Is there a breach in the wall?” Andi shouted over the ringing in her ears.
The stunned guard shrugged and shook his head. “Waiting for the dust to clear, but everyone in the barracks is gearing up and heading out there right now.”
Andi looked at Deb as shouts and cries from the abruptly-ended party could now be heard throughout the building. “I’m going out there too. Try to calm the folks down the hall and start the evacuation protocol while I check out the bridge. My kids are spending the night with Carter’s mom, check in with them for me.”