“Take us to where it’s safe,” Janet answered.
“But it’s safe here,” Katarina said, stepping out of the crowd.
“But they’ll have real weapons,” a voice called from the back.
“All we really know is that we don’t know what’s happening,” Travis said loudly. “And that is where things stand.” He looked at Peggy. “Gather the council, please.”
She nodded and began working her way through the crowd. Travis said to the group, “The council’s going to talk about this and try to figure out what it means. Please try to stay calm and not spread any rumors.”
He lowered his voice and spoke directly to Katie and Nerit. “Let’s go back to my office.” Katie took his hand as they headed down the corridor with Nerit close behind.
Travis closed the office door firmly behind them, then stalked over to his desk. “I don’t like how this feels,” he said soberly, not sitting, just leaning on his hands, which were flat on the desktop.
“People are going to go apeshit,” Katie stated. “The idea of being rescued is going to drive some folks completely nuts.”
A few minutes later, Peggy slipped into the room, followed by Curtis; Katarina, who was standing in for Bill; and Eric, who adjusted his glasses as he took a seat. There was a moment of tense silence as they realized how many of the council were gone. Katie even missed Calhoun whipping out his camcorder.
Nerit quickly filled everyone in.
Sitting near Katarina, Curtis was twitchy. “Can we trust them? When the world went to hell, they were killing people left and right in the streets.”
“Killing infected people,” Katie reminded him.
“We don’t even know if it’s the real military,” Katarina said sullenly. “What if they’re like in the movies? What if they’re rogue?”
“Just because the zombie movie cliché is that the military are the bad guys doesn’t mean that that’s the case here and now. More likely these men and women are just doing their jobs, rescuing civilians,” Nerit interjected.
“Maybe they’re from the Madison Rescue Center,” Peggy suggested. “Since all this started, they’ve been broadcasting the same message on a loop, telling us to stay in our homes and wait for rescue.”
Katie raised her eyebrows, remembering. “Back on the first day, some soldiers told Jenni and me to go to Madison.”
“Where is Madison?” Eric adjusted his glasses on his face.
“’Bout seventy-five miles or so to the northeast. It’s a pretty large town.” Curtis was toying with a bust of Lincoln on the table next to him.
“Haven’t we avoided that area because we heard of a large zombie infestation out of the Dallas–Fort Worth area?” Eric asked. “Could that rescue center still be operational?”
Peggy looked doubtful. “We know it got ugly out that way. When we lost phone service, there was speculation it was because that area went dark.”
“What was so special about Madison? Why did they send people there?” Katie asked. “Is there an army base there?”
“Naw, there’s no base there.” Curtis stopped fiddling with Lincoln. “There ain’t nothing special there.”
“There’s a convention center and a mall.” Katarina shivered. “Damn. A mall. Just like the movies.”
“I figured the rescue centers were all gone long ago,” Peggy admitted.
“But this one might still be there and operational.” Eric looked thoughtful. “Perhaps they’ve established a safe haven just like we have.”
“A helicopter would allow them to come and go safely if they are surrounded. Madison is also close enough for them to have taken our people there.” Nerit fell silent. Katie could tell from the sharpness in her eyes that she was assessing the situation.
“So what do we do?” Eric asked.
“Try to contact them?” Katie offered.
“Military channels are not accessible to civilians,” Nerit reminded them.
“Maybe we should send a message of our own,” Katie suggested. “Requesting the return of our people. They must be monitoring us.”
“If that’s true,” Travis said with a sigh, “I gotta ask why they didn’t come knocking before.”
“Too many questions with no answers.” Katie raised her eyes to the ceiling and wished she could make sense of it all.
“Back when the world had order and things worked properly, we might have found each other quickly. But we can’t apply old-world norms to our current situation,” Nerit said.
“They’re the United States military. Sworn to serve and protect. I don’t see why we should fear them, right, Nerit?” Eric directed his gaze at Nerit.
“Caution will always serve us best,” Nerit answered. “But I agree.”
“I think we should start by asking for our people to be returned,” Peggy said. “Maybe now that they know we’re here, they’ll be listening for us. And we can talk like civilized people instead of freaking out.”
Katie felt a twinge of hope. Perhaps Jenni would soon come home.
“We gotta find out what is going on out there. I say we send out an invite.” Katarina pushed her heavy red hair out of her face. “Won’t do us no good worrying and not doing.”
“I got no issue with calling them up and asking for our people,” Peggy declared. “I am so sick of this bullshit.”
Travis took a deep breath. “Then let’s do it.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
1.
The Mall, Zombies, and the Alamo
Damn lot of zombies, Bill thought.
He’d spent about an hour getting a tour of the mall from Major General Knox. Knox had spoken passionately about building a new tomorrow and a greater America. Then he’d escorted Bill onto the roof of the mall.
“What do you think?” the major general asked, sweeping his hand across the panorama of the dead town of Madison.
A tall white wall surrounded the mall. Inside the wall, the mall’s parking lot was full of cars, trucks, buses, and army, marine, and national guard vehicles of every shape and color. Every entrance into the mall parking lot was heavily fortified, with multiple guards on duty.
And beyond the wall …
Zombies … a whole lot of zombies …
“We can eradicate them if we work together,” Knox said decisively. The older man was dressed in fatigues, and his graying brown hair was cropped close to his head. Bill thought he wore his uniform as if it were a costume.
“Or just get eaten,” Bill replied.
The major general frowned.
“It’s happened before,” Bill said. “In at least two movies. Malls. They’re just bad news.”
“I’m not sure what you are talking about, but I can assure you, we can overcome the undead scourge,” Knox declared.
Bill wasn’t too sure. It looked like a lot of Madison was outside the walls. He glanced at the mall defenses, then back over toward the throng of decaying, gruesome zombies clawing at the walls.
Yep, that was a whole lot of zombies. …
Damn.
Now he knew how the people in the Alamo felt.
Shit. He hoped he died well.
“First Lieutenant Reynolds reported that you felt that the people of the fort would not welcome our leadership, but certainly you must see now that we need to work together. We can provide the guidance you need.”
For a moment, he wondered if the major general, who spoke with a thick East Coast accent, would understand if he paraphrased Davy Crockett’s famous words, “You can go to hell—I’m going to the fort.”
“Once we take control of the fort, we can make things better for everyone. Senator Brightman has a plan for a new society built on the ashes of the old one. My forces will take over security for the fort so your people can get out into the fields and start preparing for a new future.”
Bill squinted at the guy, wondering if he realized what the hell he was saying. “You want us growing crops?”
“And starting a cattle ranch and whatever
else will be needed to create a new tomorrow. The women will maintain the households and have the children.”
“Really?” Bill knew he sounded skeptical, but from the major general’s reply, the other man didn’t notice.
“Oh, yes, every woman will need to produce at least one child every two years. We must increase our population and keep moving toward a secure future.” Knox gave Bill a warm smile.
“So you’re saying that after we built the fort, provided for ourselves, and fought off bandits and zombies, we should just turn it all over to you and let you tell us what to do?” Bill was incredulous.
“It’ll be rough at first, but good, old American know-how will get us through. Your people won’t have anything to worry about. You’ll have an experienced senator governing you and a trained military force protecting you. Sounds good, doesn’t it?”
Tilting his head to one side, Bill took a deep breath, eyeing the throng of decaying dead outside the walls. Despite the general’s friendly tone, the words he was saying brought a chill to Bill’s innards.
In a deep Texan drawl that he deliberately emphasized, Bill answered, “Born, raised, and live as a Texan, sir. Aim to die as one. America was good to me, but she’s as dead as those people out there. This is frontier land again. And if you don’t see it that way, yer fucked. This is Texas. We don’t take kindly to being told what to do.”
The major general blinked at him. “I don’t understand.”
“This is Texas, sir. Folks here aim to do what’s best for themselves and their families. Your government, your military, they don’t exist anymore as far as we’re concerned. We’ll do our own thing, find our own way.”
“You’re saying the people at the fort won’t welcome our leadership?”
“No, sir. I am saying that they will tell you to fuck off.”
The military man’s eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“Think I’m done now,” Bill said firmly.
Major General Knox slowly nodded and ordered a soldier to lead Bill back into the mall to rejoin the rest of the population.
Bill was more than glad to get out of the view of the zombies outside the walls, but the mall didn’t make him feel much safer. The blacked-out windows and dim lighting made the interior very gloomy. People were bundled up in sweaters, jackets, and jeans since the heat was off. Most of the survivors were in their late twenties to early thirties, but pain and despair had visibly aged them. Bill had seen only a few children and a handful of elderly people during his tour, and no laughter or joy. The mall felt more like a prison than a home.
Spotting Jenni at a table, eating breakfast, he headed over to her. She flipped her long dark hair over one shoulder and smiled at him as he sat down next to her. “What’s the big deal with that guy wanting to tour you around the mall? I saw y’all walking around.”
“We’re in the gawd damn Alamo,” Bill said gruffly, then filled her in on what he’d just seen.
“Seriously?” Jenni asked when he was done.
“Only difference, Mexicans didn’t eat the people in the Alamo,” Bill said with a wry smile.
Jenni leaned her head into his beefy shoulder. “Damn. We sure are good at getting ourselves into trouble.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. This place makes the hospital look like a cake walk.” Bill exhaled long and hard. He slid an arm around Jenni’s shoulders and hugged her. “It’ll be okay, Jenni. We always figure something out. We’ll get out of here.”
“I don’t think my usual method of whacking zombies with my ax is going to work,” Jenni said, moping. “Especially since I left my ax at the hospital.”
Bill grinned briefly, then said, “Our friends are going to be looking for us and hopefully something can be done.”
Jenni lifted a spoonful of oatmeal and slowly turned it over. The thick, gloppy stuff clung to the spoon. “Ugh. I hate the food here. Tasteless and gross. I miss Rosie’s breakfast tacos.”
“Me, too.” Bill sighed. “Have you really looked at the people here? They’ve given up hope. They’re like ghosts, just wandering around empty. If they’re not doing their cleaning chores, they just sit and stare.”
Jenni slowly swiveled in her chair, examining the people seated around them. There was barely a whisper of conversation among them and few smiles.
“I want to go home,” Jenni said in a soft voice.
“We will, Jenni,” Bill vowed.
2.
Speaker of the Dead
Travis sighed and tried hard not to look at the clock hanging over the clinic’s check-in counter. He hated waiting. It was sheer torture and always made him feel as though someone had decided to churn butter in his gut. Charlotte, Belinda, and the reverend were operating on Juan in an attempt to remove the bullet.
It didn’t help that Travis hadn’t slept a wink the night before. Rubbing his gritty eyes, he yawned. At least he wasn’t alone—Juan’s friends and family were all gathered in the waiting room.
Rosie sat nearby, clutching her rosary and whispering softly, “Hail Mary, full of Grace…” Nerit sat next to her, eyes closed, one hand resting gently on Rosie’s arm. Jason was sprawled on the love seat next to the couch Travis was sitting on, reading a Star Trek novel he’d borrowed from Roger before the ill-fated hospital trip. The boy looked absolutely morose, and Travis couldn’t blame him. His mother was apparently in the hands of whatever remained of the U.S. military, his friend and teacher was missing, and his stepfather, near death, was having surgery. Jason may have acted the surly teenager around Juan, but Travis knew that covered real affection for the man.
Travis looked down at Katie, who was asleep with her head resting on his thigh. He slowly drew his fingers through her hair, marveling anew at the softness of her silky curls. He was glad she was sleeping soundly; the stress of the last twenty-four hours had worn on her.
Picking up a pad and pencil from the end table next to him, Travis started to sketch a possible extension to the fort. Working made him feel more in control. He hated feeling helpless, feeling that there was nothing he could do to remedy a bad situation.
It wasn’t until the fort had risen from the ashes of the former world that he felt he had found his place. People in the fort saw Travis as a leader. He saw himself as a helper, doing his best to build a new life and make sure it was safe. He was Katie’s husband and their child’s father, and that was good enough for him. All the rest of it, the looks of admiration, the looks of disdain, the arguments, the accolades, were meaningless when he looked down into Katie’s face.
“I always loved looking at her when she slept,” said a silky, deep voice.
Looking up, Travis saw a very tall, slim woman gazing down at Katie. The newcomer wore a long-sleeved black dress that brushed the toes of her black boots. She sat down next to Jason, who ignored her, and smiled at Travis.
She had amazing cheekbones, shining dark eyes, and close-cropped brown hair with auburn highlights. Ornate exotic jewelry decorated her throat and wrists.
“She looks so innocent when she sleeps, though every once in a while, she gets this furrow right here,” the woman said, leaning over to point between Katie’s eyebrows. “That means she’s arguing a case in her sleep.”
“Lydia,” Travis whispered.
“Yes,” she answered with a dazzling smile.
Her hands were long and elegant, he saw, and she wore a diamond wedding band.
“I must be asleep,” Travis said.
“You are,” Lydia confirmed. She watched Katie, her eyes glimmering with unspoken love. She smiled bittersweetly. “She looks beautiful pregnant.”
Even though he knew he was dreaming, Travis felt awkward. Meeting his wife’s former wife was very odd. He didn’t know what to say, and Lydia must have seen the confusion on his face, because she laughed and said, “Don’t worry, Travis. Life goes on for the living. I know that. I don’t want to hold her back from loving again. But I will always love her and I want her to be happy.”
“But,”
Travis said, rubbing his brow and wincing with embarrassment, “I’m a guy.”
“Yes, you are.” Lydia reached toward him but didn’t quite touch him. “It’s all right, Travis. The heart loves without boundaries. It is the mind that can trap the heart with cages constructed by society’s rules. Katie always had a beautiful open heart.”
“Why am I dreaming about you, Lydia?”
Lydia’s smile faded a little and she sat back, crossing her legs. “I’m here to give you a message.”
“About Katie?”
“About you.” She gazed at him with a serenity that was both comforting and disconcerting. “You need to understand that the world has changed. The veil between the living and the dead is very thin. Many have died and more will die as the world tries to regain its balance. The dead are all around you. Not just the empty shells that are trying to kill you, but the spirits of those trapped when the dead seized the world from the living.
“Like you,” he said softly.
“Yes. I have yet to move on. But soon the world will find a new equilibrium and I will.”
“I’m sorry about what happened to you, Lydia.”
“Being a Good Samaritan sometimes gets you killed. Trust me.” A shadow of pain flitted over her features before she swept it away with a wave of her hand. “This is something you need to learn.”
“What are you saying?” He narrowed his eyes.
“You want to save everyone, Travis. But soon you will fully understand the fruitlessness of trying to control everything around you. You will need to make choices for yourself, Katie, and the baby.”
Frowning a little, Travis looked down at his wife, then up at Lydia. “Katie and the baby are my priority, Lydia.”
“Are they?” She stared straight into his eyes.
He swallowed hard, remembering how eager he’d been to risk his life to try to help Juan. Tears filled his eyes and his voice caught in his throat and he said, “You’re right. I just want to help everyone.”
Lydia smiled at him tenderly. “I know, but it’s time for you to begin to let go of all the reins you have been holding and concentrate on your family. Other people will have to make choices for themselves. And sometimes even the right choice will lead to death.”
As The World Dies Trilogy Box Set [Books 1-3] Page 78