by T. W. Brown
“Up ya go,” Darlene grunted as she gave Kevin a hand up.
Once again, they were on the move. After a while, the moans faded behind them. At last, they reached the clearing where a highway had once cut through. While it was crumbling in many places and washed away in others, it was still relatively open ground.
They crossed and Kevin froze. The others were several steps ahead when they realized that he had come to a stop. Catie turned to see what had brought Kevin to a halt and her own eyes went wide.
“Mother of all that is holy,” she breathed.
“What’s the—” Darlene began, but the words stopped as suddenly in her throat as Kevin had in this open clearing.
“That’s one of the big ones,” Kevin breathed.
“I’ve never seen so many,” Darlene involuntarily took a step back. Despite the fact that this herd was a good mile or more away, it was still so large that it was impossible not to be overwhelmed by its sheer size.
“How does that happen?” Darlene asked, moving close to Kevin and Catie.
“Like a cartoon snowball rolling downhill,” Kevin quipped. “But seriously, over time they just seem to have merged. One group joins another which joins another, and so on. Add in the noise they make…” He paused for effect.
The reason they probably hadn’t noticed up to this point was that they were already hearing the moans of the zombies in that field. Couple that with basically running for their lives, and the mind can tune things out as it focuses on the simple act of survival. Now that they were in the clear, the distant low tones of a million moans seemed to vibrate in their skulls.
“They draw more and more of their kind over time until you have these massive super-herds. They are like a force of nature, leveling everything in their path and leaving a trail of destruction,” Kevin finished, starting to walk again, urging his companions to join him.
“We have seen them flatten neighborhoods,” Catie added as they hurried to cross the road and melt into the cover of the next field of high grass. Even if it was laced with zombies like the last one, that would be a blessing in comparison to what was headed in their general direction.
“Your community,” Kevin said once they were well within the obscure and at least perceived safety of the grass. “Maybe we will have to push through to them. That herd is heading along the natural route created by the old highway. If your people are in Lexington—”
“But they are on an island,” Darlene said, a hint of hopeful optimism leaking through.
“If they are where I think they are, it used to be called Jordan’s Point Park. While it is technically an island, that one side is barely a ditch. While zombies have this thing about not just walking into water, the body might force the leading edge in. Before long they would be walking across the bodies of their fellow herd members like an unnatural bridge.”
Darlene shuddered at the image this created. “But if my people know what you are…” She let that sentence die on the wind as the moan of a nearby zombie demanded their attention once more.
Unlike the last field, they were more alert, and thus, more prepared to deal with the situation. Kevin noted this as well and scolded himself for his previous carelessness as they crossed this field and emerged at the second road/divider.
To their right was the hill that he had originally wanted to head for and make camp. To the left, the framework of a small bridge could be seen in the distance. They were actually much closer to where Darlene’s people had set up their new would-be home than he realized. That was made more apparent by the five individuals on horseback on obvious sentry duty at the head of the bridge.
“I guess we find out the hard way,” Kevin sighed.
“Listen, just let me do the talking,” Darlene blurted. “They don’t know y’all is immune to the bite. You should be safe at least for a while. And since you aren’t asking to join our people, there won’t be any need for an exam.”
Kevin did not like leaving his fate in somebody else’s hands; especially somebody that he had been at odds with so recently. Sure, they had worked well together thus far, but how much of that was by necessity, he had no way of knowing.
“We don’t have much choice at this point,” Catie hissed, not moving her lips as she spoke.
Knowing what was coming just around the bend, it actually seemed to take forever for the riders to reach them. Kevin noticed that two of the riders hung back and allowed the other three to approach.
“That you, Darlene?” one of the men called as they got closer.
“Yep,” she answered, stepping forward.
“Where’s the rest of the group?” the same man asked. The other two were studying Kevin and Catie much like they might something that they stepped in.
“It didn’t go well,” Darlene said with a shake of her head.
“But we saw the smoke. Y’all lit that place up, right?”
“Oh yeah, we did what we were s’pposed to, but then we run into some of the folks from the other communities we was told about. Seems that the three settlements act like one if they come under attack.”
“And these two?” The man pointed to Catie and Kevin.
Kevin held his breath. Now was the moment of truth. Either she would help get them to this Erin Crenshaw, or else she would turn on them and the fight would probably be short and unfavorable for him and Catie.
“These two helped get me home,” Darlene said. Kevin felt his body relax somewhat. At least until she spoke again, “Which is pretty good considering they is both immune.”
“Damn,” Catie hissed, drawing her blade. Unfortunately, the three men on horseback all had crossbows, which they brought up to the ready. One of the two hanging back turned and spurred his horse for home, the other had his bow drawn and an arrow at the ready in an instant.
“Wait!” Darlene yelled. “They come in peace and want to talk to Erin.”
The men exchanged knowing looks that Kevin did not like in the slightest. Perhaps they would do better to try their luck here and now, die quickly, and be done with it. The expressions on these men’s faces told him clear enough that talking to this Erin Crenshaw might not go well.
“Also,” Darlene’s voice became even louder despite the fact that nobody was really saying anything, “there is the biggest herd that I have ever seen in my life coming right for us.”
“So we just blow the bridge,” one of the men said with a shrug while still training his crossbow at first Kevin, then Catie, as if he was doing a mental “eenie-meanie-miney-mo” to decide which one he was going to shoot first.
“Too many,” Darlene said, and then turned to Kevin. “Tell ‘em what you said about how they would just push the leading edge forward and walk over the ones that fell into the water.”
Kevin raised his eyebrows at her and pressed his lips tight. If he was going to die, the last thing he would do is offer any help to these people.
“He wants to see the boss, huh?” the man who had done most of the talking said with a harsh smile. He shrugged and wheeled his horse around. “Well, I guess they brought you here alive. We can show them at least a little courtesy.” He looked over his shoulder and winked at Kevin. “I’d be careful what I wished for, pal.”
Kevin simply shrugged and pulled Catie beside him, taking her hand in his. They walked with a horse in front, one in back, and one to either side. Darlene walked beside the man leading the way and relayed most of what had happened to her group. Kevin did note that she left out certain details that might have cast him in a negative light.
Maybe there was hope after all.
10
Differences
“We made sure they were not coming this way,” Paula repeated for probably the hundredth time.
The entire community was present for this huge meeting. I had not been allowed to go in and make any reports to the town council. Paula had told me that there was no need. We had all seen pretty much the same thing. But when she, Cynthia, Jackson, and Jim emerged, I cou
ld tell it had not gone well.
Two hours later, everybody was in the square. Even Melissa had left the apartment to be present. However, I think that had more to do with the fact that, when Stevie had greeted me upon arrival and I had refused to go home with him, he had run and told. I probably should have gone home at least to say I was back, but I had wanted to talk to Paula after she had finished with giving her report. And that is why I am now standing in a sea of people, still dressed in my field clothing, and thinking that we suddenly don’t seem like all that many.
If I can smell me in all of this, I am pretty sure the folks closest are getting a real treat. It may just be my imagination, but I think I am being given a little more room than most.
“But why would they just raid the warehouses, and then burn Island City to the ground?” a voice bellowed. It was greeted by a chorus of approving shouts.
“I didn’t stop them and ask.”
Well, it seemed like Jim was a little bit closer to being back to normal. I would take that as a good sign.
“I realize that there are a lot of questions and concerns,” Billy stepped forward and addressed the crowd. “Trust me when I say that I share them with you. However, as tragic as things might be for the folks of Island City, it would seem that we have been spared that terrible fate.”
“And we are just going to leave it at that?” another voice yelled. I was pretty certain that it was Kayla Brockhouse.
“For the time being.” Billy raised his hands as more shouts from the crowd started in earnest. “Folks, this meeting is over. Please…return to you homes or jobs. There will be a candlelight vigil for the poor souls of Island City and the other surrounding communities tomorrow night at dusk.”
Slower than Stevie when he is told to go take a bath, the crowd began to disperse. I headed home with Melissa and Stevie. Surprisingly enough, there was no conversation at all on the way.
After a hot bath and some hearty stew that seemed to fill empty places that I had not even been aware existed, I went to my room and shut the door. I was tired, kind of sore—nobody tells you that your muscles do not take kindly to the strain of being out in the wild for a few days.
My eyes began to close, but I thought I heard a knock on the door just as I drifted off to sleep.
***
“Wow!” Stevie held the prize in his hand. He let the pendant drop and dangle at the end of the leather thong. He ducked his head inside it and then looked up at me with an expectant smile.
“It looks great,” I said ruffling his hair. The pendant was a large piece of turquoise that looked sort of like a turtle.
“Where did you find it?” Stevie said with awe as he held the stone away from his chest so he could look down at it and admire it some more.
“Found it in Island City.” Okay, that was only partially true. I had not actually found it; it was given to me by Cricket. I held on to a sliver of hope that the weird old man was okay.
“Thanks, sis,” Stevie breathed as he gave me a hug and then hurried off to the gardens.
I always knew when he was feeling especially emotional. That was when he called me ‘sis’ instead of just Thalia or a host of other names that often did not bear repeating. We were as close as we could be considering the situation. The fact was that Stevie was the natural son of Melissa and Steve Hobart.
I had been Steve’s daughter for the most part since the day he saved me and brought me along with him as he escaped the madness of those early days of the zombie apocalypse. When he died, Melissa seemed to be no more alive than the zombies. More than once, I went to stay with either Dr. Zahn or Sunshine when she broke down. During those times, it was like she just forgot that I was there. Stevie was her world. I didn’t hold it against her…or him for that matter. It was simply the way things had always been for as long as I remember.
As far as I knew, Melissa had always been good to me for the most part. But when I got older, a few people let it slip that maybe she was not all there in the head. She had a history…
I only knew what I’d heard in stories since I was too young to really remember much. Also, so much happened in those first days that I doubt anybody really remembered things all that clearly.
Everybody except for Billy.
He seemed to be the one person who could tell you the most about how things went down those first few years. He used to tell me stories when I stayed over with him and Katrina sometimes during those instances when Melissa would have her little breakdowns. Sometimes Stevie came with me, other times, only I was sent away.
Maybe that was why Stevie and I grew up so differently. Stevie was what I would call a caretaker. He took care of everything and everyone around him. I was a scrapper. I still remember the day that I was picked up from school. I had gotten into a fight with another girl.
Kayla had called me an orphan. I wasn’t an orphan. I had Melissa and Little Stevie as well as Billy and Katrina, Dr. Zahn, Sunshine and even Paula sometimes. That was five whole families to her stupid old one. At least that was what I was saying as I punched her in the face over and over.
Stevie climbed the fence and vanished. Why that kid didn’t ever use the gate, I had no idea. I turned and started over to the cabin. Folks called it a lot of things. At one time in my life, I had called it home. It was a huge log cabin atop a hill that was surrounded by a deep moat.
I was just reaching the top of the hill when the door to the cabin opened and Billy stormed out. His face was red and his fists were clenched. A second later, Dorian Watkins exploded out the door as well.
Dorian was tall and skinny. He had a face that reminded me of a rat. It was kind of squished at the cheeks and he had a pointy nose that looked like he could poke your eye out if he ran into you. I guess that was where his unflattering nickname came from.
“Screw you, Dicknose!” Billy snapped, spinning on his heel so fast that Dorian actually scuttled back a few steps.
“If we don’t do it, somebody else will!” Dorian said in a voice that was just as pinched as some of his facial features.
“We have all we need. Our stores are fine. Sending anybody down there to pick through what may or may not be left is a pointless risk.” Billy closed the distance between the two men and now towered over the much smaller man. The thing was, Dorian was not that much shorter. He was just so scrawny, and he carried himself in a sort of hunched over way that it made Billy seem even bigger by comparison.
“We are not that self-sustaining that we can afford to simply pass up this opportunity. When did we become too good to scavenge and salvage?”
“Since we built those ten greenhouses. Since we brought the wind turbines online. Since we completed that trench that circles the entire town. Since we completed the outer wall. Do you want me to continue?” Billy ticked off his points on his fingers until only the middle one was up. I knew what that meant, and I was actually impressed that Billy had the sense of mind in the midst of his anger to come up with exactly four very strong points so that he was left flipping Dorian the bird.
“Such a clever young man,” Dorian said with a dismissive wave of his hand. He was obviously counting on the fact that Billy did not want to be put in the lockup.
“Here is an idea.” Billy stepped up into Dorian’s face so fast that I was willing to bet that the man peed at least a little. “Why don’t you gather some of your little know-it-all buddies and you go down there?”
“The community can’t—” Dorian began, but Billy cut him off with a loud snorting laugh that I am certain sprayed Dorian’s face with a bit of spit. Probably not as much as the rat-faced jerk was trying to make it seem as he scrubbed at his face with both hands and flung them like gobs would go flying.
“Can’t risk your mental capabilities?” Billy actually patted Dorian on the top of the head, making the man’s face turn an ugly deep crimson. “Just like our supply situation, we have moved past the stage of such things being too much of a concern. I was here when this place was nothing but that lo
g cabin that you guys have turned into some sort of make-believe White House where you seem to think that you are running things.” Billy’s voice got quiet, but I was still able to hear him. “You little brainiacs keep thinking that things revolve around your agenda, all the way up to the point where the walkers breach the walls and start ripping you apart.”
I was afraid to say anything. I didn’t want Billy to change his way of putting Dorian in his place because he thought that I might think less of him. And I didn’t want Dorian to see me because he just plain old gave me the creeps.
“I have no idea how you pussies made it through that first year,” Billy muttered as he turned and stormed off.
I ducked behind the corner post of the cabin’s huge porch that wrapped around the entire front and a few feet around the corners on each side. I seem to remember a time when everybody that lived here could stand on that porch and carry on a conversation, but I might just be imagining things.
I waited a bit until I heard the door slam. As soon as I did, I took off after Billy. He was walking down along the huge moat, and I had to clear my throat twice to get his attention.
“Hey, cupcake,” Billy said when he turned and saw me.
“Saw you having words with Dicknose,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. It worked and Billy laughed.
“Nothing new there.” Billy still smiled and gave his shoulders a shrug. “I swear…I really see no way that he and that band of geeks survived.”
“So what was his deal this time?” I asked.
“He wants us to send another team down to Island City and the surrounding area to loot whatever is left.”
I had heard Billy’s argument against it, but I thought there was even more than just the risk factor. He knew as well as anybody that the teams were trained more in evasion that in actually taking on zombies. There was just no need any more to take that sort of risk.