by Joe Kelly
The wind tore at Jason; it had intensified while they were climbing. He really wanted to reach their destination and at the same time didn’t want to move from this small secure spot. He had no idea how long he clung there, fighting the wind, snow and cold refusing to move a muscle. Suddenly there was a tug on his line then Ori was pulling him up.
He scrambled for hand and foot holds more confident now. With Ori’s help he moved up rapidly, till he at last reached the lip and pulled himself over and fell sprawling onto the rocky shelf.
Ori helped him up and they moved up into the tree line where Ori located a shallow cave maybe eight-foot-deep and about as wide, that was safely away from the overlook and not facing the direction of the wind. “rest in there and let me look around.” Ori whispered into his ear.
Ori disappeared into the weather leaving Jason alone. Grateful for a reprieve Jason fell back against the rock wall at the back of the cave, thankful to be out of the wind and snow. The muscles in his arms and back were trembling now, in a little bit it was going to be difficult and painful to move.
Taking off his pack he dug out a three packs of hand warmers, removing his boots he slipped one into each boot and slipped his feet back into them then held one with both hands. The grey light was fading into darkness, when Ori reappeared dragging a tree branch. Ori dug thru the snow near the mouth of the shallow cave till he got down to the leaves and other detritus.
As Ori set up the fire wood he started talking. “We are pretty safe here, its so steep around this spot, no zombie I’ve seen can make it up the narrow trail I found. Its only slightly less steep than the climb we just made.” He said as he used a folding saw to cut the almost dry limb into small logs and sat them beside the pile of tinder and smaller sticks he had built up.
“Where did you find dry wood?” Jason asked.
“It’s amazing what you can find under overhangs and dense brush.” Ori replied.
Taking off his pack Ori set it against the cave wall, then retrieved a small can from the side pocket of his pack. “I cheat sue me.” he said as he poured lighter fluid on the tinder. then using a lighter from his pack set it aflame. “To cold to even try to use primitive methods.” he explained then pointed to a pile of tender and twigs. “feed that stuff in slowly. I’ll be right back” he said then vanished back into the storm. Reappearing minutes later with more logs and limbs, the logs he stacked next to the fire to dry out. then he cut the limbs into equal lengths.
Jason watched as Ori hammered the four limbs into the ground he had cleared at the mouth of the cave, forming a narrow rectangular shape in front of the cave. With that done he placed the remaining logs between the stakes, forming a wall of logs in front of the cave mouth maybe five feet from the fire.
Ori vanished outside again returning with more logs that he added to the wall, till it was four-foot-high then bound the tops of the stakes together trapping the logs in place so they wouldn’t shift out of place.
With that done he place stoppers into the rock over the cave mouth and then pulled a poncho from his pack and hooked it to the stoppers then placed the free end of the poncho across the top of the log wall and weighted it in place with rocks. Jason sighed in relief as it began to grow warmer.
Sliding around the log wall Ori reentered the cave and flashed a grin at Jason, who looked exhausted. He settled himself down beside the fire and sighed with pleasure at the warmth. Feeding a couple of logs into the fire He noticed the temperature in the cave was already rising. “nice idea building a wall like that.” Jason said as he flexed his fingers hoping they wouldn’t cramp.
“it’s a wall yes, but it’s main job is to act as a reflector. It reflects the heat from the fire back into the cave and blocks the wind. Add in the poncho as a wind breaker and we will be as cozy as bugs in a rug.” Ori explained. “Speaking of get out your poncho” Jason found the poncho and passed it to Ori who strung it up quickly across one of the gaps between the log wall and the cave entrance blocking the wind from that direction. Placing a few rocks to hold the bottom of the poncho in place he moved back to the wall again smiling. “we can block the other gap off in a little bit, need circulation for the smoke. But once the snow covers everything it will get really warm in here.”
“Where did you learn this stuff” Jason asked,
“Here and there, some in the Army. Some in the civilian world. I grew up in the backwoods, we did a lot of camping, hunting and fishing all year round. That’s one of the reasons I ended up saying yes to doing Guide work.” Ori said as he warmed his hands at the fire. “Sometimes we had people ask us to guide them on some really rough trips. Had to have these skills to make money. I can lead people on this kind of stuff, but I have to admit, I enjoy white water, well any water trips more. Water, sun and sand. That’s the life. and of course, women in bikinis.” Ori said the smile faltering and sliding from his face as he remembered the women in bikinis were dead, the world was dead, and no one would be hiring him to take them out into the woods again.
Jason sat there for a moment debating on what to say then decided he might as well say what was on his mind. “I feel totally useless, what I called climbing was nothing like what we just did. And I thought I was pretty survival ready and tough, but I don’t know a quarter of what you guys do.” He said staring into the fire.
“Don’t worry, buddy. I think I’ll be teaching you a lot of things about wilderness survival before we get back. Your pretty steady in a pinch and did a damn good job on that climb.” Jason felt himself smiling at the compliment.
Ori picked up Jason’s harness and tossed it to him. “Let’s do some practice, get that on and I’ll show you how to tie in using a bowline and thumb. Some people use the figure of eight follow through, but I prefer the bowline and thumb in this kind of weather its easier to undo if your line freezes.” He said as pulled out a coil of 9m rope.
Outside, the wind moaned thru the trees. Snowdrifts shifted and changed with the wind. It was easy to understand how primitive man had feared the world was dying during the winter. The snow steadily piled up covering all but the open gap till there was only a hump of snow with a natural looking hole in its side.
✽ ✽ ✽
Jared returned to camp with Logan and John, disappointed at not having found his friends and angry that he couldn’t stay out there to look longer. But the weather wasn’t going to cooperate. The storm was getting bad again by the time they staggered into the visitor center. And of course, he returned to an equally angry Lloyd and Jill. The two of them tore him a new ass for going looking for Ori after saying he wouldn’t. Finally, as a very pregnant Sharon brought them coffee, Jill sat down next to him and kissed him on the cheek. She wasn’t forgiving him, he knew.
Taking the steaming cup, of rare hundred percent coffee, he took a sip and sighed with pleasure. “we found the truck, it was empty. Most of their gear was gone.” He paused to take another sip of coffee. “It looked like they made it over the barricade and into the tunnel. After that they must have shagged on out of there because there was no sign of them in the tunnel. By the time we got up there it was snowing heavily so we couldn’t look around too much. Didn’t really have the gear to make it overnight so we headed back this way.
We left the truck there so if they do come back they would have wheels to get them back here.” He saw the looks on Linda and Beth’s faces. “don’t worry, they got out alive. And we didn’t see a single zombie on the other side of the barricade.
I’m betting Ori found them a place to shelter in and as soon as the weather gets better, we will meet them coming down from the Mountain.” He knew that they, particularly Beth, took only scant comfort from his words. However, he didn’t know what else to say.
He didn’t want to tell them about the group of zombies that had been lurking around the truck, as if waiting for Ori and Jason to return.
It had taken a bit of work to kill that group of undead without getting bitten but he wasn’t going to leave them there, in case O
ri did make a try for the truck.
He turned and looked at Chris, determined to get his mind on other issues. “how did the weapons drills go today?” Chris shrugged. “Not too bad, ran thru mag swaps and how to properly sight and shoot. But didn’t use any ammo. Figure we might be a bit low to be wasting it.”
“Good thinking, we need to pick the ten best at the farm and our own folks and let them shoot some. Without actually shooting a weapon it’s pointless.” Jared commented.
“I let Sharon get away without assuming the prone position” Chris said with a grin.
“damn good thing to asshole, I would have just wobbled back and forth on this belly like some huge kids toy.” Sharon responded. Chris’s eyes centered on her breasts, her pregnancy enlarged breasts
“With those…” he started to say but was cut off by Mary who lifted a hand.
“Say it and I will slap your head into next week” she warned. Chris grinned and sat back in his chair.
Ronny with a pained look on his face said “now you see how I’m abused” Mary only laughed. Jared forced himself to smile as he glanced at Beth who hadn’t allowed herself to become distracted. She was worried about Ori and wouldn’t stop worrying till either Ori was back, or his body was found. I don’t know if I can handle that, Jared thought, seeing him as one of the undead might just be too much for me.
✽ ✽ ✽
The next day the storm had grown, dumping a record amount of snow in the valley. Jared paced the visitor center, betraying how worried he actually was. Finally, around noon, he summoned Logan. “We are going for a ride” he said. “get your gear, we are going to take the snow plow down big cove road. Lloyds right about the Parkway. If the park thought it was too dangerous to clear during the winter Ill bow to their expertise. So I’ll take the low road.”
They got the plow refueled and loaded their gear. Once they got in to the cab it didn’t take long for it to heat up. “I suddenly feel like I’m Kurt Russell in the Thing” Jared muttered. Logan knew who Kurt Russel was but didn’t know the movie just nodded and settled back into the seat.
Jared put the snowplow in gear. Logan could feel the soothing vibration of the motor thru the seat. Amazed at how it brought back memories of life before the zombies. it was like being wrapped in a cocoon, safe from reality for the moment.
Once they passed thru the barricade at the bridge, they trundled down big cove, pushing snow and bodies out of the way, till they made it past the what was left of the maze. “come spring time, it’s going to stink around here.” Jared observed, Logan didn’t want to think about that he stared out the window at the river, where the water still flowed past ice slicked rocks. “problem is if Ori and Jason come down the ridge they will end up on the other side of the river.” Jared observed.
“But at least if we see them over there, we know they are alive and can go back and get whatever we need to get to them.” Logan replied. They rode in silence for awhile. Seeing nothing but snow, the river and occasionally caught glimpses of the far ridge through the snow.
Jared finally brought the plow to a stop. “Another mile and we will be on top of the Raiders camp” he said.
“Do you think they are still there” Logan asked, his hand sliding over to rest on the grip of his rifle.
“It’s possible, but I doubt it”
“Why? I wouldn’t run off into this storm when I had a camp to stay in” Logan said, watching the snow blow around them.
“Remember they had a butt load of zombies chasing them. Me personally I would have stopped long enough to gather what I could and then keep going. The only way to lose the zombies would be to get out of sight and hearing.”
“You really want to check the place out don’t you” Logan asked, almost smiling.
“yes, I do.” Jared replied staring ahead into the falling snow.
“Then lets roll. I bet even if the raiders are there we will spot them and be able to get away before they can shoot at us, and if theres zombies there, I am pretty sure with the snow and ice we can out run them.” Logan urged.
Jared sat there for a minute longer, doubting his gut feeling. But then pushed aside his doubts and put the plow back into gear. “Lets check it out, an then head back.”
He watched the odometer closely slowing, as he got closer to the camps location. “Keep a sharp eye out.” he told Logan. They crept forward, and then like a whale breaching the surface, an old turn of the century chapel appeared out of the snow. Its doors stood open.
“That’s it, that’s their camp.” Jared said as he steered towards the chapel. He came to a stop. A few of the tents still stood, their walls snapping in the wind. Back in the trees, he could see a travel trailer leaning to one side with a flat tire, its door swinging open and closed with the wind.
“Are we getting out?” Logan asked. “Not yet, give it a few minutes. Lets see if any undead appear.” Jared replied. Logan sat back, he was more than happy to wait an hour if that’s what it took to keep from getting bitten. Finally, Jared lifted his rifle “ready?” he asked.
“No but let’s do it anyway” Logan said as Jared opened his door and the cold roared in.
Logan had been thru snow and snowstorms before, and it never ceased to amaze him how quiet it was. The only sound was from the wind blowing through the trees, the snow was like a curtain of white that cut their view down to maybe five feet not as bad as it had been earlier. snow crunched under their boots as they walked up the snow covered steps of the chapel and peered inside. The glow from the plows lights lit some of the interior but not much. Huge sections were cloaked in shadows.
To the right of the door twenty feet in several crates lay scattered on the floor. Some of wood others of green metal. “Ammo crates” Jared commented as they stepped inside. Snow had blown into the chapel, creating a soft white fan shaped spray at the door. “No footprints in it” Jared noted. Though a zombie could have entered before the snow and still be in here. Jared wasn’t too worried it was only one open room anyway.
He turned on the light attached to the Tac rail of his rifle and swept it around the room, while Logan kept a watch at the door. The raiders had left all kinds of things he noted there were even a few maps on the floor near where the pulpit had been. Someone had taken two pews and faced them at each other then placed boards across the seats to form a bed. There were still crumpled dirty sheets and a battered pillow still in place. A metal barrel converted into a wood stove, now stone cold, had been placed in a corner.
As his light swept across the walls, he stopped seeing a message had been scrawled in charcoal. “Abandon all hope ye who enter here” he read aloud then dismissed it, as he moved to the ammo boxes.
Spotting a case of 5.56 he opened it and found to his delight it was half full. He went thru the ammo cases rapidly and found two of the ten 5.56 cases were full, one case of 7.62. In one case he found six boxes of 12 ga. and five boxes of .45 in another. Shrugging off his pack he stuffed the 12 gauge and .45 boxes inside. They must have stripped an armory or National Guard roadblock he thought
“Watch my back while I load this shit” he told Logan. He trudged back and forth for several minutes gathering maps, loading the ammo and anything else that might be useful. As he loaded the last case, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. The feeling that something was out there was too strong to ignore.
He walked quickly over to Logan. “walk with me back the plow and get in on my side” he said.
“why your side” Logan asked.
“Because I have a feeling something’s out there and we can’t see the passenger side from here. So, get in on my side.” Jared replied, as he brought his weapon up to high ready
“whatever you say.” Logan replied, not wanting to walk around the plow and find a hundred zombies waiting in its shadow.
They walked cautiously, back thru the still falling snow every sense alert. As they approached the plow, Logan started to get nervous; he could almost feel something watching them.<
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The sudden image of the undead plodding thru the snow just out of sight came to him and he couldn’t shake it. Reaching the plow, Jared opened his door glad he had left the plow running. He peered into the cab checking to be on the safe side and then moved aside letting Logan climb in. Logan was barely in his seat when Jared leaped in and slammed the door shutting out the storm and cold.
“Damn” Jared muttered as shapes appeared in the headlights, staggering through the snow towards the plow. Logan shivered at the growing number of dead appearing in front of them he turned to look out on his side and almost screamed. A face stared back at him, narrow and triangular with deep sunken leathery cheeks. It wore some kind of old hat like the kind he had seen in old English movies, tendrils of wispy white hair blew around its face, but the oddly shaped milky eyes, sunk deep in the sockets, were locked on his face. The thin lips under the beaked nose were pressed together, but as he stared the thing seemed to grin at him, cocking its head to the side almost like it was studying him. He raised his rifle ready to fire.
“stop, don’t shoot out the damned window” Jared shouted as he put the plow in gear and backed up rapidly. Something hit Logan’s door hard enough to make the window rattle. Logan saw the thing still standing there its arm raised as the plow started to turn around.