When he was finished, he said, “Grampa Jim?”
“Yeah, Nel?”
“Will you go with Jim if he comes here? If we’ve got to do this again – or anything like it, I’d like you to be near me.”
“You don’t have to worry about this old guy, Nel. I’m settled in just fine here in Kingman.”
“Things look like they’re about to change.”
“Sounds like they already have if I heard your story right. I don’t go out much at night anyway, Nel. Plus, what kind of meal would these old bones make for a zombie?”
“The opposite of a Happy Meal, gramps. It would be a Sad Meal. For me.”
Jim Scofield laughed, and Nelson felt his grandfather’s will cracking. “I’d describe it more like a Painful Meal, Nel.”
“Gramps, it’s just over 1,000 miles. You can do that in your sleep. Driving during the day and stashing away in some garage at night in case any are around.”
“If you want me to, you know I will, Nel.”
“Seriously?”
“You came looking for me, didn’t you? When you walked into that bar in Concord, I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. If I can do the same for you, then yeah. I’ll come.”
“Jim, are you listening?”
“We’re talking right now, Nel,” said Scofield. “You gotta lay off the weed, kid.”
“You’re hilarious. I’m talking about the other Jim. I can see this is going to be a confusing trip.”
“I’m here,” came back Jim Cole. “He can be Jimmy or Gramps or Doc. I’ll be Jim. What’s your question?”
“Just let me know when you leave. Map it out before you come and set up your stops if you can, so I’ll have some idea where you guys are.”
“Will do, Nel. We’ll be in touch.”
“I love you kid,” said Scofield.
“You too, gramps. Jim, thanks for doing this.”
“Can’t wait to get there,” said Cole. “It’ll feel like coming home.”
*****
“What is that?” called Gem, trying to stay behind the other kayaks in a line. They didn’t let her take any of the ammunition cans in her boat because they were fairly certain she’d roll it over, based on her voiced concerns.
So far, she hadn’t.
“Rapids,” called Flex. “It doesn’t look too bad. Just stay behind me and do what I do.”
“How the hell do you know what to do?”
“I’m following Isis! She’s read every encyclopedia – I’m pretty sure there was something on kayaking.”
Sure enough, Isis was ahead, her muscular arms working her paddle like a pro. Max was behind her, seemingly duplicating her moves.
It was monkey-see, monkey-do all the way. When they hit the rapids, the front end of Gem’s kayak dipped down, submerged, then popped back out as her speed increased.
“Woo hoo!” screamed Gem, now really working her paddles. She had a huge smile spread across her face, and by the time the short area of rushing water ended, she laughed.
“I want to do that again!” she said.
“There’s more ahead,” called Max. “Guess you’re getting the hang of it?”
“I’m still upright!” she called, paddling up beside Flex.
“Good, babe?” he asked, a smile still planted on his lips, too.
“This is apparently the fun part of this trip, so I guess I should enjoy it. Suzi didn’t fall out, so all is well.”
To be fair, Suzi was strapped to her right leg and wasn’t going anywhere she wasn’t.
They continued down until a wider river became visible around a small bend in the Soquee River.
“Chattahoochee up ahead!” called out Isis, turning her head so they could hear over the rushing water. “We’re going to slow down a bit, but the rapids are a bit more challenging.”
“Jeez, it’s like she’s been everywhere,” said Gem.
“On paper she has,” said Flex. “Thank God.”
As the Soquee met the Chattahoochee, the four kayaks were swept southward, and with the width of the river and the gentle, flowing water – for now – they all drew side-by-side to prepare for the next area of rushing waters.
“We’ll be going through an S-shaped section with rapids right around the middle,” shouted Max. “Stay to the left. In the images we saw, there was always a sand bar to the right side.”
Everyone nodded and acknowledged Max, and up ahead, the river took a long, curving southerly turn.
“This is it!” shouted Isis. “Get in line!”
Flex and Gem paddled until they were behind Max and Isis, and as they came around the bend, all staying near the inside part of the curve, the rapids became visible ahead.
The river was around 150’ wide at that point, but in the wider curve of the S, it became closer to 250’.
The kayaks gained speed and the water took them. This was more extreme than the waters in the Soquee, but there was more room to maneuver. All four remained in a line, the kayaks surging upward, pointed bows dipping forward as they gained speed, and finally leveling out as the rapids came to a gentle conclusion, easing back into the smoother waters. Another turn was just ahead, the final portion of the S.
“Get ready!” called Isis, turning her head so her voice could be heard. “Stay to the left and get ready to get out!”
“Which side is that sporting goods store on?” asked Flex.
“We’re going to the other bank!” called Max.
“I think we need a stop at the store,” returned Flex. “I thought of something. Okay?”
“Okay!” shouted Isis. “Then keep to the right side when you see the bridge and find a place to beach or dock.”
A series of rustic cabins appeared in a line on their right, and they all moved over to the north edge of the riverbank. Somehow, Gem passed Flex and aimed the bow of the kayak toward the shore, stabbing into it and coming to a stop.
Flex didn’t have the same success, and his boat rammed the side of Gem’s. She fought to maintain her balance in the narrow craft, and grabbed the rope tied on the small cleat on the front of Flex’s boat, catching him.
“Thanks, darlin’!” he said. “Lost control there for a bit.”
“I’m used to it babe,” she said, her voice sultry. “Why are we stopping here? This is no Bass Pro Shop.”
“No, not as big as I pictured it, but maybe they’ll have what I had in mind.”
They all got out, readied their weapons, and began walking up the narrow trail to a road that encircled the store.
“What are you looking for, Uncle Flex?”
“Crossbow for Gem.”
Everyone nodded. Gem smiled. “Thanks, honey. I could’ve brought mine.”
“I know,” said Flex. “That was a brain fart on my part. If we intend to catch a Red-Eye for Hemp, we might need a stealth weapon. You been practicing with it at the range?”
“Every week,” said Gem.
They stepped onto the wooden deck surrounding the store and Flex’s hopes sunk. “Shit,” he said.
“Based on the signs, this is just an equipment rental place for rafters and kayakers,” said Max. “Sorry, I didn’t investigate the store, just the area.”
They looked through the dust-covered windows anyway. The store was in rough shape.
“Lots of vehicles in the parking lot,” said Gem. “This is Georgia. I’ll have a look.”
“Good call,” said Flex. None of them went into the store. If there was nothing they needed inside, it could only present an unnecessary risk.
Isis spotted a canopied area with some pallets and equipment nearby, and left the group to investigate. “You guys go ahead,” she said. “Be right back.”
Everyone spread out in the parking lot, first looking inside the cars, trucks, and SUVs, then trying the doors.
Isis came back from the canopy carrying some kind of roll of plastic. She leaned it against her backpack and went out to help the others.
A few minutes later: “D
ing, ding, ding!” called Max, standing beside a big Ford F-350 truck with a bed cap. He had pried up the hinged lid and now held it up as he waved everyone over. It had been covered with a thick layer of dust that slid off in caked sheets as he raised it.
They all abandoned their own searches and went over. Inside the back were canvas duffle bags, hard gun cases, and in the corner, attached with Velcro to two other bundles, was a quiver of bolts.
“That’s a good sign,” said Gem, opening the tailgate as Max lifted the lid higher. She unstrapped the bungees and Velcro and pulled all the duffles to the end of the bed before jumping down.
She opened the bag that appeared to be pooching out on the sides. “Bingo!” she said. “A Ravin 29X with a scope!”
“And is that good?” asked Flex.
“I don’t know, but Charlie said they’re like three grand.”
“We need to get moving,” said Isis. “It’s not far, but we need to get there so we know what we’re up against.” She turned to look at Max. When Flex and Gem saw it, they suddenly looked away.
“What was that?” asked Flex.
“What was what?” asked Max.
“You should’ve let Isis say that,” said Gem. “Max, you’re a horrible secret-keeper.”
Max laughed. “C’mon. You’re right,” he said, attempting to change the subject. “Let’s cross back over the river.”
“Not before you tell us,” said Flex.
Isis sighed. “The pull southward is strong now. Really strong. They’re here. It’s like they’re all around me right now.”
“I’m about to crawl out of my skin,” said Max. “And I hear every one of Isis’ thoughts. Like she’s talking out loud.”
“It’s the same for me,” said Isis. “It reminds me of when we were little, before we had the ability to turn off the siren call.”
When Max and Isis were infants and toddlers, before they understood what they were, the mothers – or Red-Eyes – would be drawn to them like a gravitational pull. It was dangerous, for no matter where they moved, the hordes would follow them.
The Red-Eyes controlled the masses, bringing them along. Until Isis and Max gained control over this unwitting power, it was dangerous everywhere they went.
“Can you control the call now?” asked Gem.
“That’s what we were communicating with one another, and why we didn’t share it with you. We didn’t want to freak you out.”
“So, you can, or you can’t?” asked Flex.
Isis answered. “That’s just it, Uncle Flex. We don’t know. At first, when we were little and we learned how to block it, it was a conscious effort. Then it became so automatic, we didn’t even realize we were doing it, just like we didn’t know we were calling them when we were infants and toddlers.”
Gem shook her head as she shouldered the crossbow and eyed the scope. “So, you’re saying you could be calling them now and you’d have no idea?”
“C’mon, everybody. Let’s get moving.” Flex carried a duffle bag full of bolts, and Gem slung the crossbow over her left shoulder, the Uzi in her hands, barrel pointed at the ground.
“What you got there, Isis?” asked Gem.
“This?” she held up the roll of plastic she’d taken from the store. “Just in case we need it. I’ll tell you when the time comes.”
“I like surprises.” Gem smiled and walked on. They reached the kayaks, and everyone shifted the boats into position, got in and got situated.
“Straight across is our target,” said Isis. “Because of the current, angle upstream and let the river pull you south as you approach the bridge abutment.”
“What the hell’s an abutment?”
“It’s the side wall that supports the main structure,” said Isis. “Third book, second volume of the Encyclopedia Britannica, page 442. Just follow me and Max.”
Before paddling across, Isis first stayed close to the north bank and paddled in the protected area where the current was blocked. This allowed them to move further east before attacking the river itself, which was only around 100’ wide at that point.
When they reached the rustic cabins with the deteriorated tin roofs, Isis called, “Go!”
She began paddling with all her might toward a sandy area on the south bank. The current quickly pulled the small kayaks toward the Duncan Bridge, but they were at the other bank with 30 yards to spare. All of them slid up onto the shore and secured the boats.
“Don’t bother tying them,” said Max. “Like Isis said, we’ll need to find a vehicle we can get started and drive back to my Blazer.”
“Oh, that’s gonna be a breeze,” said Flex. “Why didn’t we just drive down here to begin with.”
“Motor noise. Stands out like a gunshot on a country night,” said Max.
“What would you know about country nights?”
“The world’s been pretty silent since I was born.”
“True enough,” said Flex.
“No worries, Uncle Flex. I brought our portable battery booster,” said Max. “All fully charged. With your expertise at engines, we’ll be okay.”
“Your confidence in me is comical,” said Flex. “Hope it rubs off on me.”
*****
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
They approached the home at 5738 Duncan Bridge Road cautiously. It appeared overgrown and abandoned, but everything in the area looked that way. Some people had used the tall grass and dilapidated appearance as security of sorts; the old “nothing to see here” trick.
It was a large, two-story home with triple dormers, as so many of the homes in the area had.
“This home was my marker,” said Isis. “The area where the hot springs are located is about a quarter mile that way,” she said, pointing generally southeast. “The entire area may have more porous earth, though. Look for their burrows.”
“Good point,” said Max. “We don’t know how large the hot springs area is. If it’s too small to accommodate their horde, they might spread out and burrow.”
“First bowling balls with teeth, now burrowers,” said Gem. “Ever-changing bullshit.”
They had all worn hiking boots and long pants; they didn’t know what might happen, and they needed the material covering their legs due to the summer bugs they did expect.
They weren’t disappointed. The mosquitoes were out in force and the slapping was consistent. It was so frequent and loud it was becoming alarming.
“C’mon, guys,” said Flex. “Use the bug spray. Sounds like you’re prepping to sing We Will Rock You.”
“I won’t stomp until we see some burrowers,” said Gem.
In ten more minutes of rough, uneven terrain, they hit a gravel road marked with a sign that read, River Bridge Loop.
“Okay, left. We should intersect with River Bridge Trail, and we’ll make a right. The hot springs will be on the right side, roughly behind the house at 328 River Bridge Trail.”
They walked with much less effort, though the gravel road was now obscured by 5-foot-tall weeds growing through the thick layer of stone. They did not impede the travelers in any significant way; it was like a bass boat on a reed-riddled lake, just pushing through them without slowing.
They reached the address Isis had specified and had to walk past it to reach the driveway.
Once there, Isis said, “Let’s stage here at this house. It’s the closest location, so we can prep our weapons and leave what we don’t want to take.”
It was approaching 1:00 PM. In the heart of summer, it would remain light for seven to eight more hours.
“We don’t even know if they’re here,” said Flex. “That group might’ve stumbled on the hot springs rather than be drawn there.”
“It would make sense they were drawn to high concentrations of the gas if the smarter ones are running the show,” said Max.
“Let’s go,” said Gem. “Suzi’s vibrating.”
“Don’t be trigger-happy, babe,” said Flex. “You’re outta practice. You might take out my kne
ecap.”
“Now I will,” she said.
“If we get caught out after dark, I think it might be best to take refuge here,” said Isis. “Flex and Max can try to find a vehicle they can get running at one of these houses.”
“WAT-5 all around,” said Gem. “Now that we’re close, let’s do that now, if you don’t mind.”
Nobody minded.
*****
The knock on the door of the lab was loud, and Hemp heard several voices outside. Charlie went to open it.
“Got a lot of poison ivy here,” said Punch McGee.
Flex had encountered McGee the same day Tony Mallette lost his life to an arrow in the forehead. Punch was a former United States Marine who had turned on the men that had killed Tony, and who he was pretending to support.
He’d saved Flex’s life that day. “Where do you want it?” he asked.
“Excellent, Punch. Follow me,” said Hemp, hopping out of the converted RV. He walked around to the backside where a tarp had been put up, covering two large, stainless steel tanks, a permanently mounted generator, and several tables.
Charlie followed them out. “I can handle this if Punch helps. You can continue your work with the mice.”
“The urushiol still melts them,” said Hemp. “Beyond their telepathic abilities, that’s all I needed to confirm. We still need this stuff for that, and to make more WAT-5.”
Charlie fired up the generator and waited for the idle to settle, then went to a large food processor on the first table. “Dump the first bag here. Use gloves.”
“If we’re immune to it, why gloves?” asked Punch.
“Ah, how soon you forget,” Hemp responded. “Allergies and immunities can go away. Did you do as I instructed, use gloves and wear long sleeves when you collected it? All of you?”
“Yeah, but I wasn’t sure why. So, I could lose my immunity to poison ivy? What then? Zombie time?”
“If you died, yes, as long as the earth gas volume was high enough,” answered Hemp. “It’s not that likely, but it is a concern. Just to be safe.”
Dead Hunger | Book 10 | The Remnants Page 14