Dark Rhodes: Book 1 of the Ashleigh Rhodes Chronicles

by Michael Canon

  “Marie’s alive? She’s okay? How’d you get this Deuce? What’s going on?”

  “You must be Ethan. Can we drop our hands now?” asked Dave.

  Ethan looked at us, then to the men and finally waved at them to lower their weapons.

  “Let’s hear them out, there’s still only two of them.” He announced.

  The men around us visibly relaxed, with most turning their attention to look for any approaching undead.

  Dave continued, “Yes, Marie is alive, she told me the apple pie line so you’d know it was her. Ashleigh and I liberated the Depot last night. We just dumped over 25 bodies in a field across from the dump. What’s with the gate?”

  Ethan nodded, with an expression of total agreement. He pointed at three of the waiting men and nodded. “Been like that for about 10 years. Never could understand why they put such a monster of a gate and lock on it.” he said. I watched as the three men jumped in a Jeep and headed back the way we came.

  Ethan paused, then asked, “Wait, you took the whole Depot? There had to be 30 guys there, and they have an armored personnel carrier. Are there other survivors?”

  Dave continued, “The Bradley has been dealt with. There are other survivors, but some of these women are in really bad shape. We came here looking for help, or at least supplies, we need to get back as soon as possible.”

  One of the guys on zombie watch let out a low whistle and made a cutting gesture across his neck to Ethan.

  Ethan nodded at him and said to us, “We have supplies and a couple doctors to boot. Let’s get off the road, we’re starting to attract too much undead attention. Follow us back to our area.”

  We all entered our respective vehicles, with our Deuce in the middle of the convoy. Using another bridge, we crossed the river again and turned left onto a very large peninsula of land where the river turned back on itself. A wall of shipping containers two high stretched from riverbank to riverbank at the narrowest part of the peninsula, with a 15 foot opening near the left bank.

  The opening was also blocked by what appeared to be more shipping containers, set behind those that made up the wall. This was until they started to move. As we passed through the opening, I realized the moving containers were part of an 18 wheeler with a double-stack of short containers at one end of a long flatbed. The ground had been dug out, so the flatbed was about two feet below the grade. I was impressed as the 18 wheeler kept moving forward until part of the trailer’s modified flatbed lined up with the opening, allowing us to drive right across. I looked back to watch the truck back up to seal the opening.

  The area behind the wall was large and had been a middle-class residential neighborhood before the zombies showed up. (Going to have to think up a name for that day) The open area near the gate was full of people, all wanting to see what the commotion was about. Once they heard we came from the Depot, and Marie was alive, there were shouts to go get the women. Ethan sent a couple of the younger men, boys actually, running to one of the large houses, further down the street.

  “What do you need?” asked Ethan.

  Dave replied, “Food, blankets, medical supplies, and people to take care of around 50 very ill and malnourished survivors.”

  Ethan shook his head and called over a group of men and women standing about 15 feet from us, talking to a short, heavy-set black man and said, “Tony, can you and the others get food, water, and whatever else you think you would need to help about 50 women? Load it in this deuce.”

  I said, “You might want to wipe down the bed first. It was just full of human trash from the Depot.”

  Ethan looked at me then nodded to Tony. Ethan’s radio squawked, and he answered it. The guys had found the bodies right where we left them, plus the 50 or so zombies that showed up for an easy meal.

  Ethan said, “Kill all the Zs you can without getting your asses bitten, and get back here.”

  Ethan saw Dave was staring at the wall and said, “Couple of the guys here were big into all the zombie apocalypse shows, movies and books before they had to be moved from Sci-Fi/Fantasy to the non-fiction section at the local library. We used earthmovers from my construction company to level some houses to make room for the wall.” with a smile on his face.

  “They said almost every book mentioned using leftover cargo containers to keep out our undead friends. We set them in place, staked the bottom row to the ground, and bolted the top row to the bottom. Have to say it’s been really effective.”

  Smiling back, Dave said, “I know, I’ve read or watched them all, too.”

  We all turned as a canopied four seat ATV pulled up next to us. A young, intelligent-looking Indian man in a doctor’s coat stepped out of the passenger’s side of the ATV. A middle-aged woman followed suit, getting out of the back seat. The driver and the other passenger came around to join us. I noticed every one of them had a pistol on their hip. I thought “New world, new rules.”

  Ethan started the introductions, “Everyone, this is Dave Walker and Ashleigh Rhodes. They have liberated the Nation Guard Depot from Chet and his men,” causing all eyes to whip around toward us.

  The Indian man stepped forward and introduced himself, “Mr. Walker, Ms. Rhodes, my name is Chahel Mehra, please call me Charlie, if you would. I must say it is a profound pleasure to meet the two people that shut down that hellhole.”

  He introduced the three people he shared the ATV with, “This is Judy Tanner, one of the finest ER nurses I have ever known. Our driver is Richard Brown. He was a pediatrician by trade, but I guess in times such as these a doctor is a doctor.”

  Richard nodded to us, as Charlie continued “And this is Andrea Ziegler, she was one of Judy’s LPN students, and was interning at a local hospital before the zombies showed up.”

  The pretty African-American woman said, “I’m still her student, it’s just less studying and a lot more on the job training now,” making us all smile.

  Dave spoke up as soon as the introductions concluded.

  “We have around 47 women in need of some medical care, but at least 40 of them are in really bad shape.”

  “How bad is bad?” asked Judy.

  “Abuse, exposure, dysentery, various illnesses associated with these conditions, as well as extreme malnourishment,” listed Dave.

  “Sounds like prisoner of war or concentration camp symptoms,” piped in Richard.

  We both nodded, and Dave spoke, “That’s exactly what I’m describing.”

  All four of them had angry, hurt looks on their faces. Andrea spoke what all of us thought, “Damn it! If it isn’t bad enough that the human race almost bought the farm from the zombies, we still have assholes like this around?”

  Ethan said, “Could you folks please grab anything you think you’ll need and meet us here in 15 minutes? They nodded in unison, jumping back into the ATV, and sped off in the direction they came.

  63

  We arrived back at the Depot just before noon. Ethan and Marie held each other for 15 minutes in complete silence. Annie screamed in joy as she hugged her brother, each sobbing on the other’s shoulders. Charlie approached Mia as she searched among the volunteers, talking to her and holding her after giving her some obviously bad news.

  The barracks were spotless. All the beds had been made over with clean sheets. Outside, multiple large propane stoves had large pots of water simmering on them. The last stove had a thin broth soup cooking on it. The doctors and nurses unloaded their supplies and checked over preparations. Charlie, who was obviously taking charge of the rehabilitation, climbed on the hood of a truck.

  “OK, it is time. Marie, you and the other women will go in and lead the victims that can still walk out, the men are to stay back unless they know a survivor or are asked to help. Those that need assistance moving will be in the next wave.”

  Dave and I were carrying Chet into the same room that once held Marie. Annie and the other women found handcuffs and leg irons in the room I couldn’t get into. It turned out to be Chet’s and Arthur
’s room. It was full of porn, booze, and drugs. We put the irons to good use in securing Chet as Ethan and Marie came in to join us.

  Ethan said, “I can’t believe you two took this whole camp down, but I’m sure glad you showed up when you did.” I could see his eyes watering over as he stared at Marie.

  Chet was his usual belligerent self until he saw Ethan walk in. His eyes got huge, and he started to shake the minute he laid eyes on the big man. “Hi Chet, never saw this coming, did ya? You’re gonna wish our new friends here had killed you by the time I’m done with your worthless ass,” growled Ethan at the cowering man.

  After we had finished securing Chet in Marie’s old room, Dave and I joined the others in the warehouse foyer, watching as the women were led, or carried out of Hell. I cried like I had never cried before, and made no attempt to hide it. I heard one woman talking as she exited the warehouse.

  “You said we’re safe, that some people took out all these bastards? Who saved us, who got help? I need to know!” Mia tried to calm her down, but she wasn’t having it.” “Mia Anderson, I’ve known you since you were in diapers, I won’t have you trying to coddle me now! Tell me who saved us!”

  Mia looked at Dave and me and simply said, “They did.”

  The woman followed Mia’s gaze to us. She was pale and thin, so much so it was impossible for me to tell her real age. Pushing herself off Mia she tottered over to us, waving off Mia’s assistance as she did. The parts of her body not shrouded by the blanket she held were covered with bruises, sores, and small burns. But her green eyes were bright and clear and shone with a fiery determination.

  She stopped in front of us and said, “My name is Diane McGregor, and from this day forward you two are my family. Anything I have left in this miserable world is yours. Please tell me your names so I can rest.”

  I said, “My name is Ashleigh Rhodes and this is Dave Walker; I’m so sorry for what happened to you.”

  She shrugged off the apology, “Darling, you didn’t do it, don’t fret what was done, you two saved us. You gave us back our freedom. Thank you.”

  Without another word, Diane passed out and pitched forward. Dave caught her and gently scooped her up in his arms. The big man carried her upstairs as he would his own mother, with Mia at his side.

  64

  We had been with the Lock Haven Group for a week. Dave and I let the group decide Chet’s fate. Ethan came to us with the survivor council’s decision.

  Ethan asked, “Are you two going to attend?”

  Dave frowned, looked at me, then at Ethan and nodded yes and said, “Just let us know where you need us, we’ll be there.”

  Ethan caught on that we weren’t comfortable with Chet’s punishment, and said, “Look, if you want to skip it, it’s not a problem. I’m not so sure about it either, but the council took a vote, and it’s what the people want.”

  The Council, many members of the compound, and the ambulatory women survivors were assembled on the main bridge into Lock Haven. The dark winter waters of the west branch of the Susquehanna River flowed beneath us. A metal cage was attached to a pivoting metal pole so it could hang out over the river. Chet stood on a wooden deck of a flatbed trailer next to the cage. He was naked and was shackled at the wrists and ankles, with a chain going from his wrist shackles to somewhere behind the flatbed’s deck. He tried to maintain his usual tough guy image. He even did well at it - making it appear that the proceedings didn’t bother him. He even tried to stare down anyone that looked at him. But every once in a while the visage slipped, and he became the cowardly, scared old man he was.

  A lone George, shackled like Chet, was chained to the guardrail, trying desperately to get to all the living food it saw. On the same platform as Chet stood a tripod charcoal barbecue full of hot coals. Deep in the coals was a long cast iron stake, its wooden handle well back from the heat.

  Margot, a stately, middle-aged Asian woman whom I met yesterday, stood up from her seat on a second flatbed. She had been a federal judge before the zombies made their debut. She spoke to Chet, as well as us.

  “Chester Paul Drake, you have been tried and convicted for your crimes against humanity. Do you have anything to say before your punishment is carried out?”

  “Fuck you, you miserable old cunt. You’re just upset because we didn’t add you to our harem!” spat Chet.

  Margot ignored him and continued, “Chester Paul Drake, your crime of rape will be branded on your chest, and you will spend eternity as one of the living dead in this cage to warn others that we won’t tolerate your kind here in Lock Haven.”

  Margot turned to the audience and asked, “Is there anyone who wishes to speak before Mr. Drake’s sentence is carried out?”

  We heard a strong female voice from behind us, “I want to speak.”

  Everyone turned to see Diane McGregor walking towards us. She was still thin, but she held her head up and walked better than when we first met her. She walked over to Dave and me, hugging us both as tightly as she could.

  She whispered in my ear, “Thank you again, child, for all you have done for us.” as she slipped an envelope into my jacket pocket. “Look at it later, there’s something I need to do,” as she touched my cheek.

  Diane climbed the steps to the flatbed and faced Chet. Chet tried to stare her down, but she wasn’t afraid of him, and he knew it. Chet was about to say something when Diane slapped him across the face and quickly unhooked the chain from the shackles.

  She said, “It’s time you met your fate, you cowardly old bastard!” Before anyone could react, Diane wrapped her arms around Chet and launched them both off the flatbed into the river below.

  Screams of shock and anguish erupted as everyone ran to the guardrail to look for them. The heavy flow of the spring river below showed no signs of either of them like the icy, dark water had no intention of relinquishing its latest sacrifice. I stepped away from the guardrail, to see people with expressions ranging from anguish to ones of resigned justice. Everyone silently boarded their respective vehicles and headed back to the peninsula.

  65

  Dave and I were sitting with Marie, Ethan, Charlie, and Richard while they finished lunch. Dave had a bottle of water on the table in front of him. When asked if he wanted something to eat. He explained he had some serious food allergies, and waved some food packets around before he put them put back in a side pocket of his backpack. To change everyone’s focus, I pulled out the envelope that Diane had given me on the bridge and set it on the table. I looked at it for a moment then opened it. Inside was one hand-written page of beautiful, flowing script. I read it aloud to everyone.

  My dearest David and Ashleigh,

  My newest family members. Please don’t grieve for me, I am at peace. I am with my Nathan and God.

  No words can properly express how much love I have for you two. You are our saviors, and we owe you our lives. You are angels on earth, and I believe that God Almighty has special plans for you both.

  My husband and I owned a large chain of sporting goods and gun stores. But he also had a side business of covertly moving large quantities of weapons and military equipment for the government to people that want that sort of merchandise.

  No, it wasn’t 100% legal, but that isn’t important now. What is important is these weapons and equipment are yours to do with as you please.

  (I skipped this part) On our property is a large barn. Go to the 3rd horse stall on the left and look for a large rusty nail. Push up on it. The combination to the lock is 13-A-Q-4-38-R-19-V-71. Take your time with the code, you only get two tries before things go “Boom”!

  (I began reading again here.) Please take what you need and give the rest to the Lock Haven survivors.

  May God Bless you both.

  Love Always,

  Diane

  Richard spoke first “Where the hell are these weapons, kinda hard to use them if she didn’t say where they are.”

  Dave took the letter, read it, and replied, “She did
tell us, Ash just didn’t read it aloud. You never know who’s listening.”

  Richard scoffed, “Who the hell are you to keep this information from us?”

  Dave stared him right in the eye and said, “We’re the ones that killed over 25 heavily armed men and saved 47 lives… by ourselves. Don’t worry, I’m sure there’s plenty to go around. Ashleigh was correct in editing that information from the general conversation. We will give the information to Ethan and Marie, and they can go with us when we go get the weapons and equipment.”

  Richard remained silent but looked like he wasn’t finished.

  Ethan nodded and said, “I agree completely. We need to keep this information quiet until after we acquire and secure the weapons. I know a lot of the people here, but not everyone. I’ve always had the suspicion that we had a mole working for Chet within the group, but could never prove it.

  He gave everyone a moment to look shocked and absorb the information before continuing. “I knew Nate well. If he was moving arms and equipment for the government, then there’s got to be a lot of stuff. Nate never did anything small. It’s too late to do anything today, so we’ll head out at first light. We’ll discuss more, later in a more private setting. That letter stays with you two until we can head out tomorrow.”

  We were planning on meeting Ethan and Marie at the small, two bedroom bungalow we were borrowing. Before Ethan and Marie arrived, I watched Dave strategically place some empty food packets and half a bottle of water on the small table between us. He then mixed up a large chocolate protein shake.

  In between sips of his shake, he smiled and said, “Have to practice at keeping up appearances.”

  We watched Ethan and Marie approach, Marie hugged us both and Dave didn’t even flinch this time. Ethan had a hard look on his face and launched right into what was bugging him.

  “You two need to be on your guard tonight. It appears that the content of Diane’s letter is out. Like I said earlier, I’m sure we have a double agent in our midst. With Chet gone I’m not sure what they expect to get out of betraying us.”