Refuge From The Dead | Book 3 | Dead Fall

by Masters, A. L.

  “Sorry, Jack,” he said, getting down. He went to help him cart the thing out while Jean kept watch outside.

  It was a large one. It would give plenty of power as long as they had plenty of gas to feed the damned thing. They wheeled it out together, Ed huffing with the effort. They managed to wrangle it into the bed of the pickup just as more Zulus straggled around the corner.

  They needed to go now.

  “Move out,” Jack said, and they pulled away from the slowly advancing bodies.

  Ed watched nervously in the rearview mirror, expecting more to swarm around the corner and add to the few shamblers, but they never did.

  In all the excitement, they all forgot about the voice they heard over the radio.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Phase Five-Civil Authority

  Angie

  Angie and Jim met with a subdued Cam and Nick.

  Trap and the women were loading up the weapons into the Humvees. They were keeping watch while the rest of the team met inside to determine how to get the prison back on more democratic ground.

  “You know we’ll have to keep a team out there to watch our gear throughout the night,” Nick said to them.

  “Yeah, we’ll rotate guard shifts until we leave. I’ll need to talk with the leaders here and see if they have any means of governing in mind. They have too many people for there to be no rules, no regulations. Things would go downhill fast,” Cam said. “I’ve seen it happen before,” he added.

  Angie wondered what he was talking about and was about to ask him when a man stepped through a doorway and walked toward Cam.

  “I just wanted to thank you for what you’ve done here. Without your help, we wouldn’t have had a chance against them,” he said, shaking Cam’s hand.

  “McDaniels, I want you to meet my fiancé, Angie,” Cam said, motioning to her. “Babe, this is McDaniels, he was a guard here. He’s the one Ed spoke to on his last day.”

  “This is Nick, whom you met earlier, and this is Jim,” Cam said. “Nick, when we’re finished here would you take Jim to the basement to gather up the stuff that needs to be dealt with?” Cam said with a strange tone.

  Angie wanted to know what stuff he was talking about.

  Nick nodded. She noticed Nick kept his gaze from meeting hers. Weird.

  She turned back to McDaniels. He was staring at Nick’s eyes with concern…and fear?

  “Hello, I hope Ed didn’t leave you with any permanent damage,” she said, referring to the blow he took to the head from Ed’s pistol.

  “No. I’m fine. He saved my life, and probably several others that day. You guys saved a lot more people today. Make sure the rest of your people know that too,” he said.

  She nodded and looked at Cam as he introduced Jim. The two men shook hands and then McDaniels led them into the cafeteria to meet with everyone. As he opened the door, Angie heard the chattering of a large crowd of people.

  She didn’t know how many there were, but she wasn’t expecting that many.

  “How many people are here?” she asked Cam.

  McDaniels answered for him. “Before today there were about two-hundred and seventy-five. Now, a bit less.”

  “Hmm.” It was more living people than she’d been around in a very long time.

  “Listen, everyone! Please, listen up! I have a list of names here. When I read your name will you please come up to the front table? The rest of you can then go. Feel free to walk around the prison. However, do not go outside. It isn’t safe yet. There are still mines on the grounds. Lunch will be about an hour late today. Thank you,” McDaniels said.

  He proceeded to read off a list of names.

  “Beverly Barnes, Graham Rogers, Teresa Flores, Gina MacIntosh, Mark Harwood, Carl Oates, James Nichols, Stewart Anderson, Will Young.”

  Ten people gathered at the table in the front, McDaniels included, looking at each other nervously. There were seven men and three women. Angie watched as Cam and McDaniels got down to business.

  “You were all chosen to serve on a new council. You have all been in leadership positions and were recommended. The purpose of the council is to make and enforce rules, and to keep this community operating smoothly. This will not be an easy job, and it will only be temporary pending an election,” Cam said.

  “I would like you all to continue serving in the same capacity that you have been, as well as in your new councilmember role. This will make sure things continue to run smoothly while we transition. I will continue to remain on guard duty as well as training new recruits.”

  “What will the guards do?” Teresa asked.

  Angie thought she detected a note of apprehension in her voice.

  “We will continue to keep rotating watch schedules, but we will no longer be guarding cell-blocks, obviously. They will be permanently opened, except in cases where we may need to close them to stay safe. The rest of the guards will keep training and become our new supply teams.”

  “I need some help in the infirmary. I know of a few people that may be suited to begin training, but my application for apprentices was rejected by the warden.”

  “Train up whoever you think will be a good fit for the job, Doc,” Cam said.

  Angie’s eyes widened. “You’re a doctor?!”

  Doc smiled a bit at her reaction. “Yes.”

  “Cam, we could send Bradley here to train!” she said, excitedly.

  “That’s a good idea. We’ll speak more on that soon, if Doc is willing, that is,” he said, glancing at the doctor.

  “Absolutely, if he has the aptitude,” he specified.

  “Oh, he does,” Angie said.

  They continued their powwow for another forty-five minutes before Beverly stood up and said she absolutely had to get the lunch going. The rest of them went to their various duties and McDaniels sat back in his chair, exhausted.

  “I’m beat,” he said, stating the obvious. “Listen, about the supply run teams— I know we can do it, but most of these guys need more training before I’m willing to have them go out alone. What would you say to coming back here occasionally and teaching us?” he asked.

  Cam shot Angie a glance. “I’d have to talk it over with my group, but I’d be willing if they are willing to let me go,” he said with a smirk, squeezing her hand.

  She squeezed back and smiled but wasn’t happy.

  She didn’t want him to be splitting his time between two places. She couldn’t deprive these people of his expertise either though. They would definitely need to talk about it.

  Jim and Nick walked back in, pale-faced and silent. Jim had a peculiar look on his face and Angie suspected that she probably didn’t really want to know what sort of stuff they had been sent to do.

  She had enough horrors to last a lifetime, and she didn’t need more.

  They left shortly after, telling McDaniels they would be back for supper at six. They would stay another night for sure, maybe two depending on the circumstances.

  Angie couldn’t wait to leave.

  Jim

  That evening at supper, Cam was treated as some sort of hero.

  Jim thought perhaps they were overdoing it a tad. However, he was willing to let Cam bask in the glory of the moment, at least until they got home. He took another bite of spaghetti, savoring the rich sauce and the real meatballs.

  God, I hope I’m not eating people right now…

  He took another bite anyway because it was damned good. Maybe they could trade Jean for Beverly? He mentioned this to Angie and received a glare in response.

  Okayyyy, someone was cranky.

  “Hey, Jim. What do you think about coming back here every couple of weeks or so to give these guys some pointers?” Cam asked.

  Jim saw Angie look back and forth between them. He had a feeling whatever he said would be wrong.

  “That sounds good?” he said though it came out as a question. He got yet another death stare from Angie.

  Geez, what was her problem?

 
“Ang,” he said quietly, putting hand on her leg under the table. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” she said.

  Crap. It’s never nothing.

  “Look, if you don’t tell me what it is, then I can’t try to fix it. Now come on and tell me.”

  She sighed and looked at him. “It’s not that I don’t want to help these people. Really, I do. It’s just…I was hoping we would have a good amount of time together. The three of us. Just to relax and be together and not have to worry about leaving home for a while. Plus, the wedding…”

  “Baby, I completely understand. I don’t think Cam was intending to split us up. I’m sure we can work something out so that we are all happy. Give him a shot. Give me a shot, before you start getting upset. I love you,” he murmured, brushing her ear with his mouth.

  “I love you too and I’m sorry. I must be more tired than I thought. I didn’t mean to be grouchy.”

  Jim looked up and caught McDaniels with half a meatball paused before his wide-open mouth.

  He flicked his eyes over to Cam, who was tearing a piece of garlic bread in half. After McDaniels caught Jim’s smirk, he slowly continued eating, seemingly uncomfortable.

  “Don’t worry, it still confuses the hell out of me sometimes too,” Jim said with a chuckle.

  Angie smacked him teasingly. “Don’t make me hurt you,” she threatened.

  “Psshhh. As if you could, a little scrawny thing like you. I’d like to see that,” Jim said, with a superior tone.

  He loved to rile her up, not as much as he liked to get Cam though.

  “You’ve got a little sauce, just there,” Cam said, gesturing to his own chin.

  Angie busted out laughing. “Cam, you shouldn’t have told him yet!”

  Jim wiped his face quickly and spotted the tell-tale red mark of sauce on his napkin. Oh well.

  “What do you expect when they serve food this good?” he said in self-defense.

  Cam just shook his head and snorted. Jim grinned.

  “Have you told them about our…impending nuptials yet?” he asked Cam.

  Cam glared at him fiercely, causing McDaniels to put his fork down uneasily.

  “Jim….” Cam warned.

  “What? You don’t think McDaniels here would want to come to our wedding? You don’t value my opinions anymore? What kind of partner are you? What kind of relationship have I got myself into?”

  Jim thought perhaps he carried on a bit far this time, if the look on Cam’s face was any indication.

  Nick was stifling his laughter, while attempting to scarf down more spaghetti.

  He looked uncomfortably like a member of the undead, with all that red sauce on his mouth and the eyes that had never changed back completely. He was garnering more than a few looks by the citizens of this place.

  “Jim, that’s enough!” Angie said, seeing the vein pulsing on the side of Cam’s furious face.

  “All right, all right. I was just messing with you. I better go check on the others. I told them Nick and I would bring some supper out to them,” he said, getting up and taking his tray to the large return table.

  He turned back to McDaniels before he left.

  “You should really come to the wedding though,” he said, laughing gleefully before walking quickly away.

  It was a good thing too. Cam looked ready to bash his face in. He would most likely pay for it later.

  Oh well.

  Cam

  After Jim’s little stunt in the cafeteria, Angie and Cam were left to explain to a very embarrassed McDaniels.

  He finally understood though, especially when Cam told him how much of a fucking asshole Jim routinely was. In the end, he was happy to accept Jim’s invitation and Cam calmed down after he promised not to read too much into Jim’s jokes.

  Cam was still going to get him though, someday…somehow…he would pay.

  After supper, he and Angie went out to the campsite the others had set up around the Humvees. They listened to Cam report the day’s achievements and were happy to hear that they would probably be going home tomorrow. He knew they all needed some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

  Their first real mission had been a success, and he was prouder of them than he could say. He would make sure they knew it though.

  Early the next morning, Cam, Nick, and Jim burned the horrifying evidence of Lonnie’s crimes against nature. They made sure nothing was left except bones. The women they buried in a mass grave with the guards that had been killed during the overthrow.

  There was no service, just a quick burial.

  They went in for breakfast and ate a peaceful meal with the new council members.

  It was a celebratory event for the citizens that had been imprisoned there, and the guards that had been forced into service. They were now free to live, to survive and thrive, to build a good future for whatever generation came after them.

  Hopefully, the world would allow it.

  ◆◆◆

  Before they left, Cam met with Doc in the infirmary. He wanted the conversation to stay private so as not to cause a panic.

  “We’ve got a real problem, Doc.”

  “Didn’t we just get rid of one of those?” he asked, pushing up his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose.

  “This is worse,” he said.

  “Worse?! How could anything be worse than what we’ve been going through these last months?” Doc Forsythe asked.

  “There’s a plague,” Cam said simply. “I don’t know if it’s new or if it is related to the zombie disease or what…but it’s bad. Really bad.”

  “What are you talking about?” he asked in a quiet, serious voice.

  “Some sort of hemorrhagic fever. Like Ebola or Hanta virus or something. It starts out with fever, then convulsions and bleeding from every single bodily orifice, then ends in death. Every case I’ve seen lasts about two to three days.”

  “Oh my God.” Forsythe stood up and began pacing the room, thinking. “And how many cases have you seen?”

  “Four.”

  “And how many died?” Doc asked nervously.

  “Four,” Cams said with a frown.

  “We need to stay on top of this,” the doctor said. “I’m talking full quarantine for anyone who leaves the prison complex and anyone who comes in.”

  “I agree. I have to warn you though. One of the cases had an incubation period of almost three weeks. You’ll need to keep that in mind,” Cam said.

  “Okay, I’ll take that into consideration.” Doc paced around ticking off his mental to-do list on his fingers. “I need to go over the disease profiles, at least, for the diseases we know about. Maybe this one is similar, maybe similar treatments will work. I’ll have to have a larger quarantine area, and perhaps even a secondary hospital in case this thing breaks out here. I need more supplies, drugs…” he stopped and looked at Cam.

  “Can you help me get this stuff? Help me prepare?” he asked anxiously.

  “I’ll do my best.”

  He would have to mention this to Angie sometime soon.

  ◆◆◆

  The sun was well up by the time they packed up their gear, and Cam retrieved the rest of his stuff from his old room. He tossed his gear in the Humvee but kept his heavy leather jacket. It would come in handy on the way back to the cabin.

  There was no fucking way he was leaving his badass bike behind…

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Thanksgiving

  Jessica

  Jess was looking forward to the Thanksgiving celebration and to Angie’s wedding.

  Afterwards, she would be planning her own wedding. It was a lot to take in. She had so much to do, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

  She lay in bed, trying to find a comfortable position and listening to Jack’s soft snores. Her back was killing her, and the bed just wasn’t comfortable anymore. She needed to pee, but she didn’t feel like getting up.

  She didn’t complain though, she knew how lucky
she was to have a safe—ish— place to live and rest. It was warm and she had plenty of food. She thought that there probably many people still out there who didn’t have those luxuries.

  Thanksgiving was three days away.

  Jack had gotten back late yesterday afternoon with the generator and several large cans of gasoline for it. Jean had smuggled in some seriously large bags of stuff and hadn’t told anyone what they were. She and the girls had been thinking about what all they could cook for the dinner.

  They wanted it to be really special.

  Finally, she decided to get up and visit the bathroom before she exploded.

  She padded softly down the hallway in her house shoes and robe. She pulled it tighter around herself to ward off the chill. The fire had died down in the main room and she would need to stoke it back up when she got out.

  After doing what she needed to do, she went to the living room and built up the fire a little, adding some kindling and blowing on the coals until they caught.

  She held her hands out to the heat and reveled in it. After warming up for a few moments she went out to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee on the stove. Whoever was on watch might appreciate a hot cup of it. It really was starting to get freezing at night. Below freezing, actually.

  Ed said the animals would be fine in the makeshift barn they had put up.

  The existing structure wasn’t sturdy enough, so they had built a small, but solid building that would keep them through the winter. Next spring, they would definitely need to expand.

  She watched the pot percolate until it was finished, then fetched two cups from the cabinet. Into her mug she poured a small amount, added some sugar, and powdered cream. She did the same into the travel mug and secured the lid.

  Near the back door were a variety of winter coats. She pulled down Jack’s parka and bundled up in it before stepping onto the back porch. She breathed deeply of the dark, frosty air. Looking up into the clear, bright night sky, she saw the moon and stars. They sparkled clearly in the night.