Dead in the Valley

by C M Rutherford

  Wade got his convoy moving and finished the trek across the top of Paris Mountain. He felt a great relief when he saw the turn-off for Ben’s. As he pulled the vehicle into the safe area of the farm, he had a welcoming committee waiting, none of whom looked very happy.

  ◆◆◆

  Kelly ran up and locked Wade in an embrace that lasted for about thirty seconds.

  “What were you thinking, Wade Marshall? We were all worried sick and nobody knew where you had gone,” Kelly said, releasing Wade and taking a step back.

  “I know, I’m sorry. I should have told the guys where I was going. I just got caught up in the moment. You know how I get,” Wade said in way of apology.

  “You’re damn right you should have told them. Or better still, you could have used the CB to let us know. I do know how you get, but there are dead people eating the living. It is no longer okay to forget things like that,” Kelly said angrily.

  "I know, and I am sorry. I just thought it would be a quick run for supplies, but we ended up having a few unforeseen problems. I was just so tied up in things I didn't think about it," Wade said.

  "Mister, you better start thinking about it. If you do that to me again, we are going to have issues,” Kelly said with a stern face.

  "I promise no more freelancing without letting you in on the plan."

  “Good, big oaf,” Kelly said, grabbing onto Wade again and resting her head on his chest.

  Wade then began filling everyone in on the events of the evening before. Ray Jenkins and Harvey Smallwood were introduced to the group. Ben was happy to see the two men he had been friends with for years. Tempers cooled as the group found out the details of the previous night. Wade still wasn't off the hook for not checking in, but they understood how things had escalated.

  Wade asked Jerry to get an inventory of the weapons they had brought in and have a group get them squared away in the armory. The three of the six vehicles that had returned with Wade were almost exclusively loaded with weapons and ammo, barring a few personal possessions of Ray and Harvey. There was no such thing as having too much ammo in this new reality.

  Wade pulled Derek aside once everyone disbursed.

  "I’m afraid I may have made us more enemies while trying to acquire provisions. I have delivered a few stings to the Ashers overnight. From past experience with their family, they are not the type to let it go."

  "Great, just what we need," Derek said with a weak smile.

  "Yeah, not really what I was hoping for with the dead and the Lords and Masters already causing us problems. The upside is the Ashers aren't the brightest bulbs in the house. They are just a rotten bunch of people to a man, but they are also cowards. They won't act directly against us but will wait for an opportunity where there is no risk involved to them to take their shot."

  "Well, sounds like there isn’t much point in devoting any specific planning time for them. We have to be more concerned with what this gang of thugs has planned. That is a threat we know is coming. We’ll just have to improvise when it comes to this group you ran into last night."

  Seeing everyone hard at work unloading the supplies that had been brought into the farm in the last couple of days gave Wade confidence that they would be able to face the challenges in the days ahead. Not only face them but prevail. When people came together and worked for the common good, it was a powerful thing. Wade hoped that it would be enough to face the trying days that were coming in the very near future.

  Wade went into the house and plopped down on the sofa. It had been an exhausting few days and he was feeling the wear and tear. Kelly came over and handed him a plate.

  "Eat this and then go get some rest. You look like you’re dead on your feet."

  "It has been a busy few days, for sure. I’m sorry I didn't let you know what was going on. You know how I get when there is something that needs doing. I focus on it and forget almost everything else. I didn't mean to worry you and the kids. I just got so caught up in getting Ray, Harvey, and the ammo back here safely, I just kind of lost focus on anything else," Wade apologized.

  "Well, just remember you have people here who want to know you are coming home when you go out on these gathering runs. We understand you are doing it to provide for us, but it doesn't make it any easier when we have no idea what is happening. We expected you back when the rest returned. You didn't send word with anyone, and you kept all the men who went with you on the supply run in the dark, as well."

  "I got it. I will make sure someone knows what is going on from here forwards, I promise."

  Wade spent the remainder of the day with his family. With everything going on, not only did Kelly need some time with him, but the kids were especially having problems with not seeing Wade regularly. After Wade rested a few hours, he spent some time talking to his kids. He listened attentively as they informed him of all the things they had been doing to help out. He was proud his kids were the type to pitch in where they could.

  They fixed a dinner that night and Wade's and Jerry's families along with Ben and Jessie all had a big family dinner in the house. It was good to spend some downtime for a change of pace from the hectic schedule. Wade had been pushing himself to ensure they were fortified for both the imminent attack of the Lords and Masters and to be as prepared as possible to survive what could be a harsh Shenandoah Valley winter.

  It was rejuvenating to hear laughter instead of screams. Tomorrow Wade would go back to the rigorous labor of setting defenses and survival on the farm. There was still much to do, and he hoped he would have time to finish before they were forced to repel hostiles. Tonight, however, he was going to enjoy the reprieve with his family.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  The Council

  The farm had been a non-stop maelstrom of activity since day one. More people came in daily and every time a project was completed, there were two more to take its place. Derek had made contact with what remained of the air guard unit in Inwood, West Virginia. He had also spoken with the National Guard unit in Winchester. Both units confirmed the information Derek had passed along. There was nobody steering the boat. It was almost inconceivable that the United States military was so splintered. They heard chatter from many groups of soldiers across the country, but they were acting independently for the most part. There was talk of bases being overrun from the inside. Whatever caused the dead to rise, quickly decimated a huge percentage of the population. Both cell service and internet had failed. I knew it was just a matter of time until the electricity would fail. We prepared the best we could for this eventuality.

  Wade Marshall

  ◆◆◆

  Kelly had been collecting ballots for the members of the council for several days. Much to everyone's surprise, with a head count nearing 600, there were twenty-five names to be voted on for the thirteen council positions. Well, actually twelve positions since Wade had made it clear Ben would have a spot on the council. Wade had expected many more names to be nominated. Of course, as soon as Mayor Trumbull found out about the upcoming vote for council members, he immediately demanded a spot on the council. Wade politely informed him only one person had a guaranteed seat on the council. Ben owned this land and allowed everyone into the safety of his home. Everyone else would need to be nominated or volunteer, and then they would need to be voted in to acquire a seat on the council. This did not sit well with Felix Trumbull, of course. Very little set well with Winchester's former Mayor. Mere hours after arriving on the farm, he’d demanded private sleeping quarters, a private office, and tried to give orders to the residents. Wade had quickly put a kibosh on his demands and his self-righteous attitude. Wade pointed out that authority did not extend to the farm. Wade offered to give him a lift back to Winchester if he wanted to be closer to his constituency. Trumbull turned a pasty shade of green at the thought of being returned to Winchester where hordes of dead roamed the streets.

  Larry Phelps walked up to Wade, grinning from ear to ear. He’d been standing off to the side du
ring the exchange. Larry held out his hand to Wade.

  "I want to shake your hand," Phelps said.

  "Well, sure," Wade said, a confused look on his face.

  "I have never seen Felix shut down so quickly and completely. It was a thing of beauty," Phelps said, bursting out in laughter.

  "Well, I am sure it's just a temporary reprieve. He doesn't strike me as one who gives up easily.”

  Wade pointed towards the house, where Trumbull had tracked Kelly down. It was evident he was volunteering to sit on the council. From the looks of it, he was also providing his qualifications in great detail. Wade shook his head and let out a deep sigh.

  "I was actually about to come find you. I have something I want to discuss. I was hoping you and your fellow deputies would continue to serve in that capacity. We have not had any real problems to this point, but with the rate in which we are growing, there is potential for issues. We need to have someone in charge of keeping the peace and taking action if necessary. I can't think of anyone better for the job," Wade said.

  "Sure, I will do all I can to help this place prosper. You guys pulled our bacon out of the fire. Everyone here is in your debt as far as I am concerned," Phelps replied.

  "Excellent! Once the council is finalized, we will make the announcement to everyone. I don't foresee that being an issue at all as most of the folks up for a seat have already discussed the need."

  Thanking Larry Phelps, Wade parted company and continued to the next thing on his to-do list. Always a people person, he made time to exchange a few words with anyone he came into contact with as he went here and there around the farm. Wade wanted to check in with Tommy, who nearly had the infirmary under roof. Stepping inside the structure, he noticed Gloria handing sheets of plywood up to workers who were placing them on the roof.

  "Well, they quickly put you to work," Wade called out.

  "My dad was a carpenter, so I have some experience. I also have been cooped up for three weeks in one place or another. It is nice to be able to move around freely without having to worry about being an appetizer,” Gloria replied.

  Tommy walked up a moment later.

  "Just the guy I was looking for," Wade said. "Derek has contacted a couple guard units. There are nearly 200 altogether. We have to create space to house them. Derek and I are hoping we can contact more, so we are going to need a good sized barracks for them. How are we set for supplies?”

  "We can complete this and probably frame up the building you need, but we’ll need more lumber to finish it. Justin has two or three more truckloads of mixed stuff, then we will have cleared out everything he has at the mill," Tommy said.

  "Okay, I will have Justin grab a couple of volunteers and bring whatever he has left from the mill."

  “I would be happy to go along to help. I can drive any type of truck and I’m not afraid of work,” Gloria said, stepping over to Wade and Tommy.

  “Okay, I will have Justin come and get you when he is ready to leave. Thanks for volunteering, Gloria,” Wade said.

  Wade found Justin at the pit dispatching the few dead who had wandered onto the farm.

  “Hey, Justin, can you grab whoever you need and go get the rest of the available lumber you have at the mill?” Wade asked.

  “Sure, Wade.”

  “Make sure you put your vote in first. Also, Gloria would like to help out. She is working on the barracks with Tommy. Just go let her know when you’re ready to leave,” Wade finished.

  After Wade had placed his vote, he rounded up all the kids and teenagers and sent them to inform everyone to make their votes as soon as possible. He also reminded them to inform everyone the votes would be counted two hours from now. Wade was anxious to finalize the first council members. There was still so much to do. He needed to be out there gathering as much as possible. The council would ease some of the burden from his shoulders.

  ◆◆◆

  Kelly spent the better part of two hours tallying all the votes for the council members. Having verified that everyone had cast their votes, the first council of Mountain Home was now in place. Ben, Wade, Jerry, Kim, and Kelly were all selected. They had been very visible to the inhabitants the entire time on the farm, organizing and assisting the newcomers with getting settled. Derek, Bull, Doc Haynes, Mario LePena, and Tommy Jackson were also selected. Larry Phelps was selected, along with his wife Stacy, who was a member of the Winchester planning commission. The final member of the council was Pete Jacobs. He had been instrumental in getting the propane tanks and service lines set up, and was a generally likable guy.

  Wade gathered everyone together around the new infirmary. He announced the members of the first council to a resounding round of cheering and applause. Everyone seemed well pleased with the selections, with the exception of Felix Trumbull. He was beside himself that an established leader such as he was not chosen to take a leadership role. Wade made several attempts to speak reasonably and calm the former mayor down. Finally, his temper pushed to its limits, he informed Felix that he had received only one vote, which he himself submitted. With no other point to argue, Felix stomped off like a ten-year-old throwing a tantrum.

  Wade thanked everyone present for all the hard work they had accomplished thus far. He also assured everyone that even though they did not have a seat on the council, their voices would always be heard.

  "It will take every one of us here to survive in this new reality. If you have concerns or complaints, feel free to speak to any the council members. I promise you will not be ignored. We will do our best to take everyone’s opinions into consideration. That being said, we aren't perfect. I am sure there will be mistakes made along the way. Just remember, we have the common good in mind. We want to keep everyone happy, but all of us will also have to be prepared to compromise for the good of the group," Wade finished.

  Another round of cheers came up from the assembled crowd. Wade held up his hand and motioned for them to settle.

  "I have one other announcement. I have already consulted with the members and we are happy to announce that Larry Phelps will be our constable. He and his fellow deputies will continue to serve in their roles as police officers. I know we have very little need at the moment, but we intend to keep growing and offer safety to all in need. The more people we have, the more likely we are to run into issues. I feel comfortable with all of you here as we have worked side by side for weeks now. I have seen great sacrifice and generosity from everyone here. Know that this is precautionary. We will have a system in place should the need arise," Wade said.

  After everyone had disbursed, Wade looked at his watch. It was nearing 5 p.m. Justin had been gone for some time. Almost four hours. The mill was just over ten miles from the farm. They should have been back almost an hour ago. Wade caught up with Derek and voiced his concerns. Derek gave his wife a quick kiss and motioned Wade to follow. Gathering Bull and Taco, they piled into the GMV and started out for the mill.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Betrayal

  It has always been my inclination to trust people. How can you go through life without trusting people to have common decency for their fellow man? Even now, when the world was turned on its ear, my first instinct was to trust in people. Unfortunately, that doesn't always work out for the best. Still, even after a betrayal that cost me one of my oldest and closest friends – a man I had grown up with – I had to believe that most people were decent and honest. It hit me hard losing Justin to a betrayal of someone I helped in good faith. It made me doubt myself for bringing in strangers to our midst. We all knew with reanimated dead walking the earth that tragedy could strike at any time. I had not prepared myself for the fact other living survivors might want to harm us as much as the dead. Naïve, I know, but I still desperately wanted to believe that most were good at heart. Ultimately though, the only thing we could do was take the chance. I feel confident Justin would have agreed with that philosophy. I knew in my gut that this betrayal was connected to the Lords and Masters. Now they
would have our location. Our threat level just escalated considerably.

  Wade Marshall

  ◆◆◆

  Justin collected Gloria at the bunk house about ten minutes after Wade had left. He had his cousin Joe and another man tagging along behind. He asked Gloria if she was set and they piled into Justin's Bronco. As they traveled to the mill, Justin filled the group in on the plan. The remaining finished lumber would be able to be loaded in just over an hour. They would clear everything left at the mill that was of any use. Justin and Joe would drive the two flatbeds back, and Gloria and Robert would follow in the Bronco.

  Gloria volunteered to keep watch while the others filled the trucks. She had taken an AR-15 from the armory as well as a 9mm Beretta. She took up position in front of the shed where the boards were stored. Justin and the other two men jumped onto forklifts and began transferring the lumber to the trucks. It took about an hour to gather the remaining supplies.

  They were strapping down the lumber when a shot rang out. Warm spray hit the side of Justin’s face. He turned and was horrified to see Robert sliding slowly to the ground, a good portion of his skull missing. The boards he had been strapping down now had crimson drips running down them, like paint dripping on a canvas. Justin turned to see Gloria take aim and fire a second shot, catching Joe center mass. She quickly moved the rifle to cover Justin.