Kern wasn't too happy with the whole arrangement. He confided to Dad that he wished she had been shot herself. Rude comments and glares were about Kern's only avenue, though, because Dad had drilled it into his head that if anything happened to Lori now, then they might be the ones on trial. It might not be a happy ending all things considered, but it was about as happy as it could get.
Pete had loaded Kern up in the front of his pick-up with Dad and Lori in the back and brought them to the river for some fishing. It was the first time Kern had been out of the infirmary. He could put a little pressure on his leg if he had something to hold on to, but not enough to walk. Dad and Pete had helped him to a camping chair on the bank. While everyone including Quinton had assured him that they would forever be in their debt, Dad was starting to feel guilty about not contributing. Catching some fish would be a nice way to relax and help out.
The noon sun was brutal in the late-summer days. All of them had on the wide-brimmed fisherman hats except Pete, who was sporting his usual ball cap. Pete had definitely distinguished himself as the best fisherman of the group, having caught over thirty fish since they had gotten there that morning. Even though Kern had definitely hit that salty teenager phase, he and Pete had definitely hit it off the past couple of weeks. Pete had confided in Dad that he had five kids and six grandchildren, but just like most everyone else, he didn't know if they were even alive. Kern was one of the oldest kids, almost an adult by the old legal standards. Dad assumed that Pete had a grandson about Kern's age.
The fishing trip wasn't just about fishing, however. Some of the hunters had seen a large mob of the dead roaming in the forest on the other side of the river. Not too many people were concerned, apparently complacent with the luck they had had so far. Even Quinton didn't seem too concerned, noting that the river would wash most of them downstream. Dad knew better, though. The dead were predictable, except when they weren't. He and Kern had watched them shamble through the streets of the city, hundreds or maybe even thousands taking the same path and then just veering off for no apparent reason. Maybe they would head upstream before finding a reason to cross. It wouldn't matter. Dad still had nightmares watching them stalk out of the river onto the other side, as he and Kern watched from the bushes on the hill, right after they left the school.
The side of the river they were on was heavily forested, but Pete had picked a spot where the tree line opened up and there was a large clearing. Not only could they hide the truck and get quickly back into the trees, but past just a few trees wide the clearing gave them a great view. On the other side of the river were old farm lands, now covered in high grass. They would have a better chance of seeing the dead before the dead saw them.
It had to be one of the worst ideas Dad had heard since the whole thing started. Hang out right by the river where a large group of the dead might wash up while being distracted with fishing. Not only that, but all it would take would be one of the dead crawling toward the river to escape their sight, see them, then alert it's comrades.
He understood, though. By now they were about two years into the apocalypse; an apocalypse that most of them didn't think they would survive. That's a long time, and people adapt. They did things that they never would have risked when it started, or even maybe a year after. Now they had grown used to danger lurking outside their little hamlet, even if they didn't understand it or just how quickly it could destroy everything they now held dear. Dad knew this first hand, but he also knew that if people were ruled by fear, they would be no better than he and Kern cowering in the shops in the city. It had taken near starvation to push them onwards, but they eventually accepted their lot in life, much like these people had.
Dad walked away from the group, not so much to get a better fishing spot than to get a few minutes by himself. The last couple of weeks he hadn't had a moment alone, between trying to be useful, the constant visitors, Kern, and now Lori. He never thought he would miss the days when he and Kern were so tired and exhausted that they just huddled by a small meal, together in silence. Those times were more intimate. Now he longed for them.
Instead of the collapsible, steel fishing poles they had carried for over a year, Pete had outfitted them like professionals. Dad didn't even know what half the rods they had brought were used for, let alone the two tackle boxes full of lures. They even had button-up fishing shirts to go with the hats. Dad thought it was a pretty nice gesture, but for all of Kern's waning bitterness at Lori, he was eating it up.
Ten minutes hadn't passed when Lori walked over to Dad with a mason jar full of cold water from the cooler. After all the travel grime had been washed off her and she had been fed for several months, she was actually an attractive woman, in a soccer mom sort of way. Once the shock of the trial had passed, and she and Dad had talked, she was funny and bubbly with a natural maternal instinct. Dad had grown fond of her, but she was extremely annoying. She asked questions about everything, and could talk for days about nothing. He wondered if she was as socially awkward before everything happened.
"You look like you could use a drink," she said. "You don't want to get dehydrated out here."
"Thanks. I'm pretty sure I'll be fine, though." Dad took the jar from her and took a deep gulp, then closed it and sat it down.
"What's wrong?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips. "You have been quiet most of the morning. I think I know you good enough to tell when something is wrong." Dad thought about evading the question, but knew she would just keep asking.
"I just haven't had much time to myself lately. We went from being by ourselves, not talking a lot, to constant stimulation."
"You don't like being here?
"No, it's not that at all! All the people at Kings Mill are great, and have been awesome to Kern and I. I guess I got used to not saying much when we were by ourselves, being able to think."
"Why can't you think now?"
"It's hard to explain. I feel like I should be doing something, planning the next move. Since we got here, I've done little else than look at the maps of where we are going and getting a little info on how to get there from Pete. I should be checking our packs, making sure we have enough food to last us a week or so. Maybe even planning some alternate routes."
"Why are you so anxious being here?"
"Well, I'm getting comfortable here. This is the best life gets out here now. Kern and I made a plan, though, and we need to see it through."
"Nothing could make you stay?" Lori asked, putting her hands behind her back and swaying from side to side. Dad started to shake his head when she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him fully on the lips.
It was exhilarating. He hadn't felt the touch of a woman in two years. Her lips were warm, and her face was soft as it pressed against his stubbly face. Awkwardly, he wrapped an arm around her waist. Even as he was doing this, he knew it was wrong. Maybe something was in Canton for Kern and him. It was a place she couldn't go and he would never ask anyone to leave the safety of their little haven. It was a bit forward thinking, but this moment or something like it had crossed his mind more than once. Then there was the fact that she was still mentally unstable, traumatized by everything that had happened to her. Taking advantage of her was something he refused to do.
Dad started to pull his arm away from her and broke the kiss. She looked into his eyes longingly, smiling so sweetly. Dad struggled to find the words, and before he could speak, a hand clasped his shoulder.
"Shh!" Pete said, motioning up to the truck. At first Dad thought Pete was trying to keep them from making their display apparent to Kern, but when Dad looked up toward the truck, he noticed the bank was empty, and Kern was sitting in the truck. Up ahead, in the clearing, Dad saw a massive group of the dead heading away from them, heading in the direction of Kings Mill.
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Kern clutched the pistol in his hand to the point his hand ached. The dead harassed them most of the way back to Kings Mill. Luckily they were spread out, not clogging the tr
ail, so they were able to shove them out of there way with the truck. It had never occurred to Kern before, but mowing them down in a vehicle would just damaged it or they might pile up if there were enough of them and get the vehicle stuck. Pete tried to make small talk with Kern, playing it off like it was business as usual, but Kern could see through the farce.
Still, that wasn't the most pressing matter on his mind. As he looked back to the bed of the truck where Dad and Lori were sitting in the middle hoisting their weapons, Kern couldn't stop thinking about what he had seen as Pete was helping him get into the truck. Dad was kissing Lori, the same woman who just two weeks ago could have killed him. Now here they were, in the midst of all the death and decay that their world had to offer and Kern was so confused.
"Holy cow," Pete said as he slowed the truck just enough to keep the dead behind him from catching up. Kern snapped back to his senses and groaned at what he saw up ahead. Hundreds of walking corpses shambled from the trees on one side of the trail, across the dirt patched with grass, and into the trees on the other side. Most of them were decayed, but a few "younger" ones were almost walking, twice as fast as the others.
"This isn't good," Pete said, stopping the truck and throwing it into reverse. "I reckon we'll head back up the road and draw them away."
"You're awful calm right now!" Kern said.
"No since in getting too riled up. Besides, we have a plan in case something like this happens." The crack of a rifle drew Kern's attention to the bed of the truck. Lori had brought the rifle in the bed around and fired at one of the slow-moving ones, still far enough away to not be a threat. The bullet struck it in the chest, doing little more than tearing a hole in the old suit it wore as it continued to shamble forward. Pete cursed under his breath.
"Stupid," he said, as he gave it some gas and began to tear back down the path, littered with the dead. Now the runners were hot on their tail, coming from in front of and behind. Pete tried his best to miss them, slipping between two trees and off the path. Gunshots echoed from the bed of the truck. Kern turned and saw Lori laying in the bed of the truck in the fetal position, Dad firing into the face of one the dead, hanging onto the side. As soon as it let go and Kern heard the sickening crunch as the truck rolled over it, two more runners latched on.
"You're Dad can handle himself," Pete said. "I need you to help me figure out a way to get away from these goons! Keep your eyes peeled and you're gun ready!."
Kern's stomach was starting to turn, not only because of their current predicament, but also because of Lori. Kern half-hoped that she would get pulled from the truck, and then that little problem would take care of itself. He instantly knew that was not the way to think about it, but he would worry about that later. A group of runners darted at them from ahead. Kern yelled and brought his weapon up as the space between them closed rapidly. One of them, a wisp of a once-woman, had her eyes locked on him. Kern started to squeeze the trigger, aiming right between her sunken eyes. Before he could, Pete whipped back onto the old park path.
The dead weren't as thick here, and the faster ones were behind them now. Pete easily navigated around them, being careful to keep a decent speed when he could. Kern dared a glance in the rearview mirror, and could see some of them still running after them back in the distance. Once they turned onto the main road, Pete yelled in excitement.
"We did it, kid!"
Kern smiled at him and looked back into the bed of the truck. Dad was rubbing Lori's head, undoubtedly trying to offer her some consoling words as he glance around, wary of any stragglers. Kern was glad he was alright. Lori was another matter. If he was lucky, she would have a bite on her and he wouldn't have to go through with confronting Dad about what he had seen. Even though he hated to think like that, she had tried to kill him. All of that would have to wait. Chances were they wouldn't be going back to Kings Mill for a bit.
"What are we going to do now?" Kern asked.
"Well, there's a safe house a few miles down this road. We'll head that way, I reckon. If anyone else got caught up in this on this side of the Mill, they'll be headed there, too."
Old country roads weren't well known for their upkeep, especially after two years of no one caring. Kern was bounced more than once, and Dad had even banged on the back window and yelled for Pete to slow down. Trees lined the old road as Pete dodged potholes and pieces of glass. While the people of Kings Mill tried to keep the closest roads clear, there was still some through traffic apparently. They passed a car with the hood up. A few of the dead were laying around it, and next to the grass line was the red stains of dried blood.
It didn't take long to get to the safe house; an old cinder block building with no adornments or signs. Behind it lay a vast, overgrown field. Before Pete could turn the truck off, the door opened and there was Quinton. Pete stepped out and started talking to him, but Kern immediately went to the side of the truck as Dad hopped off the side.
"Are you okay?" Kern asked, and Dad nodded. Kern hadn't realized just how worried he was until he exhaled and sagged against the truck. His leg was burning, and he had to steady himself. What he said next was forced.
"What about Lori?" Even to himself, he sounded bitter. The look he got from Dad showed that he had picked up on it, too.
"She's fine," Dad said, softening his glare and pulling Kern into and embrace and kissing him on the forehead. "I'm so glad you're okay. That was crazy."
"That was life.
"Yes it was."
It had happened that quick. They had reverted back to their comfortable silence. Even as Dad helped Lori out of the truck, he didn't say anything. It was time to survive now. Lori was sobbing hysterically as Dad led her to the door, where she was comforted by the few people inside. Quinton clasped Dad's shoulder, offering the usual gratitude in time like these. While he was in the middle of expressing his gratitude that they were all still alive, Dad cut him off.
"What's the plan now?" Dad asked, the edge to his voice making Quinton pull his hand back.
"We wait here. Pete assured me that the pack is heading away from Kings Mill. All we have to do is wait them out."
"How much food do you have?" Dad crossed his arms, but Kern could tell he was anxious by the way he swayed side to side.
"You guys make nine of us. I've already checked, and I think we should be fine for at least four or five days."
"What if they linger, or smell us? Have you already thought that through? This place could be a death trap. I don't think we should risk that. Why don't we go to the actual town and set up there, where there's more distractions for them and places to hide?" Quinton shook his head.
"Kevin already hit us up on the radio. They came through the town as well. This is a lot larger than what we are used to. They are in the town, on the banks of the river, and on both sides of the Mill. We came to check it out in pairs of two when James came back saying he had seen them on the other side of the ridge. This is our best bet right now, unless you want to try your chances out in the woods tonight."
Kern wanted to run. He knew what could happen if the dead decided to linger. They could be trapped in there weeks or longer. If there were as many out there as Quinton said there were, then staying in the woods would be suicide. Several days ago Pete had explained their contingency plans, and driving in this situation would be out of the question. Even with a full tank of gas, they might not be able to make it back without walking if the dead were spread out over a long distance. Even though he dreaded staying in a solitary house and getting trapped, he knew they wouldn't last long if there were any number of runners out there.
One of the girls from the community, Kacie, was already pouring bleach around the outside of the building. The smell made Kern's already sick stomach turn. It was a smell he had grown to hate. Where it once offered some kind of security, being out in the open forest and then inside Kings Mill had made him hate it. Isolation and desperation were the only feelings it now conjured for him. He dreaded how it would smell inside
later that evening, when they would have to start periodically wiping around the windows and doors.
Kern grasped Dad's arm to help him inside when Lori slowly edged out of the building and towards Dad. Her eyes were red and her face blushed, but she was trying to make the best of it. Kern groaned to himself. If it had just been the three of them, he would have confronted Dad right there with no worry about Lori's feelings on the subject. Given their current situation, and with Quinton and the others around, Kern felt like he would be making an embarrassing show. They didn't know what was going on, and they certainly didn't understand what he was going through. Once he had a chance, Dad was going to get an earful.
"Are you okay?" Dad asked her as she stood in front of them, her arms crossed and head bowed.
"I think so. I keep getting told that we are going to be alright, that it's safe here. I guess I will have to trust them. Are you and Kern going to stay?"
Kern snorted. "It's not like we have much of a choice. They're not going to let us take the truck, and I have a bad leg thanks to you. So if we die here, that's your fault."
Lori's face and body tensed up, and if she tried to hide herself from Kern's gaze any harder she probably would have fallen over. Dad tightened his grip around Kern and said his name harshly.
"What's wrong with you?" Dad asked. "There's a thousand of those things out there and you're wanting to act like this? Yeah, you got shot in the leg by her, but she has been nothing but nice to you since then. Even if she hadn't been, this isn't the time nor the place."
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