by Urban, Tony
So, the next day when Grady stood in front of row after row of empty chairs, she was more surprised than anyone. Certainly, more surprised than Grady who went through with his sermon even though the only people close enough to hear his words were the people who were already devoted to him. No one from Brimley came within a mile of the revival and, when it was over, Juli expected Grady to be distraught, perhaps even angry.
Instead, when she approached him afterward, he seemed indifferent at worst, but more at peace than anything else.
"I'm so sorry, Grady. We let you down. I failed you."
"You did no such thing."
"We tried. We really did. And Owen gave the best sales pitch I'd ever heard, even better than Donald in the Kitchen when he was trying to sell me a new set of porcelain cookware. I don't know what happened. Why they wouldn't listen to us."
Grady, who had been folding and stacking chairs, turned to her. "It's fine, Juli. I knew this would happen. It was part of the vision."
She stared at him, struggling to find words. Did he really mean that or was it something he was saying to ease her guilt? "You what?"
"I knew the residents of Brimley wouldn't come to us. That they wouldn't leave the safety of their town. Those walls are their burning bull. They trust in them more than they trust in God. They're Heathens. And we have to save them from themselves."
Juli stared at him, curious and confused. She didn't know why he sent them there in the first place if he knew they wouldn't come and half-believed he was making all of this up as he went along. But that wasn't the man she'd known for the last four years. That man couldn't tell a lie if his life was at stake.
"But Grady," she said. "How can we do that when they won't listen?"
Grady's eyes shined and Juli realized he had a plan. That he'd had a plan all along. "Those men and women had a chance to come to us. To put their lives in the hand of God, yet they refused. And so, tomorrow, we go to them."
He turned away from her and recommenced folding and stacking chairs as if all of this was routine, mundane. Juli had no idea what Grady's - or God's - plan was, but seeing the peace that enveloped him, she had no doubt it would be a success.
Chapter 29
Saw chose Diesel, the bartender at the Dry Snatch, to be the first participant in the battles. He accepted this fate grudgingly and tried to use the fact that he only had one eye to weasel out of it, but Saw assured him that it wasn't a bad thing. Hell, it was an honor really. Diesel's chance to be a hero in front of every man and woman in Shard End.
As the sun set, fifty-gallon barrels had been filled with trash and debris, then set ablaze turning the makeshift arena of automobiles into a glowing, orange stadium. Everyone in town came out to see what Saw had planned and none of them left disappointed.
For most it was standing room only but Saw and Mina sat in lawn chairs perched on a platform made of scaffolding, giving them a bird's eye view. He looked around, pleased with himself for coming up with this grand idea and proud of Mitchy for helping pull it together.
Saw found Mitch standing a few yards away, sidled up with one of the local slags, Violet or Petunia or Rose. Something flowery her name was. They seemed close and, even though Saw wouldn't have got his pecker within ten feet of a bint like that, he was happy for the boy.
Saw turned his attention to Diesel who sat atop a rusted-out Ford Explorer, rocking back and forth. Saw thought that, if they waited any longer, the man might tuck tail and run and that certainly wasn't how he wanted his games to begin. So, he rose to his feet and cupped his hands around his mouth.
"I'd start off with 'ladies and gentlemen' but we don't have any of either here in Shard End."
The crowd laughed, their noise rough and throaty. Even their joy was hard around the edges.
"So instead I'll say this. Welcome to all of you ugly sons of bitches!" The crowd applauded, stomped their feet, smacked their hands on the vehicles that formed the arena. "What we've got planned tonight is the first contest in a tournament of sorts. And our first contestant is Diesel."
Diesel looked toward Saw as if waiting for stage directions.
"Stand up, man."
Diesel did. Some of the crowd gave muted applause but most watched with avid anticipation.
"Hop on down there."
Diesel climbed down from the Explorer and into the ring. He looked confused and terrified and stared up at Saw like he expected a last-minute reprieve.
Saw wasn't about to do that. "Good on ya. Now, boys, bring in his opponents."
From opposite ends of the arena, two men, an Asian Saw knew only as Kwon and a hulking mute everyone called Polo, each dragged a zombie over the cars and into the ring. They used catch poles to keep them at bay and to keep themselves safe and once the zombies were inside the confines of the ring, they loosened the nooses and slipped off the tethers.
The zombies staggered about as if trying to get their bearings, sometimes homing in on a spectator outside the ring and outside their reach.
"Now you might be wondering about the rules," Saw shouted and the zombies turned toward the sound of his voice. "There ain't none. Diesel's job's to kill these bastards without getting bit. He succeeds, and he gets to choose who goes in the ring tomorrow. If he fails, well, we know what happens. It won't be comely. Sound fair enough?"
The crowd yelled in the affirmative.
"Good. Now Diesel, you give that bonnet a good bang and get this show started."
Diesel hit the hood of the car beside him, but not too hard. Saw glared at him and he gave it another try. This one was harder, louder, and it drew the zombie's attention.
Saw sucked on his bottom lip, excited to see how this would play out.
At first, Diesel kept to the edges of the arena, like a boxer staying on the ropes and making his opponent come to him. The zombies followed, growling and hissing. Diesel looked more panicked with each passing moment and even tripped over a chunk of a fender, allowing the zombies to get close as he scrambled to his feet.
Mina leaned in close to Saw and spoke into his ear. "If they kill him this fast, those people," she motioned to the onlookers. "Are going to be awful disappointed."
Saw shook his head. "I think the lad'll put up a bit of a fight. I'm not counting him out just yet."
He gave her a quick smile and she returned a weak one.
"Cheer up, love. It's better than being stuck in the house isn't it?"
Mina didn't answer, instead looking to the ring where there was a zombie on each side of Diesel. The crowd was docile with only an occasional jeer breaking their silence.
Diesel must have realized staying on the defensive wasn't going to be a winning strategy and he grabbed hold of the arm of the zombie that was closest to him. The creature was a middle-aged man in a cheap business suit. Diesel took a good grip on his jacket sleeve, then he swung the monster in a circle, slamming it into one of the vehicles lining the ring. It fell to the ground.
That move got the crowd more interested and several spectators began shouting, some even throwing out words of encouragement.
"Get the fuckers!"
"Kill 'em, D! You got this!"
Saw was pleased to see their growing excitement. And he had a feeling it would only get better.
Diesel stomped on the zombie on the ground, then turned to the other creature. It was close enough to grab him and almost did, but Diesel ducked sideways and avoided its grasp. He jogged a few yards away, to safety, but the move allowed the fallen zombie to regain its footing and soon both were coming for him again.
Saw watched as the man moved further away from the zombies, scanning the area around him, searching.
Diesel's eyes locked on a piece of brick lying on the ground. He snatched it up, gripping it in his hand. Zombie number two, a shirtless young man in athletic shorts whose six pack was evident even in death, was closer. It trudged toward Diesel and as soon as it was close enough, Diesel swung with the brick and smashed it in the face.
The
zombie's almost aristocratic nose folded sideways, and a large gash opened on its face, oozing black blood. Diesel swung again. This time the brick hit the creature in the ear and the blow sent it to the ground.
The crowd erupted in boisterous screaming as Diesel crouched over the zombie and used the brick to hit it again and again and again. The monster's head was nothing more than a pile of broken skull and destroyed brain by the time the man was finished.
When Diesel looked up, his face was tattooed with blood spatter and his lone eye blazed. The crowd shouted in approval.
Saw grabbed Mina's narrow thigh. "Told ya, love. One down."
Mina looked toward the action, but Saw wondered if she was really seeing it. She'd been so aloof lately. He thought she'd be at least somewhat grateful that he was off the heroin. That she'd show her appreciation. But no matter what he did, she seemed like half of her was somewhere else. Her attitude had him wondering and a curious Saw wasn't a good thing.
He tried to forget about that to focus on the battle that was happening below. Diesel had finished off the younger zombie and was focused on the suited creature. That man was taller and broader and when Diesel swung the first time with the brick, he only hit it harmlessly in the shoulder.
The zombie grunted as if annoyed and reached for him, catching hold of Diesel's shirt which ripped down the middle, allowing him to slip away. What Diesel lacked in size, he made up for in agility and he ducked behind the zombie before it could react.
He took the zombie by the collar and shoved it toward the nearest car, pinning it against the vehicle. The creature flailed with its arms, but its clumsy, slow protestations were of little use. Diesel slammed the brick into the back of its head and Saw thought he could hear the crack twenty feet away.
The zombie went limp and its body slithered along the car before hitting the ground. Diesel stomped on the back of its skull for good measure, but it was done.
The spectators roared with approval and Saw rose to his feet. "Well done! Very well done! A round of applause for our lad."
The noise as they screamed and stomped and clapped was so loud it made Saw's ears ring, but he didn't mind at all. He hadn't cared much whether Diesel won or lost. He only wanted blood to be spilled and he got that. And that was only the beginning.
Chapter 30
The sun had barely crested the horizon, its golden rays casting long shadows before every tree and shrub. And even longer ones from the settlement of Brimley where the town was little more than a series of dark angles, backlit by the morning glow.
Grady stared at the town from fifty yards away. It was as he'd seen it. As he knew it would be. He couldn't see any of the residents, but he knew most were still in their beds. He knew the few that were awake were in the process of getting dressed or eating breakfast, still fighting away the sleep from which they'd recently escaped. He knew they had not the slightest clue of their coming fate.
In his vision, God had explained his plan. He told Grady what needed to be done to save what remained behind of mankind. And Grady knew the next months would not be easy. He knew there would be pain and sadness. Loss and mourning. Death and destruction. And it all began here.
They were less than ten yards from the town when Grady looked back to his followers. There were so many of them, all eager to do whatever was needed to fulfill God's will. Even if Grady hadn't been shown the future, he would have had complete faith in this flock.
He watched a dark silhouette skirting the exterior walls, ducking into and out of the crevices and crannies. Soon, the person turned and came toward them.
Grady met Owen half way, now less than 100 feet from the town. "It's done?"
Owen nodded. In his hand he held an oversized, decades old walkie-talkie. "Been a while since I did this, but it's the kind of thing you don't forget."
Owen kept stealing nervous glances toward the walled off town. Grady placed his hand on his shoulder. "I understand that you know these people. Lived with them. But this is what must happen."
"I know. I believe in you, Grady." Owen pushed the radio his way. "Just push 'talk'."
The walkie talkie was so large that Grady almost needed to use two hands to hold it. His eyes settled on the button, and without any hesitation, he pressed it.
The front wall to Brimley collapsed in an explosion of smoke and debris. The blasts were so loud that it shook the ground and Grady could feel the tremble underfoot. Owen's years’ experience had paid off and the devastation created a forty-foot wide hole. More than they needed.
In the minutes after the bombs went off, the men and women of Brimley emerged from their homes. Many still in their pajamas and nightclothes. Some so shocked they stumbled out half dressed. They carried nothing but fearful expressions. No weapons. When they saw what waited outside their walls, some ran but most stared on with abject horror.
Juli, as usual, was at Grady's side and her hand closed into a fist as she grabbed on to his shirt sleeve.
"What now, Grady?"
Grady didn't look behind himself, but he waved his free arm overhead.
"Go forth!" He shouted.
He could feel them moving. His flock. There were so many they displaced the otherwise calm air, stirring up the dirt and creating a dust storm so heavy it made it hard to see.
Juli's hand squeezed Grady more tightly and he felt her trembling like the ground had trembled, like she was experiencing some kind of aftershock. He turned to her, and in his peripheral vision he saw his flock passing by them, to the right. Marching toward Brimley.
More than one thousand zombies passed by the dozen or so human members of Grady's congregation. The creatures were loosely bound together with ropes and cords and twine, lashed to one another at their waists and forming something like an oversized chain gang.
The sight of them stole Grady's breath, but he managed a few words to Juli.
"Now, God shows his wrath."
The zombies breached the town and the people inside screamed.
Chapter 31
Lumpy, he of the exploited wiggling and dancing zombies, was the first human to die in the arena. Mitch wasn't surprised. The man did little more than run in circles for four or five minutes, then tripped over a discarded bumper. The zombies made quick work of him after that and Mitch supposed there was a certain amount of karma involved.
The creatures ate at Lumpy's fat carcass for a good half hour before losing interest. Mitch had noticed that in the past too. The zombies never treated humans like all you can eat buffets, gorging themselves until they burst. They only ate what they needed. That, of course, allowed enough left-over meat to come back to life and for the endless, vicious cycle to carry on.
Lumpy reanimated a few minutes after the zombies stopped dining. Mitch wasn't sure how that part worked. The timeline never seemed consistent, but the coming back to life part never changed. The sad excuse for a pimp started to shake, then made it back to his feet and when he peered at the onlookers, his eyes had taken on the undead, gray pallor.
Saw gave a thumbs up gesture and Kwon and Polo climbed into the ring, each holding the catch poles they used to transport the undead. At first, Mitch thought they might simply corral Lumpy and add him to the storage container with the other zombies. But, once they had the noose around his neck, a third man, a tall, lanky Mexican named Fernando, joined the fray.
Mitch looked toward Saw who had climbed down from his scaffolding tower and who was entering the ring. This was getting interesting.
"Strip him down," Saw ordered and Fernando did just that, not stopping until Lumpy was completely nude. The sight of his fat rolls and a conglomeration of odd, assorted growths made it clear to Mitch how Lumpy had earned his nickname. It was not a pleasant view.
Saw held a twelve feet long section of steel rebar. He looked toward the crowd of onlookers.
"You've all been wondering what would happen to the losers. Well, here it is. If you've got a weak stomach, you might want to go now."
Sally Ros
e grabbed onto Mitch's arm and whispered to him. "What's he going to do, Mitch?"
"I'm not sure." That was the truth. Mitch knew Saw had something planned, but the man wouldn't give him the details. "Don't want to spoil the surprise, Mitchy," was all he'd say. So, Mitch was as eager to see what came next as the other clueless spectators.
It was worth the wait.
"Put him on the ground," Saw told Kwon and the Asian man did as ordered. "Polo, Fernando, spread his legs."
Each of them grabbed a leg and pulled them so far apart that it reminded Mitch of trying to split the wishbone after Thanksgiving dinner.
Saw moved behind Lumpy, who flailed but couldn't break free of his three captors. He held the rebar in the middle and carefully lined it up with Lumpy's hairy, mud-brown asshole which was puckered tighter than lips that had just tasted their first lemon.
"Oh, Jesus," Sally Rose said and buried her face in Mitch's shoulder. Part of Mitch wanted to look away too, but the other part of him had to see this. Needed to see this. He heard his heartbeat in his ears, he was so excited.
Saw rammed the rebar up Lumpy's ass. It sunk in a few inches, then a foot. The crowd gasped. A few gave pained yips like it was them getting a chunk of metal shoved up their poop chute. At the sound, Mitch saw Saw grin and lick his lips with excitement. The man was loving this. And so was Mitch.
With a grunt, Saw sent two more feet of rebar into Lumpy. The zombie's body writhed and rocked side to side, helpless.
Saw rammed more of the rebar into Lumpy and Mitch thought there must be close five feet inside him. A low, steady groan rolled out of his mouth.
"Kwon, tilt his head back for me," Saw said.
Kwon looked at Saw, clearly skeptical about letting go of the catch pole and moving into biting radius.
"Don't be such a puff. He's not gonna get you."
"Okay." Kwon set the pole down and approached, wary. But Saw was right. Lumpy wasn't a threat any more. Kwon grabbed hold of what little hair the man had left and pulled his head back, stretching out his neck.
