by Thomas Baker
Linda yanked Gus to a stop. She moaned, backpedaling, as she looked at the ground and over at Gus in wide-eyed terror. Gus looked ahead. There was a wide area of trampled corn. A torn apart animal, maybe a deer it was hard for Gus to tell, was laying in it.
"Gus," Linda whispered, sounding quieter than the wind. "This could mean zombies."
Gus took her hand. They walked sideways, skirting the trampled area. His breath caught in his throat when three zombies shuffled into sight. They were indiscriminate shapes in the shadows, but there was no mistaking by the waythey moved what they were. Gus and Linda stopped, muscles trembling. The zombies came their way. Two men burst into view, knocking over one zombiein the process. The two got tangled together. One of the other zombies fell on the man before he could recover. The third zombie attacked the other man that was still standing. The man kicked at the zombie, trying to back up at the same time to give him some room to use his rifle. The zombie pawed at it, hardly reacting to the kicks. The man slipped on some deer guts and went down. He fired a shot as the zombie dropped on him.
Gus didn't think the shot was successful as the two men's screams filled the corn field. Gus saw a figure stride into the opening. He held a pistol in front of him. He fired three times, each time the light from the barrel lit up his face. It was Albright.
All three zombies went down. Albright fired two more times. Gus assumed those shots were for Albright's men, the ones who attacked them. To make sure they didn't rise again.
Albright brought up his flashlight and shone it on-the-spot Gus and Linda were hiding, pointing his gun that way. Gus turned his head and realized Linda was no longer behind him.
"I see you there my friends," Albright called out. "Come back with us. Have we not treated you well? Healed your wounds? I have lost two of my flock chasing after you. You will understand then, I have no more patience for you or for Linda. Come out now or I will shoot you."
Gus didn't see what choice he had. He took a step forward and stopped. In the confusion of the attack Linda must have circled around through the corn. Now she stepped out behind Albright and clocked him with her walking stick. He went down in a heap. Linda grabbed his gun and raced over to Gus. Again she put her arm around him and put his arm up on her shoulder. They took off across the cornfield, stumbling along like they were in a three legged race.
They burst out of the cornfield minutes later by some train tracks. Gus let Linda lead him down the tracks towards town. The pain from his healing wounds was radiating through his body now. It wasn't long before they came across bodies scattered around. Most were zombies. Some of thebodies though were regular people.
"Gus this fight looks recent," Linda whispered to him. "Let's slow it down. I don't want to have made it this far just to be recaptured or become a zombie."
That was fine by Gus. His side ached, so he supported her choice with no argument. They crept past the boxcars, looked on the other side, and head down the tracks where they crossed a road. It was all clear.
"Linda, we'll have to pick a place to rest soon," Gus said, holding his side. "It feels like my innards are going to fall out."
"Okay, let's follow the train tracks down into town and get inside a house."
They had to slow things down as Gus struggled to keep going. Across the road and down the train tracks a little more, they came into the town. Gus could see the backs of houses, the moonlight glinting off of patio doors and windows. Something moved between two of the houses. It stopped, shifted and came at them fast. Linda raised the gun, ready to shoot. The figure stopped. Gus squinted, it was a big man, and he looked familiar.
"Holy hell! Gus? No way!" the man whispered loudly.
"JT?" Gus said, flabbergasted. "Don't shoot Linda. Hot damn, what are the chances?"
Linda lowered her gun and JT approached them.
"Gus," JT said, closing in for a hug. "It's nice to see your old, wrinkly face."
"Not so hard you big galoot, you're going to pop a stitch."
"Where did you guys come from?" JT asked.
"Back there, up the train tracks," Gus said pointing. "It was close, but we got away. Albright's got the luck of the devil."
JT switched from joy to concern. "Did you see Tyrone then?"
"No, we ran into Albright and his goons in a cornfield. After that we saw nothing but dead bodies, back by the trains. He's not with you?"
"Damn kid got the idea in his head he would be better off on his own. He's going to go all the way back home by himself," JT shook his head in disbelief. "He ran out of our hideout before we could talk about it. Last time I saw him was up by the trains. A zombie pack and some of Albright's men attacked us and I lost track of him."
"Albright had a group down here and was chasing us," Linda stated. "That surprises me. If he's serious about hunting us down, we better get under cover now."
"What about Tyrone?" Gus asked.
"We aren't going to do him much good if we stumble around in the dark to find him and get captured or killed," Linda said.
"You got a point there," JT had to concede. "Tyrone is one of the fastest people I've ever seen. I wouldn't be shocked that he got away. Follow me. We can talk more once we're safe."
Gus wanted to believe it was true, but was having a hard time accepting it. Just when things seem to turn their way, another problem always seemed to crop up. Albright seemed to have something on his side but it sure as hell wasn't God.
What in the hell is going on? Albright couldn't believe what he heard. He was out by the supply building with Charlie and Darryl. Charlie, covered with sweat despite the cool night, had brought him out here. Darryl lay on the ground, unconscious. His leg wound still oozed blood. At least Charlie was smart enough to come get me and not to bring Darryl in the church.
"What happened exactly?" Albright asked.
"It was Randall," Charlie said, disgusted. "He betrayed us. We went to put the black kid and the big guy in the truck and he fired on us. You can see what he did to Darryl there. Took off in the truck with them both. I had to carry Darryl on my back all the way here."
"I should have known. There is always a Judas," Albright mumbled.
He needed to keep this quiet and contained. He could not let any cracks in his armor show, or he might lose control. The last thing he needed now was for people to doubt him.
"I'll go find Linda first. Have her fix Darryl up," Albright said, clapping Charlie on the back. "Then we'll put together a small party to find the traitor, along with JT and Tyrone. With Hannah still here, I bet they haven't gone far. They are all most likely in Gateway City, with that snake in the grass Sheriff. You stay here. I'll go to the church and get Linda."
Albright only made it to the garden when a woman ran to him, calling his name.
"Reverend Albright, there you are," said Alice, frantic. "I have been trying to find you. A few seconds ago I ran into Linda and Gus. The way they were walking out seemed weird so I followed them. They've ran away. I'm afraid for them Reverend. What if..."
"Now child, it will be okay." Albright was calm, on the outside. Inside, his stomach swirled and his head pounded. How quickly things went from great to spiraling out of control. He battened down the rage he was feeling. He could let it out later. For now, he needed to be calm, cool, and in control.
"Thank you for telling me Alice," Albright said, giving her a hug. "May God be with you. Go inside now, tell no one else about this. I have it under control. There is no reason to worry anyone else. Through me God will keep us all safe."
"Yes Reverend," Alice said, looking relieved and sounding more calm herself.
She turned and went inside. As soon as she left, Albright whirled and stomped back to the supply shed. Albright's mind was in full damage control mode, making and discarding plans as he walked.
"Charlie, tonight we are surrounded by the unfaithful and the unworthy. Linda had fled, taking Gus with her. Here is what I want you to do. First, let's get Darryl inside the shed. Get him as comfortable a
s we can. I'll look at his leg and see what I can do. Then I want you to round up six men you can trust. You take three to look for Randall and the fugitives. I will take the others to find Linda and Gus. We will do a four-hour shift tonight. if we have no luck, we try again in the morning light.
"You want us to take them alive or can I just shoot them?" Charlie asked.
"Randall you can kill. God's swift and righteous punishment. I would like to have the other two back. I think you were right Charlie, we should have sent them to Purgatoryin the first place. If it will be too dangerous to capture them without our people getting killed, you may go ahead andshoot them."
"Yes Reverend," Charlie said enthusiastically.
"Go now," Albright said. "I'ill stay here with Daryll until you get back."
If all went well, this could work in Albright's favor. Even now he was thinking about how he could spin this and use it to make a permanent break between Hannah and her friends. Then she could be all his. It might cost him his nurse. It was a price he found he was willing to pay. She proved she couldn'tbe trusted, anyway.
When Charlie came back with his men, Albright set them to task. First, they carried Darryl into the shed and laid him out among some boxes. Albright found a knife and cut open his jeans around the blood stain. Albright wasn't medically trained, but he had seen a wound or two in his life. It looked like Daryll was in luck. It looked as if the bullet missed anything major and went clean through. Albright took some bandages from the stock in the shed and bound the wound as best he could. He covered Daryll up with a sheet, gave him some ibuprofen and a bottle of water and said a blessing over his body. Daryll stirred.
"Daryll, I know it hurts like the Devil is sticking you with his pitchfork but you will be okay. Sorry we have to leave you here like this but our mission is urgent. We will avenge you." Albright gave him a pat on the shoulder and turned to the others.
"Men, you see why we must find Linda quickly if we are to help our brother," Albright said, handing out a flashlight to each person, along with a handgun. The men nodded as one.
Albright pointed to the two men standing closest to him. "You and you come with me. You other men are to go with Charlie. Do as we command. We'll find them all and they will face God's judgment." At Albright's order, the groups split up.
Albright led his men down the path through the woods. He was no tracker, but this was the way Linda and Gus had gone according to Alice, so maybe he would find some sign.
The three of them didn't talk, so focused on their task. That was fine with Albright. He needed to concentrate and make sure he didn't miss any clues towhich way they might have gone. Nightfall wasn't helping. The posse came out on the road leading from the church to Gateway City. He figured they were heading for town, his guess was to get a car. Across the road he saw the cornfield. Would they have gone straight down the road to town or would they try to hide in the field? Albright went with his instincts.
"We will search the corn field from here down to town," Albright told his followers.
They plunged in straight, then fanned out and turned right, heading for town. Albright ordered them to stay close enough so they could see each other's lights. They hadn't gone far when Albright thought he heard a woman's voice. He saw the other two lights race off. He wanted to shout out to them to stay together but thought better.
Fools he thought, when he came to an opening in the field. He walked in as both men were being attacked by zombies. One was having his guts ripped out, screaming about the pain. The other man had shot but missed, hitting the zombie uselessly in the chest. He tripped, and the zombie fell on him. Coolly Albright brought up his handgun and dropped the zombies with two head shots. The two men trashed on the ground, screaming for help. Like a switch had been flipped the screams stopped, and they were silent. Albright gave them the same fate as the zombies.
What a waste.
His speeches weren't just rhetoric now. When he found them Linda and the rest, they would pay for disturbing his perfect scheme. He saw something rustle in the grass. He brought up his light and saw it was Gus. He brought up his gun.
"I see you there my friend," Albright called out. "Come back with us. Have we not treated you well, healed your wounds? I have lost two of my flock chasing after you. You will understand then, I have no more patience for you or Linda. Come out now or I will shoot you."
He was notice Linda wasn't beside Gus and wondering where she was. Maybe she got smart and abandoned him to save herself. He was scanning the area, keeping an eye on Gus in his periphery when he felt a tremendous pain exploding through his head. There was darkness.
He woke to golden light. It filtered through the rotting cornfield. His head throbbed to its own beat. With tentative fingers he felt around the back of his head and found a large bump, but when he pulled his hand away, there was no blood.
Albright couldn't believe it. It had to have been Linda who attacked him. Why would she do that? Hadn't he taken her in, made her part of his community, and kept her safe from the zombies?
He got to his feet, brushing the dirt from his black slacks. He took a few cautious steps forward. He didn't want to pass out again. Corn stalks swirled a little before everything became solid again.
He looked down at the zombies and his dead followers and shook his head. It was a shame. He scanned the ground, not expecting to find his gun. He wasn't let down there. There was nothing to do now but head back to the church. If Charlie had had no better luck, he felt he might just fly off the handle. Everything he worked for seemed to be slipping through his fingers, like trying to hold puffs of smoke. Cautiously he headed back. His return was uneventful. He found Charlie outside sitting on the front porch. At the sight of him Charlie flashed him a cold smile.
"You've looked better Reverend," he said, standing as Albright approached him. "I was looking all over for you this morning and you couldn't be found. I was thinking about sending out a search party for you."
"It went...unexpected," Albright said in a snarl. "Walk with me."
"Sure," Charlie said, falling in beside Albright. "Let's head to the supply shed. I have something to show you."
"Charlie," Albright said, clapping him on the back. "At least you haven't let me down."
"We lost Luke though," Charlie said.
"I lost both men that came with me," Albright said, his head throbbing again. He was careful though not to let his anger show. He left it at that.
"I had the men carry Daryll inside and down to the basement." Charlie unlocked the door to the shed and led Albright inside. Past the piles of canned goods, paper products, and other household supplies. Charlie came to a stop at a blue tarp covering something lumpy. Charlie pulled it back. Tyrone laid there, tied with duct tape around his hands and ankles, acloth wrapped around his mouth. He looked up with frightened eyes. Albright grinned and laughed.
"Praise Jesus."
The Reverend sat at his desk, one hand drumming, the other holding up his head. He was thinking about Purgatory. The trial run had been a success. Jay had been safely turned. Still, this little incident reminded him things could go wrong at any turn. He had come up with a way he believed would test Hannah and punish Tyrone. Sill, was it foolproof enough? He stopped drumming and pounded the table instead. He frowned and squeezed his eyes shut.
When he had first come up with the idea for the zombie cage, it was as a last choice, a nuclear option. He had always thought the sickly sweet promise was better at control than fear. Fear was a blunt instrument. He liked to be more subtle than that. So far, his subtle scam had worked. It also helped that he was keeping everyone here safe. Can't get those sweet leadership perks without followers.
It had been a risky proposition, setting the whole Purgatory system up. Taking a few expendable people out to round the zombies up without getting bitduring the process. Getting it all set up in what was the college swimming pool. Then pushing those who had worked on it inside with the zombies. He would have no secrets spilled before he
was ready to use it. It worked for the Pharaohs and it worked from him.
The only other person who knew of Purgatory's existence was Charlie. Charlie was the perfect second in command. Just smart enough to follow directions, with a mean streak to happily do what other people might balk at. Charlie liked the power he had now, with no ambition to be the one in charge. He was happy being a follower, not a leader. His only ambition seemed to take Randall's place. Albright could throw him that bone when it was to his advantage.
He knew he should be happier Purgatory worked out. He would be too, if it wasn't for Randall's betrayal. Linda's too, even though, if he was honest with himself, he wasn't surprised by it. He knew she wasn't under the influence of the church like the rest of his followers. He thought the promise of safety and having such a big influence with the group; her being a nurse, would've been enough to keep her here. Gus, who seemed like such a fool, ended up craftier than he would have believed.
Still, they had captured Tyrone.. If JT dared showed his face, Albright would make sure it got eaten off. Albright opened his eyes. Yes, he decided, he would use Tyrone as a test for Hannah. He wanted to make sure he had control over her now. If she passed, Hannah would be his. It was disappointing though. He thought, maybe unrealistically, it would have been at least another year before he would have had to unveil Purgatory to the church. If he had used it earlier though, would it have kept someone like Linda in line? It was too late for second guessing now. He had to spin damage control. Starting with getting rid of Tyrone by way of Purgatory. After that, finding the rest of his fucking friends and throwing them in. He would make an example out of them all, in front of the whole church. This is what would happen from now on, to any who defied him.
Albright stood and circled the room, putting together a speech for tonight. He would have to spin this into breaking God's rules, not his. After a few laps he went back to his desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a Bible. He walked and flipped through the pages, mumbling to himself. A knock on his door stopped him in his tracks. He laid the book down on the edge of the desk and crossed the room in long strides. He pulled the door open, annoyed at the interruption.
