By the time I made it to the conference room, set up in one of the airport’s old managers’ offices, Ken had already rounded up half a dozen of those that served as command. They sat around the table, some obviously still trying to shake the sleep from their brains.
“What the hell so important Ken?” John, the electrical engineer, spoke up first, but as soon as he had a murmur of agreement rumbled through the others at the table.
“We need to wait for Mike. Trust me, this is huge.”
John wafted his hand theatrically in front of his face. “Jesus, Ken, how drunk are you?”
“Never mind all that, John. Ian has some information that you all need to hear.”
All eyes turned to me. I shrugged and sat down, “Ken’s right. Once everyone is here I’ll drop my bomb on you. Better to only have to tell it once.”
After a few minutes, Mike came through the door and as matter-of-factly as always, took his seat at the table. “Anybody want to tell me what the fuck this is all about, please?”
“We were wondering that ourselves, Mike,” came the reply from the others. John added, “Apparently, Ian has some big news that required us all to be dragged out of bed.”
Mike leveled his gaze at me and raised his eyebrows.
I relayed the details of my story, then William’s, the same way I told Ken an hour before. I got pretty much the reaction I expected too. A lot of shaking heads, dropped jaws, and Mike sitting there with his brow furrowed, mulling the whole thing over. They fired questions at me one after another as I did my best to keep up. No, I had no idea if there were others at the hospital with my immunity. No, I had no idea how common it might be. No, I had no idea why I was immune to whatever the hell was causing this. Everybody wanted to see the scar I had worked so hard to hide since arriving few a few months ago.
Finally, Mike spoke up. “You were in this hospital for what, two, maybe three months? From what it sounds like, they were running tests on you the whole time while the rest of the country went to shit. They had to have made some kind of progress in figuring this out. Maybe they were even close to a cure. Maybe there is some way we can pick up where they left off.” He turned to Ken. “This is what you did right? Researching diseases and finding ways to fight them?”
Ken replied, “It’s a little more complicated than that, but basically, yes, I was an epidemiologist. But if you’re suggesting that I would somehow be able to figure out what an entire building full of scientists couldn’t… With no equipment and no staff… It would be impossible.”
“What if we can get you the equipment?” asked one of the committee members, “There are several agricultural research facilities around here. They might have what you need.”
Ken’s face twisted in thought. “There’s… There’s no way. I mean, we’re talking about the C.D. fucking C. here. There’s no way I can even replicate their conditions, let alone their research capabilities, their resources…” He trailed off shaking his head. Ken got up from the table and began pacing along the wall. “We’re talking about one chance in a trillion that I could even make progress on the research they had done, if I even had access to it!”
I stood slowly, leaned over the table and rested my weight on my knuckles. “I’ll go back and get it.”
“Get what?!” Ken exclaimed.
“Their research. There have to be files, laptops, samples, something you can use. I’ll go get it. I’ll take my Humvee and my weapon and…”
“And WHAT?!” Ken repeated. “You haven’t got a fucking clue what I need! No offense. You’re a hell of a soldier, but you’re no scientist. You would know the first place to look or what kind of files to grab.”
“Then come with me.” I said. “I’ll get you inside and you can snag whatever you think you’ll need. I know it’s a longshot. Hell, you’re probably right and it’s a pointless effort, but these people need something to hope for, don’t they? How long before morale completely craps out in this place? How long before people decide to just give up? Not long if there’s no hope for any kind of future. The people here are waiting for a cavalry that’s never fucking coming, but only the people in this room know that. How long before these people figure that out?! I’m going. Come with me, stay here, I don’t care, but I’m not just going to sit here and wait for a swarm of those fucking things to overrun the fence, or to die of some fucking papercut with my thumb in my ass. I don’t know why I waited so long to tell any of you about getting bitten. I had my reasons, but I waited too long. Maybe we can do something about what’s going on out there, and I am not going to give up what may be the one chance I have to make a difference.” I fell back in my chair, out of breath.
Mike spoke up, “Ian, what makes you think I’m going to just let you take valuable resources away from our effort here to run off on some wild goose chase to Virginia?” My jaw dropped, then a smirk slowly spread across his normally inexpressive face. “It’s risky as hell, Ian. I have no real love for the idea of letting you grab one of the few vehicles we have left and take my best soldier on a 300-mile road trip. But I also think you’re right. We need to do something, anything we can to try and keep the human race going. If the last 8 months are any indication, we don’t have much time before this war is over.”
There were mixed reactions from around the table, but nobody voiced any real strong dissent. Ken looked exasperated. Funny, this meeting was his idea. What the hell did he expect? For everybody to just say ‘Okay, there’s some random percentage of the population that’s immune for some reason or another. Let’s just leave it at that and go on farming next to the landing strip.’
“Maybe they figured out what caused this mess…” Ken said, taking off his glasses and running the fingers of his other hand through his shaggy, graying hair. “That’s step one. The only way to fight it is to know what the hell it is. From the conference I was at that landed me here, I can tell you that nobody in the civilian world had a clue, but maybe the government did. I’m going to have to go with you. It’s the only way to know for sure that some vital piece of data doesn’t get left behind. Mike, I’m going to make a list of equipment. Maybe we can send scouts to go find it.”
Mike nodded. “How many men do you think you’ll need Ian?”
I shrugged again, “I’d have to plan it out. I don’t want to take an entire regiment with me. Smaller groups move faster, but I would need to pick the right guys.”
“William?”
I thought about what almost happened the last time I took William through Virginia and shook my head. “No, I think he’d be better off here with you. He likes you, he’ll follow your orders.”
Mike nodded again in understanding. “Take the night. Plan your route, figure out the logistics and report to me in the morning with your wish list. We’ll figure it out then.” He rose to his feet. “Gentlemen, if there is nothing else, I would really like to get some sleep before my fire guard shift.” With that, he did a smart about-face and left.
Ken had the final word, “I need another drink.”
9
Max and Rocky
Rocky wasn’t growling. That was new. Most of the time, when someone new got too close to us, he’d let out a low, deep growl. That was my sign that we needed to head out somewhere new. We had been on our own for at least a month now. I lost track of counting the nights around day 5. I just didn’t care. They were gone, and all their nonsense with them. Sometimes I wonder how they are doing, but most of the time, I don’t.
I peeked out the attic window to see what the noise was and saw a car pull up slowly under the roof at the gas station. They shut the car off but didn’t get out. I waited forever to see if they were going to start looking for stuff. I knew even if they did that all the good stuff was gone and I hoped that would get them to leave. Instead I sat there watching like an idiot for a really long time before I figured out that whoever was in that car had gone to sleep as soon as they pulled in. Sheesh. What a waste. I could have been asleep the whole time, too.
I looked over at Rocky and started scratching his big fluffy ears. “Man, that was dumb. I should have known right away. You knew.”
He pushed his head into my lap and licked my fingers. I know my Dad would be proud of the two of us. He told me I had to grow up too quick, and I hoped I was doing right by him. But I know he would be happy that me and Rocky were still sticking it out together, keeping each other safe. I gave him a few more scratches, then curled up in my sleeping bag. “Lights out again, boy,” I mumbled as I fell back asleep.
Rocky wasn’t growling so I knew he thought it was safe for me to rest for a bit more. Rocky always had my back. If he felt it was time to move, he would tell me. Once I felt him lay down across my feet, I was out. I don’t know when Rocky really sleeps. Even at night he is watching out for me. I guess dogs can live on no sleep. I’m not a vet, how would I know?
Morning always comes too fast. Even before the zombies, I liked to lay in bed way too late. On a farm, you have to be out of bed when it is still dark if you want to get your chores done before you head off to school. I was always jealous of my friends who lived in small houses in town. They could get up and watch a cartoon or two while they ate some cereal on their couch. Not me, I was out there mucking the barn or some other activity that wasn’t cartoons.
Now, more often than not. I wake up early because most adults don’t. They stay awake too long at night, afraid the monsters lurking in the dark will find them. The problem with those kinds of thoughts is that the monsters are around all the time. The dark only makes them look scarier, but they can get you in the sunshine, too. So, I try to get up early, and Rocky and I sneak out of our hiding place and get on the road again. We were running a bit behind this time, but not by too much.
I packed up all our gear as quickly as I could and started munching on a few of the apples I had found yesterday in an old orchard. They were perfectly ripe. I never knew that New Jersey had farms like the one where I grew up. I was glad they did, though. It made it easier to find food for right now. The fall harvest season was going to come and go without anyone picking those delicious apples off the trees. It was a shame, but I couldn’t sit around for apples.
Rocky’s ears perked up just as I reached for the attic door. On the other side was a scraggly looking man who seemed just as surprised to see me as I was to see him. I have no idea why it took Rocky that long to hear someone coming up the stairs. He definitely wasn’t acting like himself. Normally, he would be biting at my backside to make me move faster if he thought there was someone getting close. I think Rocky was sick of other people, too. They were nothing but trouble.
“Jesus, kid. Scared the shit out of me. What are you doing alone up here? The rest of your group out looking for supplies or something?”
I stared at the man for a minute trying to size him up. He didn’t seem like a threat, but you could never be too sure. It’s best not to let your guard down too much around here. Rocky was wagging his tail like he had found a long-lost friend. Maybe this guy wasn’t going to be a problem.
“Where’s your group?” I asked, figuring I would change the subject. I didn’t want him to know I was alone, but I wasn’t big on lying either.
“I ditched them a while back. They were getting on my nerves. I try not to stay with anyone too long, anyway. I’m heading somewhere and I want to get there as fast as I can. Groups just slow you down.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, nodding my head as I made my way past the stranger. I wanted to get down the stairs and out the door in case I needed to bolt. He didn’t try to block my way, so that was another plus on his side.
“You going somewhere, kid?” He asked in a way that sounded more like it was out of curiosity than accusation.
“Yeah, some fort. Well, maybe. I haven’t decided yet.”
“You haven’t decided?” I could see the wheels turning. Damn, it. I gave away that it was just me and Rocky. No grown up would let a kid be in charge. “This fort?” He held out the flyer.
“Yeah. I had a group.” I figured there was no point in hiding it now. “They got kind of crazy, though, so I took off. Rocky and me were on our own before we found them anyway.”
“Well, nice to meet you Rocky. My name’s Jeremy,” he said, holding his hand out for Rocky to sniff before reaching down and scratching Rocky like a madman. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen a dog. Bet he likes belly rubs. Do you like belly rubs?” He asked before rolling onto the grass with Rocky.
They rolled around in the dirt and grass for a good five minutes before either one acknowledged that I existed. Rocky ran off to grab a stick and must have remembered that I was standing there waiting for him. He ran over and put the slobbery stick in my hand. I scanned the field and there didn’t seem to be any moaners, but I decided the road was a better place since I could see the ground, too.
Rocky took off like a shot after the stick. This was the first time in a long time I got to see him play. Come to think of it, I couldn’t remember the last time we played fetch. I tried not to let my guard down, but after a few tosses, I was so busy watching Rocky fly back and forth down the street that I had stopped paying attention to the world around me. That was when Jeremy screamed.
“Damn it! Grab your stuff, kid, we have to go!” He yelled as he struggled away from a moaner who had grabbed him by the shirt. He spun around two or three times as fast as he could and slipped out of the ratty flannel he was wearing. The moaner dropped to the ground but he was being followed closely by two more undead buddies, so I decided the best bet was to follow this man until we were out of trouble. I scooped up my sack and ran after him into the garage.
He whistled loudly for Rocky, who abandoned his stick and bolted into the garage ahead of us. That dog was always a step or two ahead. Climbing into the old junker, I had a brief second of regret. I really had no reason to link myself up with another person. Rocky and I were doing just fine without anyone else. The engine suddenly revved so loud that there was no changing my mind right now. Every moaner in a mile radius would be heading our way to see what all the commotion was about.
“Sorry, kid. I should have been watching. I got too wrapped up in your dog. What’s your name, anyway? I never asked,” he said casually as he plowed over the three corpses trying to stop us from leaving.
“Max. Where are we headed?”
“The place on the paper. I can drop you off whenever you want, but for now let’s just hang together until we’re out of Crazytown.”
“Okay for right now, but I still don’t know if I want to go there.” I started to think about the Rev and Daniel. If I went to the place they were heading to I would have to deal with them and all their bullshit.
“Fine by me, kid. You hungry? I got some cans in the backseat. Crack open a few, can opener is with them. I think I have dog food, too. It may be gross but it is food. You can give that to Rocky. I am sure he needs to eat after all that running. I have water, too.”
“Thanks, Jeremy,” I said as I flipped over into the backseat. I pulled my bag over and reached inside. The metal dog bowl was gross but it still held stuff. I filled it with water and then food. Once Rocky had his fill, he rolled away from me and fell sound asleep for the first time since we were with Daniel. I crawled back to the front, trying not to wake him. He deserved the rest.
“Peaches and spaghetti circles okay?”
“No name brand left? Ah, well. Store brand will have to do,” Jeremy laughed to himself at a joke that I didn’t entirely get.
We spent the next hour or so listening to music I had never heard before on the car radio. Jeremy seemed to forget that I was even around anymore. Each song was “my jam.” I laid back and listened to him sing along as I watched the grass and trees roll by. Eventually, we puttered out of gas.
“I filled up with what I could find laying around in that garage before I came up and found you. It got us further than I thought it would,” he said while scanning the area. “There were a few houses a mile or so bac
k. You stay here and guard the car. I’m going to walk back and see if I can get us some fuel or a better ride. This one guzzles gas.”
He didn’t wait for me to agree. He just popped the trunk, pulled out a gas can, and headed out. Rocky was already awake and on watch again. I guess he felt like his time off was over. I scratched his ears and poured him some more water. Can’t have him watching for moaners with a dry mouth.
“You think we should stay?” I asked as I scratched in between his ears, hoping once again that God would grant Rocky the ability to talk. “Fine. I’ll make the call this time, but you have dibs on the next big decision.”
Rocky stared in my eyes, and I could swear he nodded. So, there it was, we were going to stay. At least for now. If this guy does a turn and starts acting nutty we are out of here. Hopefully I had some time to figure out if I wanted to head to the place on the paper. The open road was calling, but that place might have a home cooked meal. So many choices.
10
Reverend Mathis
I cannot decide which is worse, the physical toll this journey has taken on my body, or the spiritual torment I must endure daily. This relentless uncertainty and confusion has swept over me. Is my faith being tested, or have I strayed so far from the Lord’s path that He has abandoned me? After bringing Daniel back into the fold as it were, many of the remaining townies voiced their dissent. I understand the ill will they bore toward him as many of them blamed him for what had happened at Sanctuary. I blamed him myself for a while. As days turned into weeks, my anger faded and I began to see my own culpability in what had occurred. Nevertheless, there were those in what remained of our group that still harbored resentment.
That day on the road when Daniel agreed to come with us to the location on the flyer, I naively believed that simply because I told them to, the townies would accept him back, but after the collapse of Sanctuary and the savage beating I received at his hands, they never looked at him the same way again. Even now as we close the remaining distance to our destination, I know there are several that still blame him entirely for what happened.
Aftershock Zombie Series (Book 2): Breakdown (A Collection of Survivors Tales) Page 5
