MARZ | Book 2 | MARZ 2

by Davis, James

  “Bingo!” Roosevelt said, pumping a fist in the air.

  “Really? Bingo? Explain to me what in the hell we’re going to do with these relics?” Johnny chuckled while grabbing one of the large revolvers. He pressed the big .44 magnum out and aimed it at the far wall to test the trigger break. BOOM! The gun exploded sending sharp pains in both of their ears as the concussive blast reverberated in the small basement.

  “What in the holy sheep shit!” Roosevelt shouted as he held his hands over his ears.

  “Johnny held his own hands to his ears and leaned forward pressing in on his skull to try and relieve some of the pressure.

  “Probably should have checked to see if it was loaded. That's my bad.” Johnny said sheepishly.

  “No shit, you should have checked that damn hand cannon! Bout blew my goddamn eardrums out!” Johnny gave a light chuckle.

  “If it helps any my ears are ringing like hell too.” Roosevelt looked at his retarded friend and shook his head.

  “Next time you pick up a gun don't just pull the damn trigger without checking it.” Roosevelt scolded. After they finally recovered from the blast they finished going through the safe. They found a ton of gold and silver along with the pistols and a single double barrel shotgun in the back corner. They spread their meager stores of ammo out on the bench and stepped back to take it all in.

  “Could just take some of this money and run down to the gun shop and load up on guns and ammo.” Johnny teased. Roosevelt simply backhanded him in the bicep for suggesting something stupid.

  “Alright so we have eleven shots left for the revolvers and one box of shells for the double barrel. Fantastic.” Roosevelt stated sarcastically.

  “I guess it beats no bullets at all.” Johnny replied as he scratched the side of his head.

  “We should probably take as many of the coins as we can manage. Might come in handy down the road if we find someone to trade with.” Roosevelt said, picking up one of the tubes and feeling its heft. He set the tube back on the bench and started pulling out more of the tubs, leaving the silver bars behind.

  “Go find a couple of backpacks or duffels.” Roosevelt said as he continued to pull out the tubes of gold coins. Johnny ran up the stairs and returned several minutes later holding a child size cartoon bookbag and a large duffle bag. He held them both up for Roosevelt to see.

  “Which one do you want?” Johnny asked.

  “I guess give me the small one for these coins. We’ll use the big one for food.” Roosevelt said, reaching for the small pack. He shoved tubes of coins into the small pack until it was getting uncomfortable to hold. When they finished taking what they wanted from the safe they closed the door and spun the dial, locking it as it was when they found it.

  “Alright let’s go check the garage for some wheels and then load up on food. It’s already getting dark out so we might as well stay here for the night. The made it up to the main floor and set their bags down in the living room before heading for the garage door. Johnny flipped the light switch and pulled the door open allowing Roosevelt to move in, pistol pressed out and sweeping left to right.

  “All clear.” He said as he stuffed his pistol back into the pocket of his baggy overalls. Inside sat an older 2020’s model Ford Fusion and an ancient Polaris side by side. The Polaris had a scratched and scuffed up bed in the back along with a set of almost bald tires.

  “This thing isn’t going to get us far but it sure as hell beats walking to Denver.” Johnny said. Roosevelt walked over to the old workhorse and popped the gas tank lid off. He peered down inside with his flashlight and saw that the tank was full. He twisted the cap back on and then walked around kicking each tire.

  “Full of gas and the tires all have air. Guess this will be our trusty steed until she eats shit in a few days from running too hard.”

  “Hopefully, we find another Can-Am dealer along the way.” Johnny replied.

  “Wishful thinking there. We’ll be lucky to find a working ride at all when this thing wears out.” Roosevelt said.

  “Let’s go get this food packed up. I’m exhausted.” Johnny said, moving back toward the home's entrance. The pair moved inside and started packing up every piece of non-perishables they could find. Once they were finished, they carried their stuff over by the door and sat it down.

  “I’m sleeping in the basement away from all of this death.” Johnny stated. Roosevelt moved to a hallway closet and opened it to find stacks of blankets and pillows. He tossed one of each to Johnny and then grabbed his own before following Johnny to the basement door. Roosevelt stopped at the door and then turned and went back through the house shutting off all the lights before he headed down into the basement with his friend. They were tired. The frozen dip in the pond had zapped the energy out of them both. They both made a pallet on the floor and laid down under their own blankets falling asleep almost immediately.

  Chapter Ten

  4:18 a.m. January 3, 2049

  Inside the farmhouse

  Tennessee

  Johnny’s eyes shot open to the sounds of shuffling feet above them. He rolled to his side and started to shake Roosevelt awake.

  “Rosie, man, wake up. Something is upstairs moving around.” Johnny said in a slow even tone. He eased to his feet and found one of the revolvers before moving back over by Roosevelt. The big man was up on his feet listening closely to the sounds coming from above.

  “What is that?” Roosevelt quietly asked.

  “I don’t know but it can’t be good.” Johnny said. About that time the basement door sounded as it was being bumped into followed by scratching fingernails on the wood. The sound made a shiver run up the two men’s spines as they eased over to the bottom of the stairs. It was still dark out so they couldn’t see the silhouette of whatever was causing the noise under the door. BAM! The door was slammed into once, twice, three times before the two backed away from the steps.

  “Alright I have seven shots left in my Smith & Wesson plus the two revolvers and the shottys. If they get through that door just stand back behind me until I move out of the way. We have to make every single shot count.” Roosevelt said as he reached down and grabbed the double barrel.

  “I’ll fire my two shells and step out of the way so you can unload the last seven rounds of the nines while I’m reloading shells.” Roosevelt added, checking the chambers of the shotgun. Seeing that it was already loaded he eased the action closed and pulled back the two hammers. He handed Johnny the S&W and then moved to the bottom of the stairs, ready for whatever came next. The door shook in its frame as something slammed into it again and again.

  “Shit, I wish the damn thing would come on already. The anticipation is killing me!” Roosevelt said, holding the shotgun up toward the basement door.

  “Careful what you wish for jackass! I’m down here too!” Johnny scolded. Just then a small bit of wood flew from the door and down the stairs at the two men. They looked at one another just as the door exploded inward. Chunks of wood and debris rained down on the two men as several of the zeds tumbled down the stairs in a ball of snapping teeth and reaching hands. Roosevelt squeezed both of the shotguns’ triggers sending two rounds of buckshot ripping through the downed monsters’ bodies. Several more shuffled down the stairs and Johnny moved forward, pistol raised firing on the advancing zeds. Nine-millimeter rounds slammed into heads and torsos, dropping a few of the undead as they came down the steps. This proved to be too much for the remaining group as they tripped and tumbled down on top of the first few to come down.

  “Back up and get ready!” Roosevelt shouted, stepping back in front of Johnny as he raced to grab the two revolvers. BOOM! The twelve-gauge rounds rocked the basement again making it nearly impossible for either men to hear the other. Seven infected lay at the bottom of the stairs in a mass of legs and limbs, some silent while others twisted and growled as they tried to get up. Johnny quickly stepped around Roosevelt with the two revolvers and dispatched the th
ree remaining infected. Silence swept the room causing both men's ears to start ringing. Roosevelt reloaded the shotgun and stepped over to the stairs to see if there were any more of the dead coming for them. When he saw that they were alone again he sighed and moved back towards Johnny who was counting the remaining rounds of the revolvers.

  “Eight rounds left for these.” Johnny said, holding the two pistols up for Roosevelt to see.

  “Just have to make do. Let’s get upstairs and make sure no more of those things get in.” Roosevelt said. They climbed over the pile of corpses and made their way up the stairs. When they reached the landing, they turned toward the open front door. Outside sat a big four-wheeler with an enormous fat guy perched on the seat. The guy was turned around holding up a fat meaty finger to the two men.

  “Keith got yo’ asses again!” He shouted with glee before gunning the engine and ripping across the front yard toward the road ahead.

  “That fat little shit needs to be taught a lesson before we leave here!” Roosevelt said in an angry tone. Johnny agreed and moved forward to close the door.

  “Bet we can track those wheeler prints to wherever he goes.” Johnny suggested. Roosevelt looked over at Johnny.

  “You’re right! Those meaty tires probably leave one hell of a trail! We should have thought about that yesterday.” Roosevelt said.

  “Let’s wait till the sun comes up then we’ll go look for him. He just tried to kill us by letting those damn things in this house. He has to pay for that.” Johnny replied. They spent the next thirty minutes packing the bed of the UTV with their bags and all the food they could fit. Johnny searched the shelves in the garage for ratchet straps to tie everything down with. Once everything was secure, they got in the side by side and sat there talking about their plan while the sun slowly crept up.

  “So, what are we going to do to that thieving bastard if we catch him?” Johnny asked. Roosevelt shrugged.

  “I’m not sure yet. Probably just scare the shit out of him real good.” Roosevelt replied as they both watched the sky turn from a deep dark blue to different shades of orange as the sun rose.

  “Good. He deserves that much but I didn’t want to just kill him. He may be a fat bastard but I’m sure he's hungry just like the rest of us.” Said Johnny.

  “Might be but that still doesn’t give him the right to steal peoples shit.” Roosevelt said.

  “I know. Let’s just find him before we decide what we're going to do.” Johnny said.

  “Let’s go check outside for zeds. By the time we finish looking around the house it’ll be light enough that we can take off.” Roosevelt said as he climbed out of the side by side. They returned inside the home and went to each window looking out to see if there were any zeds shuffling around. Seeing nothing they each stepped out of the front door and watched the surrounding areas for any incoming threats. Deciding that everything was quiet they headed back inside and hit the button to open the garage. Thin beams of sunlight shown through the opening bathing the two men in orange light. Roosevelt climbed in the passenger seat and cracked open the action on the shotgun. Seeing the two rounds of buckshot he snapped in closed and looked back over his shoulder to see Johnny searching through one of the bags strapped down in the back.

  “What are you looking for?” Roosevelt asked as he turned in his seat to look at Johnny.

  “I’m getting your nine out just in case we find some ammo for it. If I can swap out for it, I’m going to.” Johnny replied. He pulled the pistol from the bottom of the duffle and walked back around to the driver's seat. He set the gun down on the seat along with the two revolvers before leaning forward and twisting the key. The small engine popped and sputtered for a few seconds before producing a satisfying healthy growl. Johnny smiled as he put the thing into gear. He left off the break to allow the machine to ease forward but it didn’t move. Johnny pressed the throttle with his right foot and the engine revved for a long second before the transmission slammed into gear. The tires chirped on the concrete floor as the side by side launched out of the garage. Johnny steered the machine in line with the four wheelers tire tracks as they led them away from the town. Eventually the tracks came to an end at the bank of a shallow creek. Johnny stopped and looked around, trying to pick up the track again but couldn’t spot them anywhere.

  “Down there. He must have ridden through the creek a ways.” Roosevelt said, pointing to a gravel bar fifty yards away. Deep tire tracks sank into the gravel indicating that there had been a rider that drove through the creek. Johnny turned the wheel and eased the UTV down into the water. He guided the machine up the creek and followed the tracks out of the other side. They were headed back toward the opposite side of the town now and they knew they needed to stop long before they got there to avoid catching the attention of the zeds or anyone that wished to do them harm.

  Chapter Eleven

  6:22 a.m. January 3, 2049

  Somewhere in Georgia

  “Looks like he headed over to those houses.” Roosevelt said. Johnny brought the machine to a stop behind a small group of trees. They continued on foot following the tracks directly deep into the subdivision. They ran along the back sides of the homes until Johnny spotted the big wheeler sitting under a carport.

  “Got him!” Johnny said in a low voice, pointing a finger at the home. He pulled one of the revolvers from the small of his back and flipped open the cylinder checking to see that he had the fully loaded gun in his hand. Roosevelt held his shotgun at a low ready as the pair rounded the corner of the home they were using as cover and sprinted across the street. They were now four houses up from the one that the four-wheeler was parked at. They peeked around the back of the houses and then eased around into the first open backyard. An above ground pool sat in the center of the yard churning from the filter pumping water through constantly. They moved with purpose through the first two yards, stopping only when they reached a chain link fence.

  “Last one before dickheads house. Let’s move around to the front so we don’t make ourselves known climbing over the fence.” Roosevelt said from a kneeling position under a window. Unnatural growls sounded from the home they were next to causing them both to jump and spin around, almost firing on the trapped zeds. Johnny shook his head and waived Roosevelt forward, moving around to the front corner of the next home. They sat there for a while, watching and listening for Keith or anyone else that would be a problem. Hearing and seeing nothing they decided to go for it. They moved quickly around the home and took cover behind the four-wheeler. The young fat kid had left nothing on the wheeler, not even a single bag of jerky.

  “Little bastard! I could choke the shit out of him for making us lose all of our damn food!” Roosevelt stated after his stomach gave an audible growl.

  “Come on!” Johnny hissed as he got to his feet and darted past the wheeler to the side of the house where Keith was holed up. They stopped under a window on the side of the house, gathering their thoughts. A small high-pitched laugh caught their attention and the two men looked at the other with wide eyes.

  “What the hell was that?” Johnny asked, turning to face the wall so he could get a quick peek inside. Johnny eased up just far enough to look through the window, his jaw dropping open when he saw inside. He motioned for Roosevelt to have a peek and then the two men sat stunned under the window. Inside sat the fat kid named Keith along with several others. An old gray-haired woman sat in a wheelchair towards the front of the room as she read aloud to three small children. The kids laughed and giggled as they all took turns reaching in and pulling strips of meat from the bag as they listened. The kids devoured the jerky in a short time and then turned to Keith for more. Johnny looked over at Roosevelt and shook his head no before moving back behind one of the other homes.

  “Let them have it.” Johnny said, watching all around for threats. Roosevelt looked at Johnny with surprise.

  “Let them have it? Hell no! That's our food and I am not going to starve out
here for some thieving little shit like him.” Roosevelt said, aiming a finger back to the house.

  “Did you not see how happy those kids were? Have you ever stopped to think that maybe they were already starving and needed it worse than we do? Just leave it! We’re perfectly able to find more food and weapons now let’s get the hell out of here!” Johnny scolded, not believing the words that had just left his friends’ mouth.

  “Fine but when we haven't eaten in days and our guts are doing backflips, I don’t want to hear a peep out of you!” Roosevelt shot back as the two past the final house and picked up their pace across the short field. They climbed back in the side by side and Johnny twisted their key, the engine firing on the first time.

  “We have to get our asses out of Georgia and to Colorado. No more sightseeing.” Johnny said as he stomped down on the throttle, feeling the side by side shoot forward, gaining speed with each passing second.

  Chapter Twelve

  1:36 p.m. January 3, 2049

  Southeast Tennessee

  "Sign said gas half a mile." Roosevelt said as Johnny nodded and turned the side by side down a two-lane road on the right.

  "Cuttin’ it close." Johnny replied looking down at the digital gauge that appeared to have stopped working long before they came into its possession.

  "There it is!" Roosevelt said as the vehicle crested the top of a small hill that the road went over.

  "Oscar's one stop" Johnny read aloud from the red letters that adorned the top of the building.

  The building was small and made of mostly wood, the glass windows across the front were covered in stickers and posters advertising everything from fishing lures to Budweiser to Newport cigarettes. The writing across the top of the building promised Hot food, Cold drinks, and Live bait. A single gas pump sat in the middle of the parking lot and other than a rusty old pickup truck that was missing its tailgate, there were no vehicles in sight. The men rolled to a stop aside the far side of the gas pump and turned the engine off.