by A. R. Wise
Dante was in the nest, staring north through his binoculars. We crowded below. The handmaidens gathered the children and hushed them as they moved into one of the nursery trailers.
Dante looked down at us and made a series of hand gestures before pointing north again. We understood that there were Greys approaching, a common problem when traversing the plains. These creatures didn't have great eyesight, but it wasn't hard to see a caravan of trucks crossing the otherwise barren landscape. I took Abe's arm and pulled him along with me as we headed to the north side of the tanker circle.
"Get my rifle. It's in my truck. I want the Nosler, not the sniper."
"Why me?" he asked.
I glared at him. He was a big guy, weighing a good hundred pounds more than me and towering above even my tall height. His shaggy beard hung down to his barrel chest and his bushy eyebrows touched as he glowered down at me.
"Because I told you to. Is that a problem?" I was his superior, one rank over him in our militaristic society, and he had to do as I told him.
"No, sir."
I let go of his arm and pushed him in the direction of my truck. The rest of us went to the north side of the camp's circle, near the entrance where two of the trucks weren't parked as close to one another as the rest. We always situated the encampment with two entrances like this, one on the north side and the other on the south, to afford escape should we be caught off guard. The camp was near what had once been a homestead with a well, in a slightly depressed valley. The surrounding hills provided us cover, and passing raiders would be hard pressed to see us from the nearby highway. This also prevented us from getting a good view of the area around us, but it was generally safer to not be seen than anything else.
Our trucks were befitted with dropdown barriers on one side that were lowered when we were camped. These corrugated metal barriers blocked the undercarriage of the vehicles to prevent anything from entering the camp anywhere except through the two main entrances. This wasn't done as a precaution for just zombies, but also for other predators. The act of camping was an arduous one for us, and required everyone to assist in constructing the barriers that connected the rear of one truck to the cab of the next. Over the years we had become experts at assembling the structures, and the entire process could be completed within a couple hours if the conditions were right. Once done, we were able to construct a secure fortification that could keep just about anything out. There was a time, a few years ago, when we weren't as stringent about the security of our camp, but an attack by a horde of Greys had caught us by surprise and killed several of our members. That was when David had been mangled, and we never made the same mistake again. From that day forth, we were careful to put up the partitions securely.
I climbed onto the trailer of the truck that the Crow's Nest was built on. This was one of the few standard eighteen-wheelers that we traveled with, and most of the others were former fuel tankers.
There was an annoying buzz in the distance that sounded like a small motor. It was far away, but the empty plains carried the sound to us. I wondered if Dante had spotted a raider party.
I squinted as I stared out across the swaying, golden field of blighted weeds. The plains of Colorado looked barely alive, the arid climate giving sanctuary to only the hardiest of plants. This year had been a particularly dry one, and even the earth looked thirsty, let alone the withered plants that decorated it.
My vision was better than most, but I still couldn't see what Dante was warning us of. I looked up at him and shrugged. He handed down his binoculars, gripping them by the strap to allow them to dangle far enough for me to reach. Then he pointed north and said, "Moving through the weeds out that way. Look for the dead tree, and then to the left about fifty or so yards."
I did as he instructed and finally caught sight of the dark shapes amid the wavering, golden plants. "There they are," I said as I watched them. "Good catch, Dante." I stretched to hand the binoculars back to him, but still had to toss them up.
Abe returned with my Nosler and a box of ammo that he handed up to me. "How's it look?" he asked as I took the rifle.
"Nothing serious," I said. "Just a wandering group of Greys a couple hundred yards out."
He handed up the box of ammunition. "Let's wait for them to get closer. No use wasting bullets."
I shrugged as I took the box from him. "They're in range."
"Bullshit," said Abe. "You're going to waste shots plugging them in the chest or arms. Wait until they're closer."
"I've got this. Don't worry." I set the box down and then lay beside it with the Nosler aimed out across the plains.
Abe grumbled as he climbed up behind me and the truck bounced as he came.
"Damn it, Abe," I said as I tried to line up my first shot. "Stop wiggling the fucking truck.”
"Do you hear that noise?" he asked and looked around. "What the hell is that? Sounds like a chainsaw or something."
"I don't know," I said. "It sounds pretty far off though. Let's worry about the Greys first, and then we can try to figure out what the sound is."
"Where are they?" he asked. "I can't see shit out there."
Dante handed down the binoculars and Abe was able to easily take them as he stretched up his long arm. He knelt beside me and spied the approaching creatures. "For Christ's sake, kid. They're way the hell out there. That's probably three hundred yards. You're not hitting nothing but landscape from here."
"Well, that's for damn sure if you don't stop shaking the truck."
"And it's windy as hell," he said as I tried to ignore him.
"Ten, fifteen miles an hour tops."
"Yeah, but it's gusty," he said. "Just wait for a bit, would you? Let them get closer."
"Abe, sit the fuck down or get off the truck. And while you're at it, shut up for once in your damn life."
He laid down on top of the truck, the box of ammunition between us. I adjusted my aim for the wind and steadied myself.
"Which one you going for?" asked Abe.
I sighed before answering. "The mop top. Grey hair, all bushy with streaks of white. Over by the stump."
"Yeah, I see her." He peered into his binoculars as I looked through the scope.
I waited and watched as the zombie staggered through the overgrown field. There's a certain magic to shooting at a distance that's impossible to explain. The wind on my cheek, the gleam of the sun, and the calls of the birds above, all of it seemed to blend into one sensation as I watched my target move. The bitch would eat me if she had the chance, and I took my shot eagerly.
The butt of the rifle jutted against my shoulder, but I was able to keep it steady enough to still watch through the scope as the zombie's head exploded in a mist of black vapor. She crumpled and disappeared amid the weeds.
Abe whistled and shook his head while still looking through the binoculars. "Lucky shot."
I chortled. "Whatever. You call the next one. We'll see how much luck is involved here."
"All right." He scanned the approaching crowd of staggering Greys for a suitable target.
"The skinny one with the blonde hair, between the two guys to the right of the mop top."
I used the Nosler's scope to look for the new target.
"See him?" asked Abe as he snickered. He'd picked a nearly impossible shot and knew it. The blonde haired man was a waif, and I had no good angle on him from where we were. The two zombies in front of him were constantly blocking my shot.
"All right," I said as I ejected the cartridge and loaded another bullet.
Abe rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. I'd bet a carton of cigarettes that you can't make that shot."
"Who are you kidding," I said. "You don't have a carton to your name."
"That's all right, I'm not worried. You can't make that shot anyhow."
I gazed through the scope and watched the three zombies bob as they sauntered through the shrubs. Abe was beside me, unwilling to be completely silent as he chuckled while looking through the binoculars. "A
in't gonna happen," he whispered as he stared.
I took the shot, and watched as one of the zombies in front of my blonde target fell backward. Abe was about to rejoice, but then we watched as my target fell too. He dropped to his knees, and then collapsed, his head split in two from my bullet.
"That's not fair," said Abe.
"What? I killed my target."
He pointed in the direction of the approaching creatures. "You killed the other one too. You didn't just hit your target. That's not fair."
"If you didn't want me to kill the one in front, you should've said so."
He stood up and handed the binoculars to Dante, who was grinning in his seat high above us. "That's not fair, and you know it," said Abe as he climbed down from the truck.
"I expect a carton," I called down after him while still lying on top of the truck.
"Your daughter's being a pain in the ass," said Abe.
"Thanks for the news flash," said my mother. "How's it going up there?"
"Fine," I said as I lined up another shot.
"Can I come up?"
I sighed and relaxed my aim. "Sure."
She climbed up and gazed out at the distant zombies. "Does this make you feel better?"
"Does what make me feel better?"
"Shooting things from this far off," she said. "Does it make you feel better to know that you're an expert shot?"
"I'm just trying to stay in practice." I went back to lining up another shot.
"There's no one in the camp that could hit these targets as easily as you can. Everyone knows that." She was quiet for a moment as she stood above me. Then she added, "No one blames you for anything."
I took another shot, but missed. I just wanted her to shut up, and the sudden blare of gunfire did the trick. She climbed back down and left me alone.
I wouldn't miss again.
CHAPTER NINE - ONE-WAY EXIT
Laura Conrad
I let Annie do what she needed. It felt like she was slipping away, despite there being nowhere for her to go. We were bound together, along with the rest of the Rollers, and she couldn't leave me behind, at least for the time being. Knowing that Annie and Kim had both sided with Billy about the future of our group made it more important for me to settle our differences.
There was a large group of Rollers that thought like I did, and wanted to put an end to the constant fighting that we'd endured. All of us agreed that patrols should be set up to maintain security from the raiders, but actively seeking out military establishments wasn't a priority for me. I'd been able to convince most of the Rollers to agree with me, but now that would all change. The recent attacks meant that we would all have to face a difficult choice, and I couldn't fathom how our group would manage to stay together through it.
I entertained the idea of fully supporting Billy. Many of my friends and compatriots in the Rollers would look at this as me abandoning my principles, but it would also mean that I would be able to stay with my daughters. The thought of our group splitting, and my girls going off with Billy, broke my heart. My desire for peace was insignificant compared to my need to be with Kim and Annie.
Her rifle fired again and I was jolted by the sound.
I was visibly tense, and the men around me could see it. They gave me a wide berth, and didn't express their concerns to me directly, although it was plain on their faces. Everyone was waiting for me to call a meeting with the lieutenants and come to a decision about the future of the Rollers.
"How're you doing?" asked a pleasant, familiar voice.
It was Zack Laporte, the uncle of Kim's husband. He'd been a part of the Rollers since the early days, and we'd been partners for several years. He was tall and thick, with wiry facial hair that he tried to keep shaved, but was too tenacious to get rid of for long. He had a square jaw, wide nose, and kind eyes. There was rarely a time that he wasn't soiled with grease or oil from working on the trucks, and had become an invaluable asset to our group because of his mechanical skills.
He put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. His wide grip was comforting, as if I were a little girl again with my father tenderly consoling me. I smiled at him and was genuinely happy he was here. "I've been better."
Zack put his arm over my shoulder and pulled me closer. He kissed the top of my head and then ruffled my hair. "Don't let these guys get you down, beautiful. No matter what happens, you've always got my support."
"Thanks, that means a lot." It sounded like I was being derisive, but I meant it.
"You seen Arty around anywhere?" He asked about his nephew.
"Not yet. He's out with Dustin, on patrol in Boulder. He knows that we'd come here if we left the last campsite. I'm sure he's on his way here now."
"Yeah, I bet you're right. Can't help but worry though. You know how that goes."
We walked towards the Captain's Tent. Zack was one of the lieutenants, and my closest ally. "I thought it was supposed to be easier when they became adults."
Zack laughed and pulled me closer as he squeezed my shoulder. Arthur's parents had died at the outset of the apocalypse, and Zack was his guardian now. He was as nurturing as any parent could ever hope to be, and Arthur had grown into a fine man under Zack's care. "I thought that too. Turns out you worry about them even more when they grow up. It's our curse, I guess."
We stopped at the entrance of the tent and I glanced back at the truck that Annie was perched upon. I could see her feet as she lay on the top of the vehicle, aiming to take another shot.
"Wouldn't trade it for the world."
"Me neither." He pulled aside the tent flap and stood aside so that I could go in first. I reluctantly entered, leaving Annie behind to take care of the encroaching horde so that I could conduct business.
"What's the plan?" Zack had to duck when he walked into the tent. "I've heard a bunch of rumors about what's going on from everyone. The natives are getting restless out there."
"I know," I said as I walked over to the map in the center of the tent. I put my hands against my temples and tried to massage away the headache that'd plagued me all day. I had frequent headaches, which were the least of my old body's pains. Most of the health issues I had could be hidden from everyone, but the headaches were impossible not to reveal. "I just want to gather as much information as I can before I get everyone else involved."
"I understand," said Zack. "I know how you are, Ms. Organization. You're just like your daughter."
"Annie?" I asked, bewildered.
"No, Kim."
"Oh," I nodded. "I guess I can see that. Christ, Zack, we're in trouble here."
He agreed and approached the map. "I had a lot of friends in those towns." We both stared at the red 'X's that had been drawn across Juniper, Hanger, and Vineyard.
"Me too. They were good people."
"But what happened isn't your fault. You know that, right?"
I was reminded of the conversation I'd had with Annie earlier, about her inability to snipe the helicopter pilot that killed so many people in Vineyard. "Doesn't matter what I think. It matters what they think." I pointed out of the tent, referring to the members of the Rollers.
"They elected you the captain because they believe in you, Laura. They trust you, and look up to you."
"And look what it's gotten them."
"Stop it," he said.
"There's no such thing as peace anymore. It was a mistake to even think it was possible. We're all just going to keep on killing each other till the end of time. There's nothing anyone can do about it. That's the nature of man. I'm pretty sure Einstein said that, or something to the effect. We're all going to keep on killing each other, because that's just the way we are."
"You're sure a beam of sunshine today, aren't you?" He settled into one of the chairs around the center table.
"I'm just being honest. We've only got two options here. Either we split up the Rollers, or we go with Billy's plan and continue trying to stamp out the military bases."
"We tried that
for eighteen years, and look where it's gotten us."
"Maybe the reason we were safe was because Billy kept the pressure on them," I said as I adjusted some of the pins in the map. "Maybe if he'd been re-elected then they would've been subdued."
"Let me get this straight," said Zack as he leaned forward and set his elbows on the table. "You're suggesting that a massive worldwide military organization's plans have been, up until this past year, completely thwarted by the pestering strikes of a tiny band of people in the middle of nowhere? That's what you're suggesting?"
"I know it seems silly…"
"Yes it does," he said.
"But they never tried to wipe out any of the towns. They never attacked anyone with a squadron of helicopters like they did in Vineyard. They never tried to do anything like that while Billy was in charge."
"That might be true," said Zack. "But I don't see how anything Billy was doing before you were elected was preventing this from happening."
I shook my head and stared at the closed door of the tent. "It doesn't really matter one way or the other. All that matters is what they think." Part of me was referring to the entire group of Rollers, but another part of me was talking about my daughters.
Zack nodded in agreement. "Are you giving up?"
"Giving up what?"
"Giving up control of the Rollers to Billy."
I shook my head. "No, not unless I have to. I'm willing to run this like a democracy, and let the lieutenants vote on what direction we go. I don't think anyone wants my head on a stick or anything. At least not yet. If I agree to let Billy start up his attacks again, then I think most people will be okay with that." I rolled my eyes and added, "It's not like he ever stopped anyhow."
"What do you mean?" asked Zack.
I shouldn't have said anything, but Zack and I had become close over the years, and I valued his friendship, as well as his opinion. I'd planned on keeping Billy's treason a secret, but I needed to talk about it with someone that would understand my position. And while Clyde certainly agreed with my desire to set up a colony, Zack's mindset was closer to my own on matters like this. I'd just have to be careful not to let him get too angry at Billy over this.
