by Lee Thomas
Harrison looked shocked for a moment, then determination set in and I knew he would give me a decent fight. The crowd exploded with cheers and jeers after a second or two of silence, especially after Harrison took a new stance. George left the mat, looking a little embarrassed, but at least he was a good sport and didn’t try a cheap shot on me. Harrison moved with a yell, coming at me on the attack, quickly going from attack to parry as I blocked and then swung my own attack. The advantage of two swords was the number of attacks was doubled, leaving the single sword fighter to work almost three times as hard to block all the incoming attacks as well as put up some kind of offense at the same time. Harrison was good, feinting and blocking, parrying then attacking, moving around to prevent me from getting a good solid line on his defense. Every sword fighter had holes in their defense, places where their body just couldn’t angle the sword fast enough to block an attack, but by constantly moving around Harrison was keeping his holes covered by not letting me get a good shot in any of them.
One of the defensive weapons we had designed was a smaller riot shield using a wood frame, covered in two layers of tin sheeting with expanding foam between the layers to add a layer of shock absorption and small, but long, dagger-like points coming off it. That allowed it to be used as a weapon, not just a way to keep infected off us. The practice version of that was a simple PVC pipe frame with foam padding and no spikes. It let the people using it in real life get a feel for how to use it without risking injury to anyone in practice. Harrison was using one such shield, which almost neutralized my two-sword advantage, but not completely. He would block one attack with his sword, the next with his shield, all the while moving around me, dancing around me, forcing me around in circles as I moved to the side to attempt to neutralize his shield advantage by keeping his body between it and me.
After about thirty minutes, neither one of us had landed a blow on the other, telling me Harrison was good. Considering him to be one of our sword instructors was looking to be a good idea. We were both starting to get a little winded, but I figured a spin move would start to end this quickly. Swinging high on his shield side and low on the sword side, he did what I hoped and raised his shield to block the high hit, which allowed me to drop down and take out his leg instead. Since I was crouched down, I rolled backwards to avoid a wild swing from Harrison and settled into an easy defensive stance. He had gone down to one knee, his sword and shield both on the ground now propping himself up. Nodding at me with a determined look, he raised his sword in a salute, which I returned, and then prepared to continue.
Using the fact that he was hobbled now, I moved around to his left, keeping his shield side to me which kept his sword out of play quite a bit. Most people don’t think of that as a good strategy, keeping your opponent’s strongest defense towards you, but with it only being a partial shield, it left a lot exposed above and below, and he couldn’t swing his sword over far enough without moving, which was difficult at best for him. I moved around his back, moving back and forth to counter to the way he moved, keeping myself behind him as much as possible. After about another twenty minutes of going back and forth, I finally decided I had worn him down enough and feinted moving left, spun to my right instead, but Harrison had already turned to his left to look at me and before he could realize I wasn’t there I had stepped in and tapped his throat. As he lowered his sword to the mat, I walked around in front of him and reached out to help him to his feet.
“Good job man, good job.” I told him, both of us panting slightly as we listened to the crowd cheer. Most of them started moving off, splitting into small groups and talking together, and from the snippets of conversation I got, it appeared they were all actually considering practicing with their armor on from now on. That was a good thing, as it would give them a better understanding of how to move when it counted.
A few sparring sessions later, I decided to call it a day, replaced my practice swords, and headed back up to my cabin to shower and clean my gear. Tomorrow was Friday, and the plan was to leave on Sunday to begin moving north. I was worried about everything, from what was going to happen up north, to the ones staying here being safe. There were so many variables, so many things that could go wrong on both fronts, it was no wonder sleep was something that had been eluding me. Every time I sat at my desk or at the maps, trying to think of something else that could go wrong that hadn’t been thought of, or planned for occupied all my thought.
After cleaning my gear, my next step was a shower and hopefully a nap, but I was sure a nap was out of the question. Once out of the shower, I still wasn’t sleepy, so I turned on my TV and PlayStation and decided to play a game for a little bit to help me relax. I got totally into my game and was able to take my mind off things, if only for a little while. A few hours later I was finally starting to get sleepy, so I wrapped up my game, shut everything down, and headed for bed. There were a few thoughts I wanted to jot down first, so I grabbed my journal on the way.
Sept. 16th, 2020. The northern plan starts on Sunday, and everything seems to be ready for it. Haven’t got much sleep lately, but at least I know Michelle and the girls will be safe since they will be staying here behind the wall. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I better figure it out quick before people get hurt. I have decided that even though I’m going north on the ship, I am leaving the actual search missions to the ones who know what they are doing. My hope is that everything goes smoothly and easily so we don’t lose any more people. If we could have that done by spring, those of us with the green thumbs can become proper farmers and start growing crops on a large scale, as well as let the cows and other animals have space to flourish, hopefully ending the food crisis. A steady food supply was our second highest priority, very closely behind safety. Things were starting to look good for us, even in this new world.
I had noticed a trend that people had started referring to all the wall guards as the Army, and of course we still had the sailors. Some of the sailors and soldiers had even started a boot camp program of sorts to get people into shape that wanted to join their ranks, and start training them in different areas to keep everything going the way it should. It fostered a more civilian versus military mindset that I liked, but the ones that were considered military were being held in a higher regard than others and treated with more respect.
I closed my journal and laid it on the table, not relaxed enough to sleep, but knowing I should. I finally just closed my eyes and did my best to drift off into an uneasy sleep.
Chapter 4
Sept. 17th, 2020
Waking up the following morning, I got up and dressed, and then headed up to the flight deck to see how the day was starting. The sun was shining, a gentle breeze was blowing from the east, off the ocean, and I just stood there near the bow as the wind blew over me and I heard the splash of waves against the ship and pier. Seagulls called in the distance as they circled overhead, and I could hear some horses neighing in the distance as well. Staying there for a bit was relaxing, but I knew that in two days the real work would begin again and the stress level would skyrocket again. I decided to head down to the galley for a quick breakfast, which I usually didn’t eat, and then get some sword practice in again. Before all that though, I headed up towards the bridge to see if there were any preparations that still needed to be made.
“Good morning, how are we today?” I asked, stepping onto the bridge. The sailors appeared bored, but straightened slightly when they saw me, which told me they were getting bored and restless with this duty. As much as I didn’t want excitement anymore, because that usually meant bad things, I didn’t want those on watch to become complacent either; especially with the mission coming up. I needed people sharp, ready to act, and at their absolute best, not dull or slow-witted from boredom.
“Good, sir, I mean, Sheldon.” Tyler said. He was one of the teens that had wanted to join the Navy before, so we found him a uniform, swore him in as a sailor, and started training him on all the things the sailors c
ould think of. I liked that we were getting new people involved and trained, as it allowed us to have more people available to run things and let people have more free time in between watch times, which helped relieve stress from the ones who had the most.
“Preparations are complete to set sail on Sunday. Food stores are full; ammo and weapons stores are fully inventoried. We have a list for those who are supposed to be onboard and all personnel have been notified. We are as ready as we are going to be for your little project. The full list should be in your quarters.” Keith informed me. He was one of the few I trusted that was left behind on the ship when we arrived.
“Good, thank you. I’ll go check on it later. Pass me the 1MC mic, will you?” I replied. Keith reached over and lifted the mic off the hook and hit the switch to on, then handed me the mic.
“Attention, everyone left onboard. We leave Sunday morning to start probably the most dangerous and important part of our plan for survival, securing enough land to spread out and grow, and ensure we are not the last of humanity. As such, since preparations have been completed ahead of schedule, all personnel will be on leave as of 1800 Friday, or six o’clock in the evening for the civilians. I want everyone to relax, find some kind of activity to take your mind off things and enjoy something, or someone. I want everyone at their best for this, and we have all gone through some troubling times, to say the least. I would like all departments to make sure everything is set to be unattended for a couple of days so everyone can leave.
“This is the last of it. The last dangerous mission, the last few days of wondering if today is the day you die, if this is the day the infected find a way through the wall. I know the doubts are out there, it’s normal. I would be shocked if there weren’t people thinking like that. We know the wall is strong, we know the wall will hold, but human nature always wants to plan for the worst. Once we finish this last push, we can focus on living again, without looking over our shoulders every five minutes. If you all can bear with me through this, we can be safe once more. Let’s get everything ready today and tomorrow so we can enjoy a couple of days’ rest. If anyone has any questions, feel free to let me know.” I replaced the 1MC mic, shook Keith’s hand, nodded to the other sailors on the bridge, then turned and headed out. I started walking around to each department to find out how the preparations were going and answer any questions anyone might have. This was a big project, and just like the wall, it was essential to our survival.
My first stop was the galley to make sure enough foodstuffs had been stored for at least a couple of weeks. Everything seemed to be set there, so I moved on to the security office to make sure our ammo supplies were up to date. I wanted to make sure we had plenty of weapons available, but I also wanted to make sure that included swords, armor, and other non-firearm weapons to help us stay quiet. Getting a satisfactory report from Chief Franks, Tony’s second in command, I then headed for the hydroponics bay to check on things down there before heading aft to the machine shop. Since they had been fabricating the swords and such, I wanted to see if they had the raw materials to continue, but also to repair or reproduce parts for the ship as well.
Several people stopped me along the way to ask for more detailed information about the plan, and I answered a few, with the promise to give more detailed information the day we launched. Most everyone seemed to understand the gravity of the project, and what exactly was at stake. I could see in their faces the determination to see this through and do something major to protect their friends and families. That gave me some renewed confidence in this plan and helped me feel that the people believed in it as well, which would give them a boost of confidence in completing it. I eventually made my way all the way back to my cabin after visiting each department’s office and making notes with each one. I tossed my notebook on my table and sat down on my couch to think and relax. The welfare of the group always had to take preference, but if I lost even one man or woman I considered it a loss, a failed mission. This would be the most dangerous, yet most important plan I had come up with so far, but it would virtually ensure the survival of the group and would at the very least reduce the likelihood of being attacked by either infected, or raiders looking for supplies. We would keep the base going as a safe haven for our hunting teams, and a quarantine area for new people until we were sure they would assimilate well and not cause problems.
I re-read the report from Heath that told me Jared and Levi had been retrieved safely, and that the herd at the wall had been thinned quite a bit, but there was still several infected milling about. I knew that meant getting to the safe house a few blocks away was going to be nearly impossible now, but at least it was still an option for anyone who was out. The groups safety was still, as always, foremost in my thoughts and plans, and after speaking with the department heads I was confident that it was with everyone else as well. I knew some people wanted to stay here on the base, even after the peninsula was safe; they had come to see it as home, and they had seen how safe the wall was. My fear was that they would become complacent and lax on security, relying too heavily on the wall for safety. If they did that, then the guards would stop watching and not see anything approach until it was too late. I would have to trust Dave to keep them in line and keep them sharp until everything was done up north.
I headed out to the flight deck then to enjoy the day and the sunshine, trying to not think about the stress that was sure to follow in the following days. After gazing out over the bay for a bit, I headed back down to walk around the ship and check on things. Finally satisfied that every area was almost fully prepared, I made one last circuit to make sure that everyone who was not going was safely off the ship. With that being done also, I then headed down to the pier so I could touch base with people on land as well. I spent most of the day going around to the different watch stations, talking to the guards, and stopping to speak with many people along the way. Most of the ones tending gardens seemed to be doing well, and were happy doing what they were doing, as were the ones tending the animals. Moving them would be tricky, but essential to starting a full-size livestock farm up north. We would keep some down here to provide a food supply on the base, as well the gardens. Having a steady supply already here would be easier than trying to transport food down, but I was sure that we would still send some down.
By the time the sun started going down, I had made my way around to almost every guard station, garden, and animal pen, as well as stopping along the way to talk with people out walking around. Word had gotten around to everyone that we would be leaving Sunday, and there was as much excitement as there was apprehension about the upcoming mission. Michelle and the girls were one of my last stops for the day, and they seemed to be settling in to their new houses quite nicely. They were all understandably nervous about what was going to happen on this new project, but I assured them that all precautions would be taken, and I would let the ones with the training run things. I then stopped by the house that Kenny and Katelyn had taken. They were my kids from my first marriage, and I was extremely lucky to have found them before the world went to hell. I missed all of their childhood, and most of their teen years, and was still trying to make up for that. We were unable to find their mom, and from what I understood from them, their grandparents didn’t make it either. The stuck close together now, which was good, but I was noticing that they were finally starting to spread out a little and relax, letting others in as well and making friends. I noticed that Kat was an amazing artist, so I managed to find some art supplies for her to help her relax. Kenny always seemed to be into gaming and electronics, and we played PlayStation and Xbox together some now, and I got him with our electronics guys to learn how to work on them, which he seemed to pick right up and enjoy.
I smiled as I made my way back to the ship, which was my home for now, realizing that no matter what, I had a safe place for my kids and my family and friends. After completing the search and destroy up north, I planned on letting others take over once we were settling in up the
re, allowing me to spend more time with the kids. I wanted to teach them all how to sail, and swordfight, and just spend time with them. With that thought in mind, I think I’m going to plan a bar-b-que when this was over in an attempt to get back to a normal life. That was all I wanted, to spend time with the kids, play my games, take them sailing, and just live again without the threat of the infected.
Walking up the pier towards the ship, I marveled again at the sheer size of her, and was thankful once again for finding her at the beginning of all this. I had passed the silent hulks of the cruisers, destroyers, and frigates also docked here, as well as the submarine. It was a huge gamble that the ships would be here when I left Oklahoma with the first group, and everybody trusted me, even though, or maybe because of the fact, I was upfront that I had no idea if the ship would even be here. We are all so relieved that it was, but Tony had such a good setup on the Army base in Petersburg that if there wasn’t a ship here we could have set up shop there just as well. I missed my time in the Navy, and being on the ship helped me relive it some. The resources that the ships had were absolutely the difference between our survival, and our destruction.
It was dark by the time I climbed the stairs to the lowered elevator, and the guard at the podium just nodded and waved at me as I passed. I made my way to the galley to grab something to eat, and then headed up to my cabin to get some sleep, but I got intercepted by Jackson first.
“Sheldon, you are still planning on going north this weekend, right?” he asked me.
“Yes, we leave on Sunday. Why?” I replied, glancing at the papers in his hand.
