by Poe, S. B.
“In a sense he was but he was cognizant of his actions. The infected aren’t like that.” Naomi said.
“What happened to him?” Raj asked.
“I did as he wished. He was in pain, unimaginable pain both physically and mentally.”
“Charlie told me that was what he wanted but that’s not what I meant. How did he get the way he was?” Raj asked.
“That’s what I intend to find out.” Naomi said.
“How can I help with that?”
“When you talked to him, I assume he told you the same story he told me. He was subjected to some type of experimental injection that resulted in his condition.” She said.
“That’s what I gathered although it was obvious when I talked to him it had been quite a traumatic experience.” He said.
“Of course. How long ago was it you saw him?” She asked.
“Quite a while.”
“What was his physical condition at that time?”
“Well he had a depressed heart rate and…”
“No, I’m sorry, I meant his appearance and his overall physical strength.”
“He was in awful shape. Weak, sensitive to light but a heightened sense of smell according to his own account.” He said.
“Weak?”
“Considerably. Why?”
“Just wondering. Have your people ever encountered any of the infected that were different?” Naomi asked.
“Different?” He asked.
“From the others. More capable than the shuffling husks we’ve been clearing out.”
“Back when we were still out at the compound there was a wreck out on the road. Tilly, Evelyn, Charlie and I went to investigate. There was one that was different. It moved faster.” He said.
“Did it look different?”
“Yeah, its skin had the consistency and color of dried meat. Leathery.” Raj said.
“Anything else?”
“We killed it. But in the process part of its leg was cleaved open. The muscle underneath was inundated with a yellowish spider web like substance. I only got a brief look at it because there was a herd of deaduns closing in on us and we had to leave quickly.” He said. “What is this all about?”
“You saw the webbing?”
“I did.”
“That was the virus, Marionette. We called it OW1 but it’s the same thing.”
“From the comet?” Raj asked.
“You know about the connection?” Naomi asked.
“Just what your people told Scott. His story has made its way around. Is it true? You were bit years ago and the government hid it from everyone?” He asked.
“I was bit a long time before the outbreak. I guess I was part of those that helped hide it though so no need to go looking for anyone else to blame.” She said.
“Sorry, wasn’t trying to say it was anyone’s fault but a little heads up, maybe.”
“Would it have made any difference?” She asked.
“I guess we’ll never know.” His eyes narrowed.
“That’s fair.” Naomi said.
“Back to my question. What’s this all about? All this stuff about Ramey and different deaduns?” He asked.
“There was a doctor. Her name was Sherrill but I only know that from a file. I’ve never met her. She was one of the people that were working on the problem.” Naomi said. “That’s who I think gave the injection to Ramey. He tried to remember her name. He couldn’t but I know it was her.”
“How?” He asked.
“She was assigned to Zone 3 and sent to South Springs Airfield. It was a civilian airport but it had originally been built during the sixties by the Army. There were underground facilities there and she started working on what every scientist they could round up was working on.” She said.
“A cure? Vaccine?” Raj asked.
“Anything. Anything they could find that might stop all this from happening. Obviously it didn’t work. But she was close.” She said.
“How do you know?”
“We monitored communications. She found something. And when Scott told Noah about Ramey, it clicked that it might be her. And after I talked to him I’m even more convinced that it was.” Naomi said.
“And you think you can find her? And do what?” Raj asked.
“I hope we can find her. But I don’t know if it will make a difference. Ramey seemed to be more of a serious mistake than a step in the right direction.”
“No argument there.” Raj said. “But what does that have to do with your other question about if we had seen different deaduns?”
“Something Ramey said. He said he felt stronger, better after he had…”
“Ate someone?”
“Yes. Before it all went bad, there were a lot of theories within the circle of people who knew. Theories about what would happen if the virus went global. Most of it was wrong but the part that was right is that once someone is infected their body almost immediately begins to decay. That’s why there is such obvious necrosis around the bite. Once they die the virus greatly slows the rate of decay but doesn’t stop it. And from what we have encountered along the way that seems to be true. They do rot away, eventually. But there is something else happening. Something no one had anticipated but was confirmed, at least to me, by Ramey’s admission.”
“That he felt better? I don’t understand.” Raj said.
“Have you ever seen one attacking or eating an animal?”
“Ramey had taken bites of the horse. But he didn’t kill it and eat it. He said he had an urge to do it but didn’t know why. And he said it was really more of instinctual yearning than anything beneficial.” Raj said.
“There’s no real benefit, other than a slight satiation of hunger. It has to be from a human. That’s what I believe.”
“Why?”
“It’s what the virus needs to evolve.” She said.
“Evolve?”
“I think some of them are bigger and faster and maybe smarter because of it. The ones that have had ample supplies of living to feed on during the early stages of gestation.” She said.
“I wasn’t sure but I felt like the one we saw back then wasn’t just different in appearance but was more aware, more dangerous, more evolved.” Raj admitted. “I think I even used that word.”
“You’re right. At least I think you are.” She said.
“What does that mean? For us?” He asked.
“I don’t know yet.” Naomi said. “But I think if I can find this doctor or even if I could just find out what she was working on, maybe it will tell us more about all of it.” She said.
“And you know where she is?” He asked.
“I know where she was. That’s our next step. That’s why I needed to talk to Kate and Bridger.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re finished with our obligation of cleaning the dead away from your walls and I need to get back to what we are supposed to be doing.” She said. “I’m going to ask them if we can borrow that big military truck down at the gate and go gather supplies from our old encampment. And then I’m going to start searching.”
For Now
The steam flashed from the pot on the stove. Emma Grace lifted the lid and the steam rolled out in a cloud.
“If you could set that colander in that other pot, I think the potatoes are ready.” Emma Grace said as she wrapped the towel around the handles.
Kate grabbed the colander from the counter and set it over the pot in the sink. The heat and steam boiled out into the room as Emma Grace poured everything into the other pot.
She poured the drained potatoes from the colander into the now empty pot and put the other one with the hot water in it back on the stove. She took the venison that Evelyn had finished dicing up and put it in the hot water.
“Now let that boil for just a little while.” Emma Grace said.
They heard the squeal of the screen door. Kate stuck her head out of the kitchen.
“Need any help?” Bridger asked
as he stepped inside.
“I think we’ve got everything under control.” Kate said.
“Good, I can’t really do anything in a kitchen but burn things anyway.” Bridger said as he came into the room. Evelyn leaned against him as he wrapped his arms around her. “Is that some of the deer Vernon brought in the other day?”
“It is.” She said. “But I’ve had your MRE breakfast, it’s not that bad.”
“Not that good either and that’s just heating something up. Not really cooking.” He glanced into the pot on the stove. “So not just beans and potatoes tonight?” He smiled.
The door squealed again.
“Hello?” They heard Naomi’s voice.
“We’re in here.” Kate said.
Naomi came around the corner and stepped into the kitchen.
“Smells wonderful.” She said. “Would it be possible for me to have a word with you?” She looked at Kate.
“Sure, go ahead.” Kate said.
“We’re finished with our agreement.” She said. “Most of the infected have been removed from your walls.”
“Removed?” Bridger asked. “To where?”
“They have been eradicated.” She said bluntly.
“That was a lot of deaduns. Did you just leave them laying where they fell?” Bridger asked.
“Our standard procedure has always been to gather the infected that have been dispatched and dispose of the remains in a burn pit.” Naomi said.
“And that’s what you did?” Kate asked.
“It is.”
“So you’ve been burning the corpses? Why haven’t we seen the smoke?” Bridger asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe you haven’t been looking. If you don’t believe me, I would be happy to take you out there and show you.” Naomi said.
“I think you’ll need to.” Bridger said. “When would you like to go?”
“Is that really necessary?” Naomi asked.
“You’ve been given shelter and food in return for fixing the shit you and your people heaped on top of us. So yeah, it’s necessary.” Bridger said.
“Fine. But we are done. And after you’ve satisfied yourself that we aren’t lying, I need to ask another favor.” Naomi said.
“Another one? How many favors do you plan on asking for?” Bridger stepped around the table.
“I would like to borrow that deuce and a half you have sitting by the gate.” Naomi said.
“You want our truck?”
“Just borrow it.” Naomi said.
“Why?” Kate asked.
“We have a job to do. And we’re ready to start doing it again. I’d like to borrow the truck so we can return to our compound and retrieve some supplies before we move on.” Naomi said.
“So you’re leaving?” Bridger said.
“Yes.”
“Then yes, take it. As a matter of fact don’t even worry about bringing it back. Just take it and go away.” Bridger said.
“Hold on.” Kate said.
“What?” Bridger said.
“I’ll bring the truck back. I wouldn’t deprive you of its use.” Naomi said to Kate.
“That’s not what concerns me.” Kate said. “I don’t want you or your people to go away.”
“You’re not planning on keeping them here?” Bridger asked.
“I have to agree with Bridger, I don’t think you can keep us here.” Naomi said.
“Oh, we can do whatever the hell we want, just like you people did with her son.” Bridger said. “We can keep you here, we can march you out the gates and blow your brains out if we want to. Nothing you can do to stop it.”
“Bridger. That’s enough.” Kate said. “Naomi, you can use the truck. But we will send some of our people with you.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so. Look, I don’t know what your job is or what you are planning to do but you’ve made it clear that there is something out there that may offer us another chance.” Kate said. “I’m not just going to let go of that.”
“So you intend to keep us against our will?” Naomi asked.
“No, but I intend on keeping you under close supervision.” Kate said. “I don’t want that to be confrontational. You said you were doing this job so you could help people, we’re people. And since we have given you sanctuary here, I think you at least owe us that courtesy.”
“But I don’t know if we’ll find anything. Caleb may have been right. This might be nothing.” Naomi said. “I don’t want you to be disappointed. There may not be anything left to find.”
“Well, we’ll figure that out together. I won’t be disappointed. You have to have expectations to be disappointed. I don’t expect anything except that you trust us. Wasn’t that the whole point of what Noah did? He said trust was built over yours and Scott’s lives.” Kate said.
“He did.” She lowered her head slightly. “You’re right. We’ll want to head to our old compound tomorrow morning if that’s possible and I welcome whoever you want to send with us.” Naomi looked at Bridger.
“Oh, you know I’m going. I’m not letting you out of my sight unless I know it will be the last time I see you.” Bridger said.
“Very well, tomorrow morning then.” Naomi said. She turned and headed back out the door. They heard the screen door squeal. Kate turned to Bridger.
“What the hell was that?” She asked.
“Nothing.” He said.
“Bullshit. Tell me now.” Kate’s voice hardened.
“I don’t trust them Kate. That one right there is chasing something besides what she says she is chasing.” Bridger said.
“What’s that?”
“Redemption. If all her story is true, she was part of hiding all this. She’s wrapped up in guilt and that makes her dangerous.” Bridger said.
“Well, good thing you’re going to be the one keeping an eye on her.” Kate said.
“I want Jahda, Devin and Charlie to go too.” Bridger said.
“Why Devin?” Emma Grace asked.
“Because I trust him to keep his cool. Jahda and Charlie too.” Bridger said.
“Why is that important?” Emma Grace asked.
“Just in case I can’t.” Bridger said.
Naomi walked down the sidewalk and paused when she got to the street. She looked to her left and saw a man with a limp walking towards her. She couldn’t remember his name.
“Good evening.” The man said.
“Good evening uh…” Naomi said.
“Cameron.”
“Yes, Cameron.” Naomi said.
“Care to join me on my stroll?” Cameron asked.
“Sorry?”
“I am exercising this bum ankle. It has healed wonderfully thanks to the efforts of Dr. Raj but it does require a bit a loosening up on occasion.” He said.
“I’m surprised.” Naomi said.
“Well, when you have had as many birthdays as I have had things don’t heal up quite as efficiently. Alas, the failure to mark the occasions on the calendar seems to be quite irrelevant to the actual passage of time.” He said.
“I’m sure. But I’m surprised that you would want my company. It seems most of your companions have come to the conclusion I am a company they would rather not keep unless they have to.” She said.
“What do you mean?” He asked as they started down the middle of the street.
“Well Bridger made it clear he doesn’t trust me and has no intention of wanting to.” She said. “Kate has reserved judgment though, at least until she can determine if we can be of any particular use.”
“And you find that disconcerting?” He asked.
“Wouldn’t you?” She asked.
“When I first met these people, I found myself in a very similar position as you find yourself in now.” He said.
“How so?” She asked.
“I wasn’t with this group in the beginning. I was alone. But I had the great fortune of an unexpected visit by Kate’s late husband as the world unwound. That random
connection led me to this group shortly after her husband was lost. He made an impression on me that I wasn’t even aware of at the time. After I accidentally burnt my former abode to ashes I became a wanderer. I met our resident equine and she and I found these people. But before I found them, I found where they had been. It was just a wide spot on an old dirt road. They had started with nothing. But they managed to end up with an entire town surrounded by an exceptional barricade against the dead.”
