Dan Swain’s attention was drawn to the edge of the large field by the sound of a loud engine, a flash of yellow between the trees, and a crash. Ryan Shallenburger heard it too. He followed Dan over to the northwest corner of the gymnasium roof.
“Now what?” asked Dan with trepidation.
“I don’t know,” Ryan replied despairingly as he lifted up his binoculars.
“It looks like a bus that crashed, and…seven, no, eight people are running this way.”
“I’ll let everybody on the ground floor know to expect inbounds,” Dan said as he picked up his handheld radio.
“Attention all radios, attention all radios. We have eight people inbound. Everyone be ready. I want everyone on the roof except for two to head to the north wall. The last two keep eyes to the south in case it’s a decoy.”
“You’re not going to let them in, are you? I don’t trust them,” Ryan said, never taking his eyes off the strangers.
“Probably not. We’re pretty much filled to capacity now as it is.”
“They look armed to the teeth and ready for a fight.”
“Let me see.”
Ryan handed the binoculars over. It took Dan a few seconds to focus in on them. He watched each one until he found the guy running in the lead.
“It doesn’t look like they are trying to stage an attack. It looks to me like they are running from something. Or trying to find something.”
The people on the ground suddenly stopped. The leader looked over his shoulder at another guy. That guy was pointing to Dan and Ryan. Then all eight men looked directly at them. They grouped together and were talking amongst themselves for half a minute. Dan increased the zoom, refocused, and realized they were all wearing Army helmets.
“Dude, they look like they might be Army or something. They have ballistic helmets and work like a cohesive team.”
The shortest one slowly removed his backpack and set it on the ground. He looked up, put his hand in the bag, and slowly removed a pair of binoculars of his own. He looked at Dan and then scanned all the way across the front of the school buildings. He replaced the binoculars from whence they came and put his bag back on. The eight men looked behind them and then walked slowly forward, holding their weapons pointed at the ground. When they were fifty yards from the school, they stopped.
“Hello! We don’t want to hurt anyone. We are trying to find some friends of ours,” shouted a tall, burly man.
“Mr. Mawson, head out and see what they want. We have you covered from above,” Dan said into the radio.
Mr. Mawson walked out, mirroring the strangers’ body language. He stopped ten yards away from the newcomers.
“How can we help you?”
“Good afternoon. We were wondering if you have heard of our Lord and Savior Je—”
The short one stopped talking because the burly one next to him elbowed him in the side.
“Sorry, wrong speech. My name is Bill, and uh, we crashed our bus. We were wondering if you could point us to the nearest bus barn so that we may get another one.”
“A wise guy, eh? Well, we don’t have any around here, so you might as well mosey on back the way you came.”
“Yea, well, there are probably a thousand thrillers headed this way because of the noise we made getting here. So, yea. We’re real sorry about that. But I guess we’ll be on our way, then,” Bill said, and he started to turn away,
“A thousand what?”
“Thrillers. That’s what we like to call the zombies.”
“Oh. Hey, that is kinda catchy. We’ve been calling them walkers. Like that popular TV show. But thrillers works. So, for all the wa…thrillers headed this way, would you be willing to help us fight them off since you brought them here?”
The short one looked around, and the others nodded slightly.
“Yes, we would. What’s your name?”
“Charles Mawson.”
“Nice to meet you,” Bill said as he stuck his hand out. Mr. Mawson just looked at it. Then he lifted his eyes back up to meets Bill’s.
“Well, I’m not trying to be rude, but the way people die these days, I’m not too keen on making new friends. Besides, you said you were on your way as soon as we’re done here.”
“True.” Bill lowered his hand
“I need to go in and talk to the others and find out what they want to do.”
“We will wait here. Just don’t be too long, please, or we will have to run away,” Bill said, looking over his shoulder.
He thought he heard the footsteps of thousands of thrillers off in the distance. Mr. Mawson disappeared back into the building, and Bill looked up at the people lining the roof. He noticed the guy with the binoculars was gone. A few minutes later, that man appeared out the front door with Mr. Mawson and walked right up to Bill.
“Are you the leader?” Dan asked pointedly
“Not really the leader per se. We’re more of an autonomous collective—"
“Cut the shit, funny man. I don’t want to stand here and listen to you quote fucking Monty Python when we’re on the cusp of being overrun by goddamned walkers.”
“Ok, listen, we will help you, and we don’t want any of your stuff. We have plenty. We came to Denver to find some friends, and we really need to get back to doing that. So, let’s get the killing over with. Actually, what if I can divert them?”
“Now you have my attention.”
“Do you have a car? Just you and I go and do what I gotta do and then come back.”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“You can’t. But my guys will stay here and wait for us to return. Look, we don’t have a lot of time.”
“Ok, fine. Follow me.”
Bill followed Dan out to the parking lot, and they got into an average-looking half-ton truck. Bill slung off his bag as he climbed into the passenger side. Dan drove off into the grass and got on the school road heading back out. He turned left and cut across two more parking lots. Then he went into the grass in front of another building on the school campus. From there, he drove northwest until he entered a dirt access road that led north. He drove around the back of the baseball diamond until they entered another parking lot.
“Stop here. Honk the horn to get their attention,” Bill instructed.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?”
“Yes, but please, stop the truck. This is the part where you have to trust the strange, awkward little man.”
Dan slammed on the brakes, and the truck skidded to a stop. Bill wasn’t ready, and he slid forward into the dash.
“Thanks,” Bill said as he righted himself in the seat.
They both watched the horde change direction as Dan honked the horn repeatedly.
“Ok, head out to the street, go left, and I’ll let you know when to stop again.”
Dan complied, and a block down Quincy Avenue, he stopped the truck again. This time, Bill had pulled out a hand grenade from his backpack.
“What the actually fuck?” Dan asked.
Bill didn’t say anything. He just pulled the pin and threw the grenade into the field next to the road.
“GO! GO! GO!”
Dan punched the throttle and rocketed the truck down the street. A block later, Bill pulled out a package of firecrackers.
“Hey, that is going to make a lot of noise, and those things last for like a minute,” Dan said in awe.
“Yup. It works like a charm to attract them things in the direction you want them to go,” Bill replied as he lit the fuse and tossed the firecracker pack out the window. “Cool. That should do it. Let’s head back to the school.”
“That’s it? That’s all were doing?”
“Yes. I take it you haven’t spent much time out fighting them things, have you?”
“No. We learned early on that if you shoot them, more will come. It’s like they are attracted to the sound.”
“That’s exactly it. The big guy and I started in Texas and have been all over the U.S. in t
he last two weeks. We have fought them damn things in every state we’ve been to. You could say we’ve gotten pretty good at learning how they act and how to avoid them.”
“Texas, you say? That’s a long way from here. What brings you here?”
“I was being honest when I said we were looking for our friends. When we’re done here today, we’re headed up to Washington to start a safe community. You know, the whole autonomous collective thing.”
“Interesting” was Dan’s only reply.
Back at the school, Dan parked the truck and told Bill and his guys to join them inside.
Once introductions were made all around, Dan wanted them to follow him into the library.
“Hey, wait, the fucking power is on,” Cootch observed.
“Yea, you’re right! How the fuck are you doing that?” Q asked.
“My guess is solar,” Mike replied.
“You are correct, sir,” Ryan said. “But don’t be getting ideas. I didn’t trust strangers before. I sure as hell am not going to trust you now.”
“No worries. You have every right to be nervous. Let me guess, you’ve had people try to come in here and take over,” Bill said.
“Yes, and if I had my way, you wouldn’t be in here now. But I do trust Dan, and for some fucking reason, he brought you in here. I can’t wait to hear his excuse this time.”
They entered the library. Dan invited the men to have a seat and offered them a bottle of water.
“No thanks. We have water. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I’m holding true to my word that we’re not trying to take anything you have. You may need it worse than we do.”
“Fair enough, and I appreciate the effort. But we have the lake behind us and some of the best water-filter systems you can buy. This school was all about being green, and that is why we have the solar. But that’s not why I brought you here.”
Another man was already there with Mr. Mawson when the RV guys entered. They were sitting at a table, looking through a stack of books.
“Everyone, this is Bill Frye, and you’ve already met Mr. Mawson. Mr. Mawson used to teach our technologies stream. Mr. Frye used to be one of the science teachers at this school, but now he’s my radio man. He keeps communication with the outside world so we know how other communities are faring. I probably don’t have to tell you it’s pretty bleak out there. But I’ll let Mr. Frye talk more about that.”
Then Dan turned to Mr. Frye.
“I think these are the folks you were talking about. But you would know better than me.”
“You mean they are the ones? But they showed up in a bus, according to what Ryan told me.”
“I know. Talk to them and find out.”
“What the fuck is going on here? You guys are talking about us like we’re not here,” Cootch said.
“Gentlemen, please, if you will follow me. It would be better to show you down in the science hall,” Mr. Frye replied.
A few minutes later, they entered a room with several computers and radios in several stages of disrepair. As they stood around, Mr. Frye swept his arm over to the one that looked operational.
“Over here is the ham radio Dan was talking about. If you would indulge me, where were you yesterday?”
“Why?” asked Cootch.
“I’m trying to find out if you really are the people I think you are.”
“We were in North Dakota and drove here,” Bill answered.
“Did you meet anyone along the way?”
“Oh, what was that guy’s name… Justin clit something or other.”
“Good. You have other people in your group somewhere safe, I presume. Do you have anyone named Steve?” Mr. Frye asked.
“No. He died in Pennsylvania a week ago,” Bill replied.
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that. We had no idea.”
“That’s enough fucking questions. You tell us what the fuck is going on right the fuck now.” Cootch was getting irritated.
“There are some guys named Charles and Vinny that are looking for you—”
Bill and Q instantly pointed their rifles at Mr. Frye and Dan. Mr. Frye’s face blanched. The other six RV people followed suit and pointed their weapons at whoever else was in the room.
“Whoa! Whoa. Settle down,” Dan said quickly with his hands up. “We are not on their side. I assure you of that. By your reaction, I know for a fact that you’re the RV people, and there are other people that need your help.”
“The RV people are here?” Another man came running into the room and skidded to a halt. “Mr. Frye, you said they were good!”
“Guys, this is Shaun Flick. He’s our resident water expert.”
“You know what an expert is?” Bill asked. “An ex is a has-been and a spurt is just a drip under pressure.”
“Oh, this is fabulous! The RV people are here!” Shaun Flick reiterated while clapping his hands.
“What’s wrong with him? Is he retarded or something?”
“Naw, he just acts like woman,” Mr. Frye replied. “Please, guys, can we put the guns down and get back to business?”
“This better be good,” Cootch said as he lowered his weapon.
“It is. You, the RV people, have been the main news on the ham for the last week or so.”
Mr. Frye walked over to a large map of the U.S. on the wall. It had various colored pushpins in place. As Mr. Frye pointed to it, Bill saw a direct correlation of red pins being in places they had been.
“We’ve heard reports about you from Fargo, Red Wing, Minnesota, and the last was yesterday from Ainsworth, Nebraska.”
“Ah, that cool-as-shit cop we met,” Bill replied. “Hold the motherfucking phone. Why are people talking about us? What are they saying?”
“It seems you have become some sort of an urban legend, going around killing bad guys and helping good people. But no one has really seen you or let alone talked to you, until yesterday, that is. A group in Fargo confirmed you were real when you flew through there a few days ago. But everyone was confused about why you were going north.”
“Holy shit. I bet it was the folks we saw on the roof of the mall,” Q said.
“I bet you’re right,” said Phillip. He had to say something because he hadn’t spoken in hours.
“There is a group of folks in Billings, Montana, that have been looking for you. They have asked anybody that can contact you to relay a message. According to a guy named Harvey, this Charles, Vinny, and GM have moved up there and taken over the city.”
“What the fuck? How is that possible?” Bill whipped around and faced Mike. In a pseudo-accusatory tone, he said, “Mike, what the fuck is going on?”
“Fuck if I know,” Mike responded in a placating way. “I’m telling you, GM is insane. He lost his marbles on ZP1.”
“What’s ZP1?” asked Mr. Frye.
“ZomPoc and a number is how we count the days,” Bill replied without taking his eyes off Mike.
“Ah, that’s what I figured. I like it.”
“Ok, you said these people need our help because them dudes are there now. No way. We crossed paths with them once. And if we can avoid it again, I plan on it,” said Q.
Bill gave Mike an apology smile and turned his attention back to Mr. Fry.
“Well, that’s exactly why Billings wants your help. You know what these guys are like.”
“And what they like. I almost lost my anal virginity because of them,” Bill said.
Mr. Frye and Dan just stared in disbelief.
“I’m sorry. What did you just say?” asked Dan.
“Long story short, back in Illinois, I was captured by Vinny, and he almost raped me,” answered Bill.
“Well, from what I’ve seen, I don’t understand how that could happen,” said Dan.
“They caught me with my guard down. Had me outnumbered. But my question is, how in the fuck did they get moved up there so fast. Our encounter with them was what? Four-ish days ago.”
“Airplane,” Q interjected hasti
ly. “Bill, we know they have at least one pilot,”
“Fuck, I forgot about that. But that plane was so small. Maybe they got a bigger one?”
“I know you gentlemen want to get going, but I would like to contact Montana so you can get some details from Harvey,” said Mr. Frye.
“Yea, sure. I want to know what we’re getting into this time,” Bill said as he sat down.
It was two in the afternoon by the time the RV people left the school in Denver. They walked along a path at the edge of the lake Dan had spoken of earlier. They entered a large house that Bill estimated to be five thousand square feet. As soon as Cootch opened the door, the smell hit him.
“Fuck, let’s take out these colostomy bags and see what they drive,” he said.
They killed one thriller in the living room and one in the kitchen on the way to the garage. They didn’t spend any time clearing the whole house. It was strictly an in-and-out operation.
“Well, gents, looks like we get to ride back in style,” Mike said.
“I call dibs driving the Land Cruiser,” Bill said.
“And I’ll drive the Range Rover,” Bo quickly replied.
Cootch and Phillip opened the garage doors while Bill and Bo backed the rigs out.
They rode east on Bellevue Avenue and then south on Interstate 25. A few miles later, Bo led them through the interchange to East 470. Going around the city as much as they could, the luxury SUVs reached speeds of 110 miles per hour. There was some excitement mixed with anxiety to get as far away from Denver as they could. During their conversation with Harvey on the radio, Cootch had made the executive decision to cease all rescue operations in Denver. The other seven had agreed that it was too dangerous. From East 470, they got on Interstate 76 and had a straight shot to Hudson, where they exited off the freeway and back onto Highway 52 for the third time that day.
Once they were in radio contact with the convoy, Bill let them know they were not in the bus. He didn’t want to get shot by his own people. The luxury SUVs were left across the highway from the Banner Lakes parking lot because it was already overcrowded. Bill gathered everyone around and let them know what had been revealed about the Campbellsville people.
“See, Mike, I told you that we hadn’t seen the last of them,” Shannon scolded him.
Beginning of the New Beginning Vol 3 Page 7
