by T. W. Brown
“That’s far enough, fella!” a voice called from beyond the barricade.
“We don’t want any trouble,” Kevin replied, putting his hands in the air and taking a step back.
“Nobody ever does at the start,” came the retort.
“Look, we are just headed west, trying to make it to South Dakota.” Kevin saw no reason to be deceptive. From the looks of things, the people of this little town had done well. He could see a barricade that ran off into the distance. Nothing fancy, but there was probably more that he could not see.
“Why?” came the response after a few seconds of silence. “What the hell you think you gonna find in South Dakota?”
“Empty space.” Kevin glanced over his shoulder at the rest of the group. He could see the tension and noted more than one rifle had come down to the ready. “We seriously mean no harm, and we can turn back…find a different way around.”
A moment passed with no response. Kevin could feel a bead of sweat rolling down the back of his neck. He really wanted to move, but he had no idea how many weapons and of what sort might be trained on him.
“We can let y’all pass,” another voice finally spoke. “But we just want you to know that you will have guns aimed at you the entire way. Anybody tries anything…and we just kill the whole lot of ya and then come in and take them fancy weapons you all are sporting.”
“No problem,” Kevin replied.
He had just turned when the second voice called out again. “You mind answering a question before ya go?”
Kevin tensed. He had figured it was too damn easy. Things just did not work out smooth and without complications.
“Sure.” Kevin stopped and turned to face back towards the barricade. He was mildly surprised when a man dressed in what looked to be a sheriff’s uniform stepped out from behind a section of metal that looked like it had been cut from the trailer of a big rig.
“You all seem pretty heavily armed, and seeing as how I did a stint in the United States Army, a lot of that gear you are wearing and carrying is definitely government issue. Care to tell me where you came by it? I could have dismissed a few of you as having been in a unit, but I see a couple of youngsters with you…” The man paused and smiled big. “They’s the reason we didn’t just shoot you outright so ya know.”
“Well, first off, I’d like to thank you for the whole not shooting us part,” Kevin began. As he spoke, a few dozen more people seemed to melt out of the shadows cast by the large barricade. He saw some shotguns, a few rifles, a lot of belt knives and even a few homemade items that looked like farm equipment from Hell. “And to answer your question, there was what looked like a FEMA center or military rescue post back just east of Des Moines. Looks like they got overwhelmed before many could bug out. There are still zombies inside the fences, but there is a whole lot of stuff still there. We only scratched the surface.”
“You talkin’ about Altoona?” another man spoke up as he stepped up beside the guy that Kevin assumed to have been a sheriff.
“Yeah,” Kevin answered. He felt the tension draining from him. Could this really happen? Could they be getting past here with nothing more than a few exchanges of harmless banter?
“Heard a lot of bad rumors about that place. Supposedly a lot of real bad guys wandering the area,” the man spoke with a hurried voice.
“Okay, Jimbo,” the sheriff gave the man a pat on the arm and took a few more steps toward Kevin and his group. “Can’t take any of what old Jimbo says too seriously. He takes every rumor from anybody that passes through and treats it like it were gospel from Jesus himself.”
Kevin’s eyes scanned as much as he could see without trying to make it look like he was searching for anything. He really wanted to believe that they were going to be allowed to pass through unharmed, but now this sheriff seemed awfully talkative.
“So can we pass, or would you rather we go wide and find our way back to the highway?” Kevin asked, trying not to sound like he was concerned.
“I don’t see any reason you can’t just pass through. Even welcome to stop in for a bit if ya like. We don’t often see folks that we are not compelled to shoot.”
“And why are we any different?” Kevin flicked his eyes to the bodies swinging at the ends of the nooses. “What makes you think we are any different than them?”
“The children for one thing,” the man said. He had stopped suddenly and now looked like he might be regretting his choice to come so far out into the open. “Been my experience that groups with children are usually okay.”
“You might want to rethink that notion,” Aleah spoke up. She stepped forward, Rose at her side, and quickly recounted the incident they had experienced while they’d been out searching for supplies. Rose tossed in some of her own commentary along the way and then told what she’d seen happen with Sean and Deanna.
“Well, it seems that I stand corrected,” the man finally said with a shake of his head. “If you prefer, we can go back to thinking you are a possible threat—”
“No!” several people, Kevin included, shouted at once.
The man laughed and then gave the signal for his people to stand down and let Kevin’s group pass. There were a few waves and handshakes, and then everybody was biking west once more. That evening as they found an empty farmhouse to camp for the night, Kevin realized that nobody had even introduced themselves.
Probably for the best, he thought. He had enough trouble remembering the names of the people that he was travelling with. No need to make things more complicated.
***
The next day, they passed through just another spot-on-the-map town. It looked like most of whatever had been here before had burned to the ground. The landscape was still an ugly gray and black with little more than a few useless cell towers and a water tower still standing in silent sentinel over the destruction.
The lack of any zombies did little to brighten anybody’s mood as they pedaled past. Kevin noted that not even birds could be seen or heard. It was quieter than a cemetery, and he could not help but feel a touch of sadness. Had the residents of whatever town this had once been had relatives in Holstein?
He realized that the past year had really kept him from seeing just how utter and complete the devastation to humanity was. He had been so busy trying to survive that he had missed the fact that so many had not. But here, out on the open road, he could see it as clear as day. He’d tried to notice in Chicago, but so much had gone on. Now, out in the middle of what had been known as America’s Heartland, the message sunk in loud and clear.
He looked around at the others in his group. They all seemed to be going about things just as they had every other day. Had he been that self-absorbed? Had everybody else seen this except him?
His eyes paused on Jane Mendel. She was riding between Jose and Manuel. It looked like she had tears in her eyes! He was not alone; for that simple thing, he felt grateful.
Another day passed and then the next. When they began to see the signs for Sioux City, Kevin decided that the group had been going hard long enough; it was time for a break. They would be turning north and beginning the final leg of their journey. He could see the anxiousness in Catie’s expression, but, to her credit, she made no complaint when he called for them to stop just after midday. They made camp in what had once been an old rental storage facility.
Provided they ran in to no complications, their destination would be reached tomorrow. After last night’s dinner, they had been very low on supplies. He was amazed at how fast they went through things. This was further proof that they could not continue to survive by scavenging. However, it would be wise for them to make a run this one final time before embarking on that last leg.
He laid out his plans for everybody and asked first for any volunteers. David, Heather, Selma, and Bill all spoke up. There were what looked to be some very nice houses just up a shallow incline. This time next year, Kevin doubted that you would be able to even spot the upscale development from the hig
hway. The open fields were green with grasses that were past waist high.
Once everybody was settled, Kevin told Aleah that he needed to talk to Catie and would be back in time for dinner. She gave him a curious glance, but he just kissed her forehead and headed over to where Catie was busy getting a small fire started.
“Hey, got a minute?” Kevin said once he was close enough.
Catie looked up and her smile slipped. She could tell that Kevin had something serious on his mind by his expression. She gave a nod and stood. The pair walked until they had come to the fence that surrounded the storage facility.
“What’s on your mind?” Catie decided that it was best to just dive in and find out what had Kevin looking so serious.
“Deanna.”
That single word hung in the air. Catie could feel her heart get just a little tighter and she dropped her head. After a moment, she looked up at Kevin with tears in her eyes.
***
Kevin stared into the embers of the fire. Catie’s story still rattled around in his head. At least he understood why she had not wanted them to head up to where she, Rose, and the rest of that group had been attacked.
He only briefly considered the possibility that perhaps Catie was mistaken, but he knew that was simply his own wants and hopes fighting for purchase in his mind.
Suddenly, Kevin felt exhausted. It was as if hearing that sad story had worn him out and drained his spirit. He knew now why Catie had tried so hard to rescue him and Heather. He knew why she had been adamant that she would stay with the group for as long as possible; even going so far as to help them settle someplace if Kevin’s plans had changed. She needed to be around people.
Despite the fact that, as far as what she’d told him, nothing was Catie’s fault, he knew that a person would easily shoulder misplaced blame and there was nothing that anybody could say or do to erase it. He certainly had his own fair share of self-recrimination floating around in his conscience.
Aleah lay in the sleeping bag just across from him. The shadows danced across her face. He found her no less beautiful than on the first day he’d met her. A little frostbite could not peel away one iota of how gorgeous she seemed to him.
Beside her was Rose. The girl was a fighter and a survivor; of that there was no doubt. He knew that if she’d been told what Catie had shared with him, nothing would keep her from going back. He realized that there was a lot to be said for closure, but he also had come to believe that old adage of “What you don’t know can’t hurt you.” Perhaps that was the best way to deal with this situation such as it was.
As the night dragged on, he found himself remembering everything that had happened in the past year. Faces popped into his mind, some causing him pain like Mike and Willa, others causing him to smile like Valarie.
He found himself hoping that this trip would yield fruit. He was anxious, not just for himself, but also for Catie. She would possibly discover the fate of her family…friends. He glanced over to the glow of where he knew her fire to be and tried to see through the darkness and know whether she was having trouble falling asleep like him.
The group that had gone out for supplies did not come back with much. They said that there were definite signs that the area had been hit by scavengers already. They reported that every house had been marked with a big black “X” on the front door. They had given up after the fourth house when it was clear they would find little to nothing.
At last, the dawn broke and everybody was back on the road again. The plan was to probe around the outskirts of Sioux City for supplies. The day started sunny, but clouds rolled in fast and began pouring a steady rain. Kevin was never much of a believer in omens, and he was not about to start now.
The scouts that were sent out as they began the swing north all came back with the same reports. It looked like most everything of use had been picked clean. There also looked to have been serious destruction from fire to large swathes of the city.
The one thing they saw very little of was any signs of the walking dead. A straggler here or there could sometimes be spotted, but for a major city, there was an unsettling quiet as they followed the interstate as it ran parallel to the Missouri River that acted as the divider between South Dakota and Nebraska.
As they continued on, Kevin noticed that Catie had moved to the front of the group. Whether consciously or not, she was starting to increase the pace. Twice, Kevin had biked up alongside her and urged her to slow down a little. She apologized each time, but within less than a half hour she had gone back to the front. Finally, he insisted that she fall back and stay with him, Aleah, and Rose. Heather had taken to riding with David Semmet. Personally, Kevin thought the young man was an idiot, but he knew better than to express that sentiment to Heather.
It was early in the afternoon when the procession came up over a very long but gradual ridge. They should be coming up on the small town of Beresford, South Dakota according to the signs. The advance riders were a good mile or so away and just about to reach the top of the next of what had been a series of long and gently rolling ridges..
He felt the hair on his arms start to stand up as Bill and Jose made quick turnarounds and came back at them, both men pedaling for all they were worth. Bill was waving one arm wildly, gesturing for everybody to stop.
“What’s wrong?” Kevin asked as the pair skidded to a halt before him and all the others who had, by now, gathered around.
“Coming this way…horses…fifty or more…armed…” Bill was gasping.
Kevin looked around. They were in a terrible position; the area around them was flat and offered little to no cover. They were left with no other options.
“Everybody pair up and spread out. Take positions in a large arc. MOVE!” he barked.
Aleah positioned herself beside him, but Kevin turned and looked her in the eyes, taking her hands in his. “We don’t have a lot of time, so I just want you to know that, no matter what, and more than I probably ever said to you with words…I love you with all my heart.”
“Which is why I am staying right here.” Looking up at him and brushing a lock of hair from her eyes, Aleah smiled and kissed Kevin. “So don’t waste any time trying to shoo me away.”
Kevin thought it over for the briefest of seconds and realized that he did not have the time to debate anything. If he was going to die, then why not make his last stand beside this woman that had taught him how to be in love.
He looked around at the pairings and was surprised by a few. Bill and Cherish stood side by side and he was pointing out a few things as the woman held her M4 somewhat awkwardly. Rose was with Dr. Miriam Reno and seemed to be lecturing the older woman. He would have loved to have been able to eavesdrop on that little conversation. Catie was with Adam Scott. The funny thing was that he could not recall a single instance where those two had spent any amount of time together except in passing.
The sound of hoof beats brought his attention back to what was about to happen. He double-checked that both pistols he wore on his hips were ready to draw and that the safety flap was unsnapped. Then, taking his position a step ahead of Aleah and in the middle of the road, Kevin brought his M4 up to his shoulder.
“Nobody get trigger happy!” Kevin called out.
The riders came to a quick halt as they spied the firepower aimed in their direction. One rider held up a hand and said something over the shoulder to the others. Kevin was impressed in the fact that none of the people on horseback had gone for a weapon.
Looking around at his group, Kevin made a show of shouldering his own rifle before stepping forward a few steps. Aleah went to follow and he put an arm out to bar her.
“Not for this,” Kevin said with a shake of his head. “I need you to watch my back. Keep your weapon trained in the general direction of whoever comes forward to meet me.”
Not waiting for her to try and mount an argument, Kevin began to walk across the open space between him and the riders. He was not surprised when the same person who ha
d signaled the others to halt was the one to come forward to meet him. He was a tad bit surprised when the individual climbed off his or her horse to do so.
Kevin had a few minutes to observe this person as they approached one another. They were decked out in a mixture of what looked like riot gear, a football helmet with a face shield (which was part of the reason why he had not been able to determine gender as of yet), and a baseball catcher’s chest piece.
The distance was almost a good half mile, so it took a few minutes for them to cover the open ground between them. Also, at this distance, neither side were likely to have shooters that could do more than hope to get close to a target. Kevin figured Catie would be the best bet at hitting anything at this range, and to be honest, he had no idea of the range capability of the weapons both sides carried.
The closer he got to this person, the more difficult it was to not look over his shoulder. For some reason, he felt it was important to keep his eyes front. He wanted to appear confident.
After what seemed like an eternity, he came to a stop in front of the emissary from the riders. She took off her helmet and a cascade of long, dark hair spilled past her shoulders. She was pretty in that girl-next-door way. She had a pleasant smile—even now with the tension levels jacked way up—and brown eyes that sparkled and amplified that smile to a level that was almost friendly.
“Quite a band you have there,” the woman said. Her voice was almost melodic and Kevin instantly thought that it would sound really good singing along with Jill’s.
“Yeah,” Kevin agreed, “but you have us outnumbered almost three to one.”
“Do we need to be concerned?”
“Would it matter if I said no?”
“Good point,” the woman chuckled. “So what brings you way out here? Tourist season isn’t for another few months.”
Kevin considered his answer. He decided that giving her the basic truth would not do any harm. He explained briefly how he had made such a plan before the zombies had come and what he had based that decision on.
