He stared at me a moment longer....then it shrieked its Dead Call, which caught me by surprise. I should have expected it and for some damn reason I did not. Behind us I heard other Dead Calls ring out from the direction of town. Bolters don't call, so it was Roamers....and it sounded like a lot of them. Maybe that huge horde Ben had mentioned was still in the area. We weren't about to stick around to find out.
Tim shouted "let's move!" as I was climbing back in. I only replied with "kill it."
We heading forward, crushing the skull of the former Bolter as we went. I know Tim was disappointed yet again due to the fact we couldn't explore the town.....it was just out of the question now. Maybe that bastard behind us did us a favor with that Dead Call....who knows what we'd have driven into that day.
***
On the way home Tim and I spoke.
As Recorded:
I'm sorry.
Huh?....For what?
I know we needed to look for Ken....I didn't know this was going to happen. Had I known there were Bolters in there....I put us in danger.
We all agreed on this little plan, man. Agreed it could be beneficial....such a simple thing, ya know...
Hmm?
I'm just thinking how.....just weeks ago, we could have walked in there and bought some damn cases of mason jars for whatever reason....now they could literally help sustain us and to find any it's risking your life. We're always going to be risking our lives now for the smallest of things that were once obtained without a second thought.
Yeah....but we have to really consider how we choose the risks and how much whatever it may be is worth the risk. Everything inside me said keep moving....fuck the store. I had that feeling and yet I still just wanted to at least take a fast look in the front.
Harmless enough...even with a bad feeling. Not like you were just gonna walk right up in there like a jackass.
Right...but next time I'm going with instinct. I saw that Bolter at the end of the aisle and I knew I fucked up. I thought we were gonna die today when I saw it....or me at the very least.
You weren't gonna die...you were right by the fuckin' truck. We did alright.
Only because the bastard was clear in the back....you know, where the double doors for employees are at. What if it had been halfway closer? Worse yet....what if it had been feet away...my eyes were not adjusted when I looked in there. Any closer and I would'a been fucked! It was another mistake on my part. I keep grilling myself to think smarter.....we came out here without even thinking of a backup plan....I thought on the way here....what if you guys were dead...thankfully you're not, but we lost your Dad. Then I thought what if the house was burned down....or occupied by some assholes....never thought of that until we got here. Getting caught in that storm....another fuck up...and now today. The smart thing to do would have been to throw something from the truck into the store maybe. We'd have heard it charging and would have taken off without incident. One jumped in back, cracks the glass....could have gotten through and that would'a been the end for us right then and there.
First of all....we're learning as we go here...we're gonna make some careless moves. Who the hell was prepared for this? I mean, prepper people, sure....but not the average joe like me and you....oblivious half the time since we were kids. I think we're doing alright. I don't wanna get cocky, jinx our asses, just saying. We fucked those bastards up back there [laughs]. Second....the storm was on all of us. I'm the one that asked and asked for ten minutes to go into town. The storm moved fast...that one is on me, too. We both fucked up there. I know Reggie had wanted to leave too, but he never voiced it too much. He could have....so like I said....we just have to man up and learn from the fuck ups.
I'm just worried about learning at a fatally slow rate [laughs].
Nah....we'll do fine.
We need to make guidelines and rules for ourselves when we go out from now on. So there's less screw ups and we know what to do should anything backfire like today. We'll do that before we go out anymore.
And then you wanna try the discount death trap again?
[Laughs]. No, not quite sure I ever want to step foot in the place. No time soon anyway. I'll have nightmares of that place for years now. The image of that ugly fuck standing in the dark looking at me when my light hit....fuck.
Better you than me, man.
Thanks.
End of Recording.
***
When we arrived back at the house, Kelly and Ben appeared on the porch. Kelly's face full of worry. She'd always have that look when we'd return. Worried firstly for Jim...and always fearful we'd come back with one of us gone.
Ben looked excited to see us back. He possibly felt too pampered alone with Kelly all day. Hearing about the new dangers of the world, that he's a kid and should be able to act like one, trying to persuade him not to want to go out with us, etc.
Jim had begun to tell our story as we crossed the small piece of yard. Her face went to shock as the story was told, then to a new found relief none of us were killed....then it went to anger. Namely at me. All this....nearly killed...for fucking mason jars. And we didn't even get the fuckin' jars. Of course she had excessively reiterated how she had been against the idea for the most part and this proved her point.
Thankfully, Jim stepped in fast to ease her down by explaining we'd already had this conversation. And to also point out it's something we had all agreed on.
Ben had looked full of wild wonder. He started asking all kinds of questions about if we were scared. How close had they really gotten, how messed up were they after being hit. He was a thirteen year old boy....but he'd be less excited had he been with us. Kelly gave me another pissed off look during Ben's hyped up inquisition. That had only confirmed by earlier assumption that she had spent all day trying to get him on a different wave of thought.
I suddenly realized someone was missing....I asked where Reggie was.
Napping.
At least he'd be ready for watch later.
***
That night after Reggie, who'd been the most against my plan, finished with the told ya so's, we went over some rules and ideas.
One good idea I thought of, which Kelly made the snide remark of it being a good idea this time, was local town safe zones.
Basically, we would find a small building in every local town we'd ever be in for scavenging. We'd make sure it was clear, defensible and safe at all times. Do some scheduled checks and have some safe guards to know if anyone, anything, had been there.
The idea was if we ever had an emergency situation....some kind of accident...cut off path by infected....or there were other dangerous situations, say, weather....severe storm, a blizzard...day and especially at night, would be too risky to drive in. We already made that mistake.
So, in such cases, we'd locate the said "safe zone" and use it for temporary shelter until whatever danger had passed. Sometimes we may have to stay over night in one. We made sure Kelly was fully aware of that fact, so as not to totally melt down if were didn't return quickly after a supply run.
We also made note to keep an eye out for a flare gun. They would be great as a distraction to lure infected away from us or where we needed to go. Of all the things Ken had in the basement, that wasn't one of them. We had to make sure each safe zone had at least, to be on the safe side, a weeks worth of food and water hidden inside. We finally started to feel a little more prepared. A little smarter and safer. It was a good feeling. An accomplished feeling.
Then we came up with seven specific rules for us to follow when we were out:
We never go anywhere alone. Period. We always use the buddy system.
We trust our guts and instinct. Bad feeling? Walk away.
If Bolters are spotted too close to where we need to be, we leave. It's never worth taking a risk with Bolters.
Always be armed. No matter what. With a firearm and a blunt weapon.
Never fire a gun unless there is absolutely no alternative. As stated before, a guns
hot could attract infected. Maybe a few....maybe tons.
If we see people, we observe them. Determine how friendly they look. If they by far outnumber us, we leave.
Never go far out of range. Always remain within visual sight or earshot.
If we followed these rules, we'd be far safer and avoid any major risks. Next on the agenda was finding a safe house within our closest area, that being G-Ville of course. Naturally, we wouldn't use anything too close to town, but not too far either. It's something Reggie and I discussed on the roof later in the night.
As Recorded:
So.....what have we learned from todays majorly fucked up events?
You gonna go here again?
Yes. It's not often I'm right and I'm gonna revel in it one more time tonight, and you are not going to deny me.
[sigh] I learned to trust my instincts, that's for damn sure.
Yeah...you said you felt uneasy and unsure like, what? Three motherfuckin' times?? The hell is wrong with you?
I won't make that mistake again....I just didn't think it'd hurt to look a few feet into the front of the store.
Well now you know a few feet into a place can get you fuckin' killed.
Sometimes we're gonna have to take those chances though....eventually we're going to have no other choice when our resources start to thin out.
Until then....can we just stay away from stores?
Well...
Well nothin'!
Well, something! We have to set up a safe house. That's not without risks but we all voted in favor of it.
I was kinda already thinking about that, now that you mention it. I only went there with you one time...one terrifying time, mind you!....but I think I have the perfect place in mind.
What?
That skating place!
The Roller Hutt??
Yeah! Hear me out....see one thing you fail to realize, my friend, is that I'm actually a very observant motherfucker, okay? When we drove through the area I looked it over. Why, donno. I was scanning every damn thing. But the place is near town, but not in town. It's not that far away, either, as we were saying earlier. It's small. It's basically windowless...I saw some blacked out windows on the side or somethin' but they was up high and hardly looking like windows.
Right, right....and you wouldn't know this of course, but the entry way is double secure...there's the steel door and beyond that another steel door to go into the place. It's actually rather perfect!
Fuckin' A! Right two times today!
That's a great idea, really! Secure the place...which shouldn't be hard...find somewhere to stash some water and food....I'm liking this. Tim will be impressed by the idea, too.
I'm a genius. Totally certified. Brains of this operation. Truly.
[laughs] I would have thought of it sooner or later. As soon as I saw the place!
Whatever helps you sleep at night, brother. Whatever helps you sleep.
Shit, nothing helps me sleep anymore.
Me being right about two things will help me sleep tonight! Hell...it's not even about being right. You....who I've known many years...never saw you make many mistakes before the world went to shit. You had a horrible shit storm idea and here I am having a brilliant one. I will talk about this forever.
Yeah, yeah.
When you thinking?
A few days. After today, I have to just relax a bit. I'm sure Jim and Tim feel the same.
Yaaaahhh, y'all did almost fuckin' die, after all.
Even if I was game...or they were....Kelly would probably have a shit fit about us going out the day after something like that.
Oh, yeah. She'd be one pissed off woman for sure. She's been stern and crazy for sure lately....not that I blame her. She's been here every time we gone...she's the one that has to stay behind and worry. Today she was pacing around a lot. She got mad at me once...saying how I should have gone, what if they needed help and one more man would have made the difference. If they didn't come back I'd be partly responsible. The rest of the time she was lecturing Ben about shit and warning him of the dangers outside....as if he doesn't already fuckin' know. He was in that bowling alley for two fuckin' weeks. He seen some shit! Pretty sure he knows the fuckin' dangers out there. Shit.
I can't blame her....but you're right, she's been on a little bit of a warpath as of late. You know, come to think of it, I don't know a whole lot about her interests or hobbies or anything. Known her for so long and I'm drawing a blank.
I watched her play solitaire on her porch a lot on that little table she had.
That's right, she did!
The hells your point?
Maybe she would relax if she had her own kinda stress relief. Something to occupy her mind.
Damn.
What?
Now we're even on good ideas.
You get credit for remembering the solitaire.
...true!
There's gotta be a deck of cards in this house. I'll ask Tim tomorrow. Ken used to have poker parties sometimes on weekends. Tim and I weren't allowed in the room and had to stay hushed up if we were playing in an adjacent room.
You play poker?
No. Never learned. I liked checkers, though.
I liked Go Fish.
[laughs] Yeah. That was a good one as a kid.
Kid? I meant now.
[laughs]
End of Recording.
***
Over the next few days Kelly seemed to lighten up. We found her some cards which seemed to appease her and personal time with her husband I think helped even more. They needed that quality time. We had to go out soon....tomorrow....and check out The Hutt. I really hoped there wouldn't be an incident of any kind. We needed to catch a break for a day out there. Last time was way too close of a call.
It was the second week of August now....we still hadn't discussed fall plans. Sometime soon we had to harvest some nearby produce. We'd just eat as much as we could before using the other we had, since we couldn't can anything. And not that I'd have wanted to after the other day, but if I even just casually mentioned cans still maybe being in that store, I'd have likely been lynched.
I also made the choice to take Ben along on this one. Kelly started to rage but her argument was moot this time and I wasn't changing my mind no matter what she tried to debate. I urged Jim to stay this time...which pleased her and he agreed, but she still put up a fierce argument. Ben, however, made it clear he wanted to go and help out. He understood the rules and had to learn. He said everything I'd said before. Finally she just gave up and said fine.
Tomorrow we'd leave in the afternoon as per usual. Tim, Reggie, Ben and myself. One day we needed to drag Kelly along. Jim would resist that but it was an argument no different from Bens. She needed to know what she was doing, too. Everyone did.
Being his idea, Reggie was pretty ecstatic about checking out The Hutt. Honestly, I was a little excited myself. I spent so much time there as a kid...as a teen. Sometimes it was a daily hangout for me and Tim...provided Ken gave us money. Sometimes we had our own. He'd make us work for it....pulling weeds, mowing the grass...whatever. We bounced between The Hutt and the cinema. Going in The Hutt would maybe be a comfort in these dark days. It was always a comfort then, I hoped it was now. Like I said before....the little things that matter.
***
The day as I recalled had turned out to be a gloomy one. The sky was an ashen gray and the occasional bouts of sprinkles fell. Sometimes a steady light rain.
We sat in the parking lot of The Hutt for thirty minutes to make sure everything was safe. Well, it's never truly safe...but you know what I mean.
Today we all just got in the SUV. Reggie and Ben in the back, Tim beside me as passenger. As excited as Ben had been prior to embarking here, he was now calm and serious. For being thirteen, that was pretty good. Of course, he'd already had two weeks time to take things seriously.
Now or never. I opened my door without a word and everyone else followed suit. The first ste
el door opened. In this new world it seemed nothing was locked. In the chaos in the beginning everyone just left places. What did it matter anymore? No point in locking up. You'd never be in business again. Never collect revenue.
We all piled in between doors and shut the main one behind us. There was a thud inside somewhere. We all stopped simultaneously. Shuffling sounds...slight knocking sounds, followed by another solid thud...a grunting noise. Clicking...thud. Knocking, clicks....thud. Sometimes the thud was fast to follow, sometimes multiple seconds later.
The Dead Lands Diary (Book 1) Page 9
