“Yeah,” said Isis, “but our work starts way before then. The Magas will be asleep, and we have to be there, outside their enclosure, at that very moment so we five can combine our control of the Mothers.”
“Yeah, that’s a lot of red-eyes to take on,” said Charlie. “Can you do it, Isis?”
“Whether we’re strong enough to control all of them or not on a long-term basis, we have to try,” she said. “The only alternative is to escape this place and go back to Kingman. That man will come after us, I don’t doubt that.”
“Isis, we stopped the vibration at the football field,” said Max.
“Sure, but only for a few seconds, Max,” said Isis. “We’re talking a bigger undertaking than that.”
“So you’ll push them to the Living Joy Church,” said Flex.
“Exactly,” said Isis. “We’ll breach their building’s security and let the horde inside.”
“Bye-bye, Maestro,” said Dave.
“That’s a viable plan,” said Hemp. “Anything else is too risky as long as the Magas are under Maestro’s control.”
“Yeah,” said Max. “We pretty much know that, Dad. Anyway, we don’t need many guys. Flex, Punch, Nel, that’s about it. The rest of you guys need to get back through the maze, and go get the cars. We don’t want to have to hoof it to the vehicles if something goes wrong and we’re in a hurry.”
“What about me, Max?” said Charlie, moving her crossbow around in front of her.
“Mom, you’re not coming. You’re too damned protective.”
“I’ll protect you right into next week,” she said, her mouth straight and serious.
Max shook his head. “We’re wasting time. Nelson, what time is it?”
“Around 3:45, dude,” said Nelson.
Suddenly Isis felt an intense rush of agony ripple through her body. Her skin erupted in gooseflesh and she felt the scream rising in her throat, no way to stop it. It came out of her, high and shrill.
Her body flopped back onto the linoleum floor and all of her limbs convulsed, as though involved in a full-body seizure.
She felt someone beside her. A split-second later, a hand clamped over her mouth, and she instinctively knew it was Flex. She vaguely heard Max’s screams, sounding as though they came from a great distance.
Charlie’s comforting voice met her ears and Max quieted.
Isis hyperventilated, her body suddenly drained, the pain gone as quickly as it had come. She opened her eyes and found she could sit up.
“What the fuck was that?” asked Gem. “Isis, Max, are you guys alright?”
Isis shook her head. She composed herself and leaned forward, taking Max’s hand. “Max, what did you feel?”
“It was … horrible, Isis,” he said, his voice weak and unsteady. “I felt like I died.”
“Are you okay now?” asked Flex, his arm still around her shoulder. “Max? You alright, buddy?”
“I think so,” he said.
“I … don’t know the source of what we just felt,” Isis said. “It was an intense pain, partly physical, but almost more emotional.”
Max breathed hard, but managed to say, “Isis … that was no … ordinary pain. It wasn’t just … I don’t know, like you said, physical.”
“No, Max,” said Isis. “It felt like the emotional end of a life.”
“I couldn’t describe it any better,” he said. “It’s passing. I hope I never feel that again.”
“That goes for all of us,” said Gem. “No idea what caused it?”
“None,” said Isis. “But the implications cannot be good for us and what we plan to do. That I know.”
Gem said, “Are we getting ready to do this?”
Standing up and shaking it off, Isis said, “You all need at least another hour’s rest. You’ll endanger all of us if you’re dead on your feet.”
“I hope that is the very first joke I’ve ever heard you crack,” said Punch.
“No, Punch,” said Isis. “But that’s exactly why I avoid wordplay. Now rest.”
*****
Maestro stood over the body of Alpha, a blood soaked piece of paper in his fingers. The rest of the Magas cowered in the far corner of the enclosure. His knife still jutted out from her head and she lay sprawled on her back.
He stood there shirtless, his demonic skull face and tuxedo tattoo an illustration of the power and darkness he needed to convey in order to maintain his power over them.
“What you just felt will be nothing compared to the pain you will feel when I mutilate and kill the next traitor,” he growled. “It will be what you feel when I kill your newborn boy children. I despise the time wasted when you give birth to them, but I cherish the moment of their deaths, for your pain is only ecstasy to me.”
When he had arrived, Alpha had been standing in the near corner of the fenced court, her eyes turned down, looking at something. Only when the other Magas reacted to his arrival did she look up; too late.
He had entered the cage and moved directly toward her, his eyes never wavering. When he reached Alpha, she had stuffed the paper into her mouth. He grabbed her by the jaw and forced his fingers in to keep her mouth open, but had only been able to retrieve a single corner of the page. The rest she had frantically chewed and swallowed, even as he clawed at her face, trying to stop it.
He stared at it. Maestro could make out only four words of the neatly printed text: our lives, our fortunes. This was obviously only a portion of a sentence, but the words were foreign to Maestro.
His torture of Alpha had been swift. She broke easily, saying that two women and a man had arrived, trying to convince her to talk the others into helping them. Their friends were in the jail, they said, and they were from a place called Kingman.
Maestro turned to Wesley, one of his most trusted men and one of the strongest guards in his contingent. “Get to the jail now, and check on my guards and the prisoners. Wait for me there.”
“Yes, Maestro,” said the man.
When Wesley ran off, Maestro turned back toward the cowering Magas. “Come here. Now.”
They all obeyed, stopping just feet in front of him, their eyes turned to the ground.
“I want to know who else was involved. Alpha said the rest of this paper is gone. Do any of you have it?”
All heads shook. No.
“Did you see them?”
“Yes, and we would have told you, Maestro,” said Maga 40. “We had only to await your arrival.”
“She asked me to help her,” said Omega, stepping forward. “As we were equals, she felt I would be sympathetic. I stood with her for a few moments, but I would not hear their plea. I told her I could not, for to deceive you would be to risk the lives of us all.”
“She also asked me to join her in convincing the other Magas to guide the Mothers and Hungerers to your door,” said Maga 7. “I, too, refused.”
“Do you know of this paper?” he asked.
“She did not share it with us,” said Maga 7. “Perhaps Alpha believed it to be pointless after we refused to consider her request. We only waited for you to arrive so that we could tell you what had taken place.”
Maestro considered this. Had they wanted to, any one of them could have pushed the information to his mind, but he had forbidden that long ago. It was unsettling to him, and despite the value it may have, it made him feel they had control over him.
“Maestro!” shouted Wesley, running toward him. “Our men are locked in the cells and the prisoners are gone!”
Maestro stared at Wesley for a long time before turning and leaving the enclosure. He locked the gate behind him and walked calmly toward Wesley. Together, they entered the police station cellblock. The two guards sat on the floor, their backs resting against the wall. They were dead asleep.
Maestro clapped his hands. Neither man moved.
“Are they alive?” he asked.
“They’re breathing,” said Wesley, a large, black man who had been with him from the beginning.
/> “Do you have the key?” asked Maestro.
“Yes, sir,” said Wesley.
“Dismember them,” he said. “Start with their fingers, then their hands, then their arms and legs. I want them alive as long as possible.”
“Y-yes, sir,” stuttered Wesley. “I’ll … need help. Mind if I call Sedat to help me?”
“I don’t give a shit who helps you. I want these men dead and I want them to feel every cut.”
Maestro moved toward the door and stopped.
“Yeah, Maestro?” asked Wesley, jangling the cell keys.
“When you’re done, get to the maze and apply configuration six,” he said. “I’m moving the Magas to my quarters right now.”
“Why, sir?” asked Wesley.
“I’ll fill you in on the rest when you’re done here. Kill them fast and get to the maze. I want you at my place within half an hour.”
*****
Flex slept for maybe thirty-five minutes and awoke feeling more refreshed than he had a right to feel. He stared at his wife through the gloom, wondering if her dreams were all of their son like his had been.
His cheeks were still wet.
Isis apparently felt their rest was important. An hour and a half had passed by the time she stood and began to nudge everyone awake.
“The sun will be coming up in an hour,” she said. “Punch, Flex, Nelson? Will you work with us while the others head for the vehicles?”
Flex looked at Gem before answering, and Isis knew why. He loved her with every synapse and sinew in his body, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do to make her happy, even when the sadness within her made it impossible.
“Are you going to be well armed?” Gem asked, her voice still thick with sleep. “God, I really went out.”
“You probably needed it,” said Flex, touching her arm.
“We’ll need to get Flex’s and Punch’s packs before we take on the guards,” said Nelson. “Mine’s stashed by the maze. Charlie, where’d you put them?”
“They’re pretty near the zombie pen,” said Charlie. “Just get to 9th Street, just east of the pen. On the north side you’ll see a little yellow house with a detached garage. The door’s unlocked. Just slide the garage door open and they’re on the right side in a pile.”
“You guys be sure to stay out of sight on the way up, and when you get near the pen, detour around,” said Isis. “If the Mothers and Hungerers detect you and alert the guards, our plan might all go out the window.”
“Sure you guys can’t use me?” asked Dave.
“To get the vehicles, Dave,” said Max.
“It’s that awkward moment when you check your back for a bra strap,” said Dave Gammon.
“Dave, buddy, it’s not that you’re not a threat,” said Flex. “You run nearly as well as Lola. If anybody peters out on the way to Great Bend, you can just run ahead. How are you with mazes?”
“I suck at puzzles,” Dave said.
“You guys have the directions written down, right Gem?” asked Nelson. “Just reverse them and you’re through.”
“You guys need to go now,” said Max. “Daylight’s coming and all of this is better done way before that.”
*****
“It’s not far to the house,” said Charlie. “We should be able to get the packs and get through the maze in a half hour. Nice little ten-mile run and a drive back, we should be waiting for you in less than two hours.”
“Is this the last of the WAT-5?” asked Punch.
“It’s all I have. Max and Isis have some,” said Charlie. “I took everyone else’s except Nel’s.”
“My pack’s stashed over by that auto parts store,” he said. “I got about eight hits in there.”
“Well, if you haven’t already, dose up everyone. This is it, folks,” said Punch. “Execution time.”
“Meaning executing our plan, right?” asked Trina, with a yawn.
“Absolutely,” said Punch.
“Good,” said Taylor.
Once everyone was protected by WAT-5, they separated into groups.
Gem went to Flex and hugged him. She did not let go of him until everyone else had said their goodbyes and moved toward the door.
“Radios on, please,” she said, letting her arms fall from Flex’s neck. “When we get back and I call you guys, I want to get a response.”
“I hear you, girl,” said Flex. “Loud and clear.”
“Plug up that other ear so it doesn’t fall out,” she said, smiling again. With a last sad wave, Gem moved into the streets of Hoisington with the rest of their family.
Flex went to the loose panel and held it aside as he watched them walk away. Isis did not rush him.
He turned with a big sigh and said, “So Max, now that they’re gone … is this plan kinda fuckin’ crazy, or is it just me?”
“It’s you,” said Max. “Let’s get to the pen. Punch, ever use a crossbow?”
“If something shoots out of it, I can handle it,” he said. “Now let’s go pretend we’re guards.”
*****
Gem, Dave, Taylor and Trina crouched in the nook of a building as they watched Hemp and Charlie move across the street, successfully reaching the opposite corner and disappearing into the shadows there.
Gem stood up. “Trini, you and Tay come with me. We’ll go a little west so it doesn’t look like a goddamned zombie crossing, and Dave, why don’t you go now. Just cross where Hemp and Charlie did.”
“Sure, I’m just a poor, lonesome rotter with no friends,” said Dave.
“You can get some hug therapy later,” said Gem. “We’re all gonna need a few days of that when we get back home.”
“None more than you, Gem,” said Dave. “So much has happened since we got here, I forget what you’re dealing with. You’re strong.”
“I’m barely holding on,” said Gem. Trina took her hand and squeezed it and she felt the tears come. She felt Taylor’s hand on her back and smiled at her.
“Stop it, mom,” said Trina. “You’re gonna have glow streaks down your face.”
Gem wiped at her eyes. “Got it. Dave, go.”
With that, she, Taylor and Trina moved down the street. They met up on the other side and could still see the others ahead. So far, all were safe.
*****
They reached the building and everyone situated their packs. They would keep the rotten clothing on until they were clear of Hoisington. They agreed to move back toward the high school, staying clear of the main part of town. From there, they would head south, taking the same course they had taken to the football field.
Charlie said, “Everyone ready?”
“More than,” said Hemp. “I hate leaving Max and the others behind though. Gem, do you have your turn list for the maze?”
Gem pulled it out. “Right here. And I wouldn’t worry too much, Hemp,” she said. “Isis is a tough cookie. She said she’s got tricks she hasn’t revealed to even us yet.”
Hemp shook his head. “Unfortunately, this Maestro fella has dozens like Max and Isis, only second generation versions,” said Hemp. “If we don’t even know Isis and Max’s full capabilities, we certainly have no bloody idea what they’re capable of.”
“Yes, and we don’t know if they’re lying to them about helping, either. On top of that, there’s that weird episode with Max and Isis when they felt that pain at the siding shop.”
“I don’t know what that was,” said Charlie. “But Dave, believe me. I met Beauty, Megan and Alyssa, and they’re not lying. Alyssa and Megan are the matriarchs. I got a feeling they were fully aware at how tentative their existence is under Maestro’s thumb.”
Taylor fidgeted. “Can we go? I want out of these shitty clothes and I want back in Kingman like yesterday.”
“Gem, you lead the way and I’ll be right behind you,” said Dave.
The group set out into the early morning of Hoisington, Kansas.
*****
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Gem and the other
s reached the maze in fifteen minutes. They split into three groups and took separate routes there, keeping an eye out for sentries.
Charlie and Hemp came up behind Gem, Dave, Trina and Taylor.
“What the hell is this?” asked Charlie.
“Can you read your turn list and kill zombies at the same time, mom?” asked Trina.
Shambling zombies filled every square foot of the maze. They dragged their feet from section to section, some filtering into the town, others managing to make it through the puzzle and emerge on the outside.
“We’re on WAT-5, so this shouldn’t be an issue,” said Hemp. “Unless there are Mothers among them, which I’m sure is part of Maestro’s defense plan.”
“But why do this?” asked Dave. “Why not just use the maze itself, reconfigure it and post snipers to pick off anyone trying to get through?”
“Ours is not to question why,” said Trina. “Ours is but to get our asses through there.”
“I can’t stand rubbing up against them,” said Taylor. “Everyone, make sure your sleeves are down and secured.”
It was to prevent scratches, which were always possible and only sometimes dangerous.
“Charlie,” said Gem. “Use your crossbow and your knife where you can, even if you just stab the bastards in the head with the arrows. Everyone else use your knives. We don’t want to use guns and have it sounding like a fucking Wild West show over here tonight.”
“I still don’t get this,” said Dave. “Looks like a hundred or more.”
“Perhaps he has more abnormals than he has personnel,” said Hemp.
Movement from Gem’s peripheral caught her attention. She turned to see another horde of approximately equal size moving toward them from the west.
“Go, go go!” shouted Gem. “Into the maze, now!”
Everyone looked as they ran across with Gem in the lead, watching the band of rotters staggering up West Railroad Street.
Dead Hunger VII_The Reign of Isis Page 29
