The Aftermath Trilogy (Book 2): The Aftermath [Town of the Dead]

by Smith, Daniel

  “Are you joining us for dinner,” she asked Mary when she stopped laughing.

  “Sure,” Mary said grinning now.

  “Give me a hand when you finish here,” Katrina told Dan as she kissed him on the cheek before walking away.

  “Put the carts on the trailer when you finish unloading,” Dan said turning. Stopping as he saw Mary’s friends motioning to her again.

  “Can I talked to you about something,” Mary started saying to him. Shooting her friends a look.

  He watched them wonder off a few feet as Mary turned back to him. Dan looked at her a smirk forming on his face.

  “You said I could use your space in the trailer,” she started as he looked at her silently.

  “Could we make a deal so my friends can use some also,” she asked timidly.

  The smirk on his face grew as he consider making her sweat for his answer. But the look she had was priceless already.

  “Tell you what,” he started. “Strike whatever deal you can. Use everything we have left. The boxes, tape, rope whatever. Just mark the boxes accordingly so we do not mix them up,” he started saying as a smile grew on her face.

  “Also we can fit boxes or stuff on the golf carts on the trailer before we leave. We will sort it out between us when we get back,” he told her.

  He could see Mary almost shaking with excitement at his news.

  “Also I would sell several locations and information on the map to the others,” he told her.

  She caught him unprepared when she hugged him again smashing his face once again into her large breasts. This time he lost his crutches causing one of her friends to step forward laughing to pick them up for him. Mary looked at him smiling shyly as her friends moved off towards the trailer.

  I sort have done that already,” she said causing him to smile.

  Dan was up before morning limping heavily but moving without the crutches he had been using the last two days. He moved once again around the massive black streamlined black Mack truck with sleeper unit and Fifty-three foot trailer. Inspecting the now-well-secured Bi-level golf cart trailer mounted to the back other trailer with four smaller trailers hanging from the side for use by the golf carts. He looked nervous.

  “Relax, everything is ready,” said the smooth southern drawl of Larry.

  Dan looked at the muscular bald black man and nodded.

  “I was wondering,” Larry, continued. “When we get back to town would you mind if I just dropped you and the trailer off,” Commander Hudson has made us a good offer to come back here. And I want to get my first paying job with my new truck,” Larry said smiling. Dan smiled back.

  “Sure I said the truck was yours if you got me and the trailer back, but it will take me a couple of days to unload,” he said slowly.

  “No problem,” Larry’s rich sounding voice said. “All I need is the rig. There will be full trailers waiting for us.”

  Dan nodded Commander Hudson had been having the city’s crews almost working constantly the last two days loading up more trailers. He was going back to Hope with just the big rig drivers, wounded and ten guards for security. Everyone else staying loading more trailers.

  The balky Humvee stopped idling on the side of the road in a small depression near a bend in the road. Standing in the thick packed tree line was a dirty and haggard looking woman. She seemed surprised to see them. The driver leaving the Humvee’s engine running got out to approach the woman who shied away nervously.

  “Excuse me ma'am do you mind if I ask you a question,” the soldier started politely. The woman looked at him funny, as if trying to understand what he said.

  “Yes,” she said reluctantly. The driver smiled at her, which did not put her at ease.

  “I was going to ask if you have seen a large convoy of trucks come through here recently,” he said. The woman looked at him as she cast her eyes downward and muttered.

  “Trucks not seen no trucks,” she muttered before looking up at him. “Only people I see are the police on their motorcycles,” she said.

  This caused the driver to pause for a second.

  “Police,” he asked with a smile. The woman nodded her head her dirty hair moving.

  “Yes, they have come by the last couple of days on their motorcycles. They stop and talked to me and bring me a sandwich,” she said. The soldier looked at her.

  “Are they coming back by soon,” he asked the woman as she looked at him.

  “They stop and give me a sandwich,” she repeated.

  He nodded his head as her statement registered.

  “Hang on one second,” he said moving back to the Humvee.

  Opening the door Captain Jones turned on him.

  “What's going on what did you learn,” she demanded.

  The driver looked at her.

  “That a few police officers on motorcycles go through here,” he started as she looked at him strangely.

  “One second Captain,” he said looking at the soldier in the backseat.

  “Hand me an MRE,” he said. Before turning his attention back to the Captain. “They're supposed to come by here again,” the driver said.

  Captain Jones looked at him.

  “When,” she demanded.

  The driver accepted the brown plastic bag for the meal ready to eat from the soldier in the backseat.

  “About to find that out ma'am,” the driver said returning to the old woman. He handed the plastic bag to her. She looked at it turning the bag over in her hands.

  “That is a full meal with dessert,” he told her smiling. The woman's eyes lit up at his words.

  “Did the police officers say when they're coming back this way,” he asked. The woman nodded her head enthusiastically.

  “Yes they said they would be back either yesterday or today. That is why I'm here,” she said, pulling at the plastic bag.

  The soldier looked at her.

  “I would find someplace quiet to eat that,” he said as the woman looked up at him then looked around cautiously before nodding her head moving off into the thickly packed woods.

  The driver returned to the open door, reaching in to switch off the engine as he looked at Captain Jones.

  “She said they are coming this way either yesterday or today she was waiting for them to give her a sandwich again,” the driver said. Captain Jones looked about quickly before turning to face the driver.

  “This place is perfect for roadblock and ambush. Start getting ready. We will wait for them,” Captain Jones stated.

  As the sun started climbing over the horizon Dan listen to the sound of the big rigs start up. Taking one last look around , he did not hesitate to climb into the cab of the black truck with Larry and Katrina. Taking the number two position in the convoy, he watched as people working the makeshift gates readied to open them. Dan did not even look back at the place they had made camp for the last week at the police department as they started to move out. Almost as a morbid farewell, he watched as zombies started coming towards the convoy as if to bid good-bye. The sounds of their engines drawing them closer.

  “Good-bye indeed,” he thought feeling a slight bump as one of the undead became pulp under the truck’s tire.

  “ Damn the zombies and this town,” he thought. “In a couple of hours he would be in Hope with his big score.”

  Sitting back in his seat watching the trucks move down the streets towards the highway.

  They had travel a couple of hours straight with no events and where on the homeward stretch of their journey. Before the convoy slowed to a stop as the CITIZEN BAND RADIO came to life in the cab of the black Mack truck. That was second in line behind the Baby blue Peter belt in front of him. Commander Hudson came over the speaker.

  “We have a roadblock ahead, everyone to your stations,” was all he said.

  Dan watched out the front windshield of the truck. For a full minute, before he saw the door opening on the truck Commander Hudson rode in Turning he pointed at Dan and motioned him forward. He
looked at Katrina who looked calmly back at him as she sat next to him and Larry who was driving before opening the door getting out. He started to limp along his right foot still hurt but not enough to use the crutches. As he moved up past the trailer towards the cab door of the blue truck where Commander Hudson was standing talking to one self-defense fore person. he could just make out the shapes of the hulking looking military Humvees blocking the road ahead of them with a group of soldier standing in the road talking. Dan's leg hurt slightly as he increased his pace he was too far back to completely make out the conversation ahead of him.

  As he moved forward. Getting a good look at the Humvees the first one an M one thousand and twenty-five. With enclosed hard-shell top and open cargo area painted in the green, brown and black patches of a woodland camouflage design.

  The upper torso of a soldier in a woodland camouflage uniform visible in the turret of the fifty-caliber machine gun mounted on the Humvee’s roof. Giving him a full three hundred and sixty degrees of fire. Currently the large weapon was pointing directly at the convoy of trucks. The other Humvee a M one thousand and thirty-eight four-door version. With a soft material top and sides a short cargo area in the back empty at the moment. Blocking the road in front of them he spotted three soldiers standing a few yards in front of them looking at the convoy.

  Dan turned to see Mabel calmly sitting behind the wheel of her truck all she did was turn to smile at him before returning her attention to the road in front of her. He just shook his head, as he started moving forward once again. Stopping next to Commander Hudson and a couple of self-defense force members that had come up from the other side of the trailer quietly talking. Before Dan could ask, what was going on he heard a familiar voice.

  “You will send the criminal over for arrest and prepare to have your trucks searched,” Captain Jones shouted across the distance between them in her cold monotone voice. He could feel her cold eyes staring at him across the distance.

  “Criminal,” Commander Hudson said, as he looked at Dan the thin smile almost on his lips. Dan sighed.

  “I knew I should have just shot her on the bridge when I had the chance, now we end it here,” he said.

  As he started to step forward before Commander Hudson reached out to touch his arm stopping him. He cocked his head slightly to one side showing off the radio earpiece he was wearing before smiling.

  “You can’t change the past only learn from it,” he replied in his low voice before lowering his hand from Dan’s arm then started forward towards Captain Jones. Dan did his best to keep up with him as he limped next to Commander Hudson to cover the short distance between the two groups. He could see the smile leave the commanders face and watched it harden and become unreadable.

  Watching he could see Captain Jones standing between two soldiers one he recognized as the broken nose sergeant that had accompanied them to Memphis the other soldier he did not know. She was smiling as they approached and stopped a few feet in front of them.

  “Sergeant take charge of the prisoner,” Captain Jones said the happy thin smile she wore making him prefer the unfriendly look she always wore on her face. The Sergeant started to step forward but was stop mid-step by a single word from Commander Hudson.

  “No,” his word not only stopped the sergeant but stunned Captain Jones startling Dan since it sounded like he had whispered it.

  “You are blocking the road move your Humvees,” came next from the commander’s mouth.

  Dan watched the anger come over the Captain’s face in a wave as the older sergeant seemingly had a look of hesitation on his face the younger soldier looked almost eager.

  “Let me tell you what will happen,” Captain Jones started to say the anger evident in her voice but she did not get a chance to finish.

  “No, let me tell you, what will happen,” Commander Hudson said in a low powerful voice but by the reaction to how he said it sounded like he shouted it.

  “I am Colonel John Hudson United States Army green berets retired. You have a M one thousand and twenty-five with a roof mounted fifty caliber machine gun. And a M one thousand and thirty-eight with communication gear here with a maximum of ten soldiers out of your garrison of fifteen stationed at Hope. Even with your fifty caliber machine gun for heavy fire support. I have you outnumber with over a hundred troops at my command. I have almost half of your forces under direct control of my snipers. The rest are outnumber over ten to one,” he paused for a moment making a slight turn of his head to show the earpiece for a radio like the one Captain Jones wore.

  “In addition, we have taken a Corporal Morris and a Private Nelson as prisoners. If anyone thinks or looks like they are going for their weapons my troops will fire. Killing every one of you at least three times over before you can do anything,” he finished.

  Dan could see a look of steel in those gray eyes. He made a mental note to never cross Commander Hudson. Who finished with a slight smile now on his face but his gray eyes showing no warmth. Captain Jones suddenly looked nervous and the sergeant and other solider next to her looked downright scared.

  “You will surrender now captain or die,” the low powerful voice spoke again.

  Commander Hudson walked away from where his team members held the captive soldiers and returned to look at Dan as he stood near another self-defense force member and an disarmed Captain Jones.

  “This ends now I do not want this coming back to my town,” he told him.

  Dan looked at him for a moment about to make a sarcastic comment.

  “His town,” but thought better of it, before he turned to look at Captain Jones and the self-defense force member guarding her.

  A slow smile spread across his face as Mabel’s words came back to him about pressing his luck one last time. Turning to look at Mable sitting in her truck watching him unconcerned.

  “You seemingly knew this was going to happen,” Dan looked at him with a slight look of amazement on his face. Commander Hudson’s hard look did not waver from the Captain.

  “Not only knew, expected and planned for,” he said in that low voice of his.

  “Look you don’t want to become involved in this. This is over your head, you cannot think you can get away with murdering me,” Captain Jones started to stammer before Commander Hudson silenced her with a look.

  “Seriously,” it was the first time Dan had heard amusement in the commander’s voice before he said in a serious tone.

  “Murder, execution or shooting someone on a rooftop. I know everything about you, who you are, where you are getting your orders from, what happened in Memphis and why you are here,” he said with an unconcerned ease. The look on the captain’s face surprised him more then what Commander Hudson had said.

  “You disgust me, Commander Hudson continued ignoring the look on Captain Jones’s face. “You lack formal military training, the Psychological screening before the plague would have never let you in the military.”

  “There is no way you can know that,” Captain Jones was still trying to stammer.

  “I am retired, but I still have friends who are not and information is a valuable commodity and a two-way street. I have area information, information from truckers, refugees, and scavengers,” he made a slight glance at Dan.

  “I even have information coming from the government. In exchange for my information they have to give me information,” he finished. Captain Jones stood speechless at this point.

  “I do not condone killing prisoners. However, I understand this is a difficult problem. So, how does this end,” he directed the question to Dan.

  The smile slowly faded from Dan’s face as several thoughts crossed over his mind. He looked around at the growing number of truckers and self-defense force members watching then over to her soldiers. Then as if thinking out loud he started to say.

  “If I took their equipment and Humvees. I might get a good price for them. But I don’t think Sandra would let me keep them,” he said out loud.

  “No,” Commander
Hudson said quietly.

  “She would not let me keep them either.”

  He glanced at Commander Hudson and caught the faint smile around his lips.

  “But it would be a bad idea to let them get behind us,” he continued thinking out loud.

  “And if they got in front of us that would be bad,” he caught the commander’s slight nod.

  Time must be crawling to a stop for Captain Jones as he pondered on what he was going to do. He looked at the scared look on the face of Captain Jones then to the uncertain look of her soldiers. Suddenly a smile slowly crept back onto his face as he turned to the commander.

  “I have no problems with the soldiers so I will let you deal with them,” he told Commander Hudson. He could see a look of relief wash other their faces at his words. Pulling the forty-five from his holster he turned on Captain Jones.

  “Wait a minute,” she started to beg.

  “Shut up,” he told her coldly.

  “You can’t allow that commander,” the sergeant yelled out stepping forward.

  Two self-defense force member stopped him at gunpoint as she turned a pleading and desperate look to Commander Hudson. Who just shook his head sadly, as he looked at Dan before walking away while motioning for the self-defense force member standing with them to follow him. Leaving the two of them alone on the road, a desperate looking Captain Jones faced Dan.

  “You just can’t kill me,” she started then looked to the watching crowd for help.

  “You had no problem trying to do me in,” he stated coldly.

  “Besides that would be a kindness if I did,” he said facing Captain Jones the smile on his face showing no humor.

  “Unfortunately for you I am a jerk.”

  10 The Future

  A disarmed Captain Jones stood on the road. Her eyes darted between Dan and Commander Hudson standing off to one side. Then over to several self-defense force member guarding her disarmed soldiers standing looking down at the ground. To the assembling truckers and balance of Commander Hudson’s forces. Finally landing on the pile of M.O.L.L.E gear and weapons sitting in a pile. She locked her eyes on Dan who was watching her.