A young man stood framed in the doorway, a shotgun resting in his hands. He saw her rise from behind the car, quickly followed by Billy. His shotgun remained in his hands, but he did not turn it in their direction: Instead he seemed to be purposely holding it away from them, and they could both see that he was frightened.
Billy and Beth both kept their guns turned away, but they were still on guard as Beth spoke into the silence that had descended on the parking lot.
“Look, we really don't want any trouble either. We only stopped because we saw the truck running,” she lied. She thought it probably wouldn't be a good idea to let them know they had stopped for ammunition. “We haven't seen any... many,” she corrected herself, “people. We'll leave, if it’s what you want,” she finished.
The young man’s grip on the shotgun seemed to loosen as she had spoken, and he seemed to be not as fearful as he had been.
“We haven't seen any good people,” the young man said, “but we have seen a lot of bad ones.” He seemed to be asking them which group they belonged to.
Beth and Billy both relaxed a small amount, and Billy spoke. “We've run into some bad ones ourselves,” he said. He considered for a moment, and then moved from behind the old station wagon, and out into the open. “Can we talk?” he asked. He was careful to keep the machine gun pointed down as he had moved from behind the car, and he forced himself to keep it pointed at the pavement as the young man seemed to consider what he had said.
The young man had lifted his shotgun from the pavement as Billy had stepped from behind the old car, now he dropped it back toward the pavement, and answered. “Well, come on, I guess,” he replied. The older man they had seen initially, and a young, red haired woman stepped out of the shadowy interior as he finished speaking. They were both armed, but both kept their weapons pointed down at the pavement.
Billy looked at Beth. “Well?” he asked. She nodded her head, and they walked slowly toward the front of the store. Once the two groups were facing each other, Beth spoke. “I'm Beth, and this is Billy,” she said, pointing to Billy.
“Delbert,” the older man said, stepping forward, “and this is John,” he said pointing to the dark haired young man, “and Peggy.” He paused for a few seconds. “Might've over-reacted a bit, I guess, but we haven't seen nothin', but bad the last few days. Thought you might be some of a group we ran into yesterday... It’s hard to tell who you can, or can't trust.” With that the man seemed to consider them briefly, and then set his rifle aside.
The man’s fear that had been so evident once Beth and Billy were standing face to face with him, seemed to melt away. Beth stuffed the machine pistol into her jeans, and Billy slung the rifle over his shoulder before he stuck out his hand. “Good to meet you,” Billy said, “I think we were beginning to think we wouldn't meet anyone at all who wouldn't try to kill us.” Beth stuck out her hand as Billy finished speaking, and the young man and woman put their own weapons aside and stepped away from the sidewalk and shook the offered hands.
“You from here?” Delbert asked, as he also shook their hands.
“L.A.,” Beth replied, “heading east, how about you?”
“Texas,” Peggy, the young woman said, “You headin' east for the same reason we are? Heard Yellowstone blew up... Ash for days, air got real bad too. Figure East is about as far away as we can get.”
“Kind'a feels like there's no place else to go. Maybe bend south once we get far enough east... Dunno,” Delbert said, “That's the whole plan, I guess.”
His accent was slight, Billy noticed, not thick like some he had heard. “We feel the same way. Tried South... South is no good,” Billy said. “We saw something on the skyline. Heard a rumor about Yellowstone... You sure?”
Delbert shrugged. “A sure as anything is now, I guess. Seems to be the popular opinion on the CB.”
Billy looked at Beth who nodded before he continued. “We could all make the trip together,” he offered, “might be a lot safer that way?” When he finished Beth echoed the invitation.
“See no reason not to,” Delbert said slowly, as he turned his eyes to the couple beside him. “Peggy, John?”
“I'm for it,” John agreed. He had a slightly thicker accent, Beth noticed, well, maybe not an accent really, she told herself, he just talks somewhat slowly.
“Me too,” Peggy said, and a smile lit up her face as she spoke. “No lie. I've been pretty scared, and it'll be good to have more of us, I think.”
“I lied,” Beth said, and then hastily continued, “We didn't stop because we saw you. We stopped because we need ammunition. We got ambushed, and... Well, we got out of it. I didn't mean to lie, I just wasn't sure we could trust you, and I didn't think it would be a good idea to tell you we were running low, not knowing if... you know...” she finished lamely.
“Don't give it a thought,” Delbert said, “can't say as I blame you. In fact,” he said reaching for his shotgun, and opening the breech, “we did too, but there isn't any here. I hoped to scare you off, but the truth is we're out of ammunition ourselves. If you had been... well, bad, I guess we would've been screwed.” He finished by setting the empty shotgun against the door frame, resting butt down on the pavement.
“You mean,” Billy said, “you're out completely?”
“Nearly,” John said, “Delbert and I been out since yesterday, and whatever was in this shop is gone. Somebody cleaned it out.”
Billy and Beth followed the others into the small shop. It took a few seconds for their eyes to adjust to the sparse light inside, but once they did they could see that the shop had been ransacked. Two large glass display cases that had probably held, who knew how many handguns, Billy thought, were empty. The glass fronts had been shattered into the cases. Racks that had once been likewise protected by lockable glass sliding doors had also been broken into, the thick glass that had once protected them lay inside, but the rifles they had protected were gone. Nothing had been left. The floors were strewn with empty boxes, wads of packing paper, and literature on several types of guns that had been discarded. The glass from the cases was everywhere, Billy saw.
“Looks as though they didn't leave anything at all,” Billy said.
“Told you,” John said, as he shook his head. “Somebody got here before us, and it looks as though they weren't about to leave nothin' behind,” he sighed.
“You have any ammo at all,” Beth asked.
“I do,” Peggy answered, “I got seven rounds for this 30.06, that's why... well, that's why I hung back when we saw you, you know. I could see you through the window, and... If I had too, I was going to shoot,” she seemed embarrassed as she spoke.
“She's 'bout the best shot between the three of us,” Delbert said, “my eyes are going, and John just never learned to shoot.”
John turned red, but nodded his head before he spoke. “Just never saw a real big need to learn,” he said, “of course now I wish I had.”
“Been anywhere else in town?” Billy asked, “Maybe there's another sporting goods store around.”
“Didn't have the time,” Delbert said, “we got here only ten minutes or so before you did.”
“Well,” Beth said, as she counted up what ammunition she had left for the machine pistol, “I've got one full clip of sixteen, and... Looks like two in this clip, and I'm done.”
Billy had checked over what he had while she was speaking, “Looks like this one is down to ten in the clip, but I've got better than a hundred rounds for the Remington in the truck, that should help a little. We need to find a place to get our hands on more, especially for that machine pistol,” he gestured at Beth's weapon, “and this one,” he said holding up the machine gun they had taken from the kid who had tried to shoot Beth, “this is,” he held the machine gun up so he could read the writing on the side, “hey, Beth', this say's it'll take nine millimeter slugs like yours, let me see one,” he waited until she handed him one that she took out of the full clip, and then compared them side by side. “Yeah,
same thing,” he said, “this doesn't have a brand name on it though, just says what sort of bullet it takes, everything else has been ground off, see,” he held the side of the machine gun up so that Beth could see it.
“That's been converted,” she said, “and that's probably why they ground off the serial number, and most likely the model and make at the same time. That's been converted to full auto,” she finished.
“Gee, does that mean it's illegal to carry?” he asked, “you're not going to arrest me or something are you.”
“Ha-ha, mister funny man,” Beth said smiling. “It does explain something that has been bugging me though. When that guy popped up and let loose on me, I thought he was squeezing those rounds off pretty quick. You can buy that gun, or could, I should say, and you could even order the conversion kit, but if you got caught actually doing the conversion, big trouble. I've seen a few though, just the same, and I'm glad that one fell into our hands, and not someone else's.”
Billy turned the gun over in his hands; his appreciation for it was much greater than it had been. “So what is it?” he asked.
“It's called a Sixteen Nine on the Street,” Beth said. “I don't know what it's really called,” Billy looked confused. “Sixteen for the clip,” she said, “and nine for the ammunition size. See?” she held up her own pistol, comparing the two side by side. “They're nearly identical, except for that long stock on yours. Makes it look more like a rifle. Mine's semi, that one's full.”
“And we can swap back and forth on ammunition?” Billy asked.
“Just on the ammunition,” Beth answered, “the clips won't fit.”
“Well, with just sixteen bullets wouldn't it run out pretty quick?”
“Not pretty quick, damn quick, like immediately. I think the attraction was speed, sixteen bullets in less than half a second. You can get a larger clip that'll hold two hundred.”
Billy turned his head back to the other three who had been listening to Beth talk. They all seemed impressed. “I guess,” he said looking around the destroyed shop, “we better get going. Is that truck of yours in pretty good shape Delbert?”
“Junker,” Delbert said, “it was nice when we left Dallas, but it's on its last legs for sure now. That's why I left it running; bitch-kitty won't start if you don't, and to be honest, I been too damn scared to stop and get another.”
“Well,” Billy said, “leave it. We got room in ours for all three of you.”
Beth was staring around at the wrecked interior of the shop, it wasn't the damage that bothered her though, it was all the missing rifles, and guns. “Yeah, let's get out of here,” she said, “this place gives me the creeps, and I for one don't want to be here in case whoever took all of this...” she gestured at the empty shop, “...returns.”
Everyone, Billy included, looked apprehensively around the empty shop.
“Yeah, let’s go,” Billy said hastily, as he turned and walked out the door.
They all scouted carefully around the parking lot, as they walked to the Suburban. Anyone could be hiding in this lot, Billy thought, as he looked around at the packed parking lot, anyone, anywhere. They reached the truck, Billy unlocked it, and they all climbed quickly inside. Several sighs of relief were released once Billy started the Suburban, and drove from the lot.
A half mile down the road, Delbert spotted another store and Billy cautiously pulled into the lot to have a look. He was able to drive up close to the shop, without getting out of the truck. The glass store front, including the doors, were barred by a segmented aluminum pull down door, and the store looked as though no one had as yet been in it.
“What do you think?” Billy asked of no one in particular.
“Don't look as though it's been broke into yet,” John replied, “gonna have to leave the truck though to be sure,” he finished with an apprehensive shrug of his shoulders.
Beth pulled the nearly spent clip from the machine pistol, and clicked home the full one. “Stay here, I'll go see,” she said, and she was out the passenger door before Billy could protest.
Billy shut off the truck, and got out. No way, he thought, as he jumped from the truck, no fucking way.
Delbert looked from John to Peggy. “I don't know about you, but they got the guns, and I ain't keen on staying in here without one,” he said, as he opened one of the rear doors, and stepped out. He carried the empty shot gun with him as he went, and Peggy and John brought their guns out of the truck with them as well.
Billy was staring through the segmented burglar door into the interior of the small shop, as Delbert walked up. “What's it look like, Billy?” he asked.
Beth was back on the sidewalk, the machine pistol in her hands, sweeping the parking lot with her eyes, Peggy and John beside her.
“Looks like nobody got to it,” Billy said, “what do you think, Dell?”
Delbert squinted into the shop. “Hard to tell, but I think you're right, Billy, it looks good to me. But this door is gonna keep us out, just like it's kept out ever one before us.”
“Uh-uh,” Billy said, “not me it isn't.” He turned face and walked back to the Suburban.
“Look out, Dell,” he said, as he started the truck, and cramped the wheel around to bring it up on the sidewalk, “saw this on a cop show once, here goes...”
Billy lined the truck up even with the front doors in back of the aluminum burglar door, backed up, and punched the gas pedal. The rear tires screeched briefly as the truck bumped up over the curb and hit the door. The truck passed through the aluminum door as if it were made of paper and barely tapped the inside glass doors before Billy locked up the brakes. The lite tap on the doors was all it took to shatter the safety glass. Billy reversed the truck, and backed down off the sidewalk. He cramped the wheel once more, and shut off the truck, leaving it almost where it had been in the first place. He got out and looked over the front of the truck; there was not even a single scratch to show where the massive bumper had connected with the aluminum door, and then the glass. He stood up from his examination of the bumper, and was surprised to see everyone staring at him.
“What?” he asked. “I told you I saw it on a cop show once. Of course I didn't know it would work so well,” he finished grinning.
“You're an animal,” Beth said, grinning back.
“Well folks,” Billy said as waved his arm at the store, “looks like the store's open after all.”
Delbert, John, and Peggy, were all grinning too, and Delbert said, “If I ever lock myself out of my house, I guess I won't be asking you for help, Billy,” he broke into a hearty laugh when he finished speaking, and within seconds they all found themselves laughing along.
“Well, let’s go get that ammo,” Beth said laughing, and they all walked into the shop.
They spent no more than an hour in the shop, before they had completely re-outfitted themselves. They were able to obtain new camping gear, ammunition, and three more of the nine mm machine pistols. They all reasoned they were much more effective than the old single-shot rifles, and shotguns that Delbert's group had been carrying, and the fact that they would all now be able to use the same caliber ammunition was appealing.
Billy picked up a canvas strap for the machine gun that allowed him to keep it suspended from one shoulder, yet easily accessible to him if he needed it. The machine pistol fit easily into a leather shoulder holster, and there were more than enough in the shop for everyone. Billy debated briefly, and then took one more of the machine pistols, along with one of the leather holsters as well. He had a vague, uneasy feeling about the weapons. He felt as if he had joined some weird sort of commando outfit, instead of belonging to a group who had been nothing more than average citizens just a few short weeks before. He pushed the thought away, and after adjusting the leather shoulder holster, slid the fully loaded machine pistol into it, and fastened the small chrome push-catch across the blued steel grip of the weapon.
They loaded all the gear into the back of the Suburban, including every ro
und of nine mm ammunition the store had in stock, which, Billy thought, amounted to enough to wage a small war with. The shop had contained a great deal of pre-packaged freeze dried foods, and that had also found its way into the rear of the Suburban. After consulting the map, they set out once more.
TEN
March 26th
New York: Conner and Katie
War
The small group was up early the next morning. It seemed as though everybody had some task to complete, some job to fill the day.
The open space of the large factory accommodated all the people and all the supplies and possessions they had accumulated over the short period they had been together. Now it also held the first truck that James and Jake were going to convert. Everybody found a reason to stop and look at what they were doing as they went about their chores.
James and Jake would be left behind for the next several days as the others continued to search out items on Jan’s lists as well as a few parts James and Jake had been unable to find.
Conner was working on getting some coffee into him when Dustin and Allison came back into the factory in a hurry, looking around. When Dustin’s eyes fell on Conner he headed straight for him. Conner glanced from Dustin and Allison to the covered entrance way, but no one else came through it. “Aaron wants you,” Was all Dustin said. His frightened eyes said more than his words. Everyone had seen Dustin and Allison rush into the factory and they looked at Conner now, wondering what had caused them to hurry in. Conner shrugged his shoulders and headed for the entrance way, Katie and Amy behind him. Everyone else paused in what they were doing; waiting to learn what was going on.
Conner stepped outside into the early morning quiet. Aaron, Nell and Sandy were staring down the river road toward the old restaurant that graced the end of the street. Conner walked up, but before he reached them, a volley of gunshots reached his ears. It sounded to him as though they had come from lower State Street, just off the square, very close by.
The sound of a revving engine reached his ears at nearly the same time, and a speeding truck raced by the end of the road about a quarter mile away. The shots came heavy and hard. It sounded like a war zone.
Earth's Survivors: box set Page 42
