At Vespers tonight we told everyone about the plan, and that although we thought it was just a radio glitch (kind of an untruth) we would be careful. We will pack up tonight and leave in the morning.
While Tanya and I were putting our gear together we talked about the trip, we had a path mapped out that we had traveled before, and also knew where we could stop, so we did not need to bring a lot of extra things like tents and such. Nick put together a week of food for us, canned and dried stuff mostly. But we should be fine, there was plenty for the horses to eat on the way and water should not be an issue.
“Should we try to stop and see Helen on the way, and maybe see how Linda is doing?” Tanya asked.
“I would like to see Helen, and that scruffy cat of hers. Linda, well maybe, but I think we should maybe save that for the way back, I feel that we need to get there, to the fort directly, not too much waste of time.” I answered.
“Yeah, that makes sense. Do you think they are alright?” She asked.
“I hope so, just a bug, but, really, no, I think it is not good, I can’t say why, but I am very afraid for them.”
We crawled into bed for the night and held each other close, there was desperation to it.
No dreams that I remember.
(Margo) Breakfast as usual, Lance was talking about not being able to reach Stanwix, and that they might be something going on with some flu thing or something. We have been lucky in that regard when you think about it.
Had Bo-Peep duty today, Code came with me, but I made Lucy stay behind. She hung out with Jan and Fred for the day. I kept walking out to the woods to see if Mama was there. My leg is much better, still tender, but better.
Nothing, no lions, I was kind of bummed out.
At Vespers tonight Matt told us all of the plans to ride out to Stanwix and check on Keith, and Ron and the others. He seems to think it is a radio thing. But there was that flu bug Lance had talked about. But I can’t believe that would be that bad, you feel like crap for a couple of days, and then back to normal.
July 18th
We saw Matt and those going to Stanwix off this morning. I can understand the idea of the horse trip, truck would have been easier but it is a good opportunity to test long distance travel by horseback.
Lance and Del are going to spend the time out at the stables taking care of the rest of the horses. I think that is a good idea. Someone has to do it and although Code and I volunteered we did not get picked, so it worked out well. I can do some sheep duty as well as walk in the area that the Mountain Lions hang out.
It was a wicked hot day and the storms rolled in about 3 in the afternoon. We brought the sheep back to pen early because of it. I hope the riders missed the storm. I guess it would depend on how far they got.
Vespers tonight were kind of strange, it was Grace who ran them, and she did a good job. But it was just different without Matt and Tanya. I think it was like going to church and having no priest there.
Code and I did a little lake time after dark. Lucy did not come with us. She has been spending more time with Fred and Jan; it is like she senses that link to Mama.
(Matt) We left early this morning to try to get to Stanwix within three or four days. I sense that there is something wrong there, but also that rushing in is not a great idea. We had planned to be on the other side of Albany by this evening. We actually made it to the outskirts of Schenectady. We made few stops along the way, we can scavenge and explore on the way back.
There was not much conversation along the way; I think we were all considering what might be going on at Stanwix. Did the flu wipe them out, were they just too sick to answer, or was there something else going on. There is no way of telling.
It had looked like we were going to get a storm for a little while in the afternoon, but that moved south of us, probably hit the folks back at camp.
We found a little B&B just east of the city to stay for the night. It wasn’t somewhere that Tanya and I had visited on the pilgrimage. This place had a little supply of canned goods so we ate well for the evening, if corned beef hash and canned corn are eating well.
On the back deck there was a little fireplace and we got a nice fire going as dusk rolled in. And after staring at the fire for a while and just sitting we called it quits. We took bedrooms on the second floor and rigged some noise makers to the stairs so that if something came in we could react. The horses were tethered in the backyard. We were not too concerned. We had seen no one alive since we left Albany, and then it was only a couple of very decayed Changed.
(Lance) Del and I are going to stay at the horse house for the time that Tay and Teckla are away. Someone needs to do it, and we can spend time with Samurai and Shinigami, practicing, but then practicing for what, really. It is not like we have seen hordes of Zoms, or wolves or anything.
Before we left I tried to reach the Pittsburgh. I actually got through and spoke with Captain Katzung. He said that they had made contact with the parties that had sent the signal and that the ship was about 3 days out of New London on its way back to refit and drop some people off.
We skipped Fire Pit tonight, during the thunderstorm this afternoon we kind of hunkered down and just stayed close to the stables.
July 19th
(Matt)We got an early start this morning and were able to get through Schenectady with only minor delays, a few Changed, and then a heavy downpour. We tucked into a parking garage for an hour or so waiting for the rain and thunder to subside. We were back on the road again by 10:30.
This trip we were in a little bit more of a hurry and we were taking the Mass Pike, well actually I-90. We were trying for the direct route rather than the route that Tanya and I had taken the last time we were heading this way.
We kept our eyes open for Hunters, and had our helmets handy if we should see any, or make contact. We also watched for reload canisters from those devices.
We rode through lunch and had a kind of trail mix and some jerky that Nick had supplied us. We want to make it to Fonda by night fall. We did make it and were again able to finds a little B&B, Mabel’s for the night. We picketed the horses in the backyard and sat out having some canned stew that we found in the basement pantry. Over dinner we talked about Stanwix and the unanswered question of what would we find there. I am hopeful, but fear the worse.
Once again we set up the upstairs for sleeping with noise makers on the stairs.
(Margo) Code and I got a pass on the sheep duty today so we ended up taking the bikes out to the horse farm and did some riding. Actually the four of us took the horses and headed toward the Hinsdale using the railroad tracks as the path. It was not for much more than to get some riding time in.
It is interesting to see Del and Lance riding bareback. They seem to have it down. At one point as we neared the rail terminal a horde of a half dozen Zoms started staggering toward us. They were in pretty rough shape; they had changed a while ago and were badly decomposed. Lance and Del drew swords and went on the offensive. Both Samurai and Shinigami seemed to have no problem with wading in and keeping their riders on them while the flashing swords lopped off heads.
We looked around the city for a little bit but found nothing of interest. But then we were not really on a true scavenger run, just a little riding practice. We were back to the stable by about an hour before dinner times. We were going to cycle back but Del suggested we all ride back and then they would bring Lemon Drop and Chuckles back with them after dinner.
They stayed for Fire Pit, a little singing, a few stories but mostly talk about the folks as Stanwix. What was going on, speculation. But no one knows.
(Lance) Horse duty is a lot of work, but it is good work. Code and Margo came out and we all took a ride up toward Hinsdale just to get a little riding in. Del has convinced me stick with the no saddle type of riding. It is not bad, although if we get going at a certain pace it is a pain in the balls, literally.
When we got to Hinsdale, there was a group of about six undead. They were no
t fresh ones. Del and I went after them using our swords. It was kind of a test for the horses to see how they would handle it. They did great.
We headed over to the Camp tonight, rode over, and it was a good night. I wasn’t able to get ahold of Stanwix, still, nor was I able to make contact with Matt and the scout party. I was able to reach the Pittsburgh and they said that they were almost back to the sub base. Capt. Katzung said that he had given them information on our location and they might be coming our way. But he did not give me numbers or detail, or even a confirmation of that.
We headed back toward the stables a little before sunset, and were there as it was getting dark. Quiet night.
July 20th
(Margo) It is our day for Bo-Peep duty, and as much as I spent time kind of wandering off into the woods by the rock ledge to see if Momma and the cubs were there I came up empty, I still felt that she was watching me, that there was her spirit or presence looking over me.
It was kind of a lazy, hazy day with not much else happening. In the midafternoon Code led me by the hand to a place behind the stone wall, it was kind of grassy, and he was kind of frisky. He isn’t usually like that.
Dinner tonight was the standard salady type stuff with some BBQ rabbit. Vespers were pretty sedate with just a little storytelling, nothing new or good, and more wondering about the folks out at Stanwix.
(Lance) It was a quiet day out at the stables, we really just kind of let the horses do horse stuff, and did not do any riding at all other than a trip to the camp to grab some food and supplies. While we were there I tried to make contact with Stanwix again, no luck. This is not good. I can hope the radio is broken, but that is not my feeling.
We headed back early tonight, just after dinner. After it got dark we sat and watched the stars, there were a few meteors. From the farm we can’t see much of the horizon so we could not tell if there is still something going on to the west with the “flying lights”.
(Matt) We were up early and on our way. We want to make Herkimer by night fall. It should be doable and that will leave us one day out of Rome and seeing our friends at Stanwix……I hope.
It gets kind of boring in the saddle. Black Olive is a good ride. Actually we have a good group of animals, Ranger, Magellan, and Strawberry. Tanya had been riding Lemon Drop at the farm but Strawberry seemed a little stronger and might hold up better on the long haul.
“Should we stop at Fort Plain, see how Linda is doing?” asked Tanya.
Mom chimed in, “Yeah, after the way you two talked about her I think I want to meet that one.”
Taylor giggled.
“I think we should wait until the trip back. We are tight to reach Herkimer and I am getting a little more concerned about our friends.” I explained.
“Good point, besides, maybe the extra few days will drive the housing prices down a little more,” laughed Mom.
We plodded on. It was interesting; I noticed that some of the cars and trucks had been pushed out of the way as if to make a path. It looked like it had been recent. But we had not traveled this way before so it could be old.
We reached Herkimer about 7 PM; it had been a long day in the saddle. I think we were all kind of tired and sore. We found a nice home on the outskirts to “invade” and spent the night there. Standard security procedure was put into place.
About midnight the horses started acting up. We all sleep lightly now, so we headed down to see what was going on. It was a Changed, a little girl, still in good condition. Good condition? Really?....anyway, we gave her rest and then decided that it might be a good idea to have a night watch, just in case. I took the first shift. Nothing happened.
July 21st
(Matt) We were on the road early this morning, with the need for the night watch, and the idea that we were within a day’s ride we just got rolling at the crack of ass.
We reached Utica at 11:30, at the rate we are going it looks like about 4ish for when we get to Stanwix. It is quiet riding; we are not talking much, just plodding along. I know that I am thinking about what we might find, or who we might find. But it worried me. I do not feel that there is anything good at the end of the journey.
“What do you think?” asked Tanya.
“I don’t know, but I think it is bad.”
“Yeah, me too, if it is a bug, we need to be careful.” She added.
“Yes, we won’t go rushing in there for sure. We need to scope the place out first. See if anyone is moving. And if there is anyone, then we can attempt to make contact from a distance.” I said.
Teckla piped in, “Good idea, what do you think, are they just sick or is it worse.”
On the inside I figured worse, but I said, “I think it will be okay, maybe.”
We trudged on. We reached Stanwix, or at least could see it about 4:30. The crop fields were all burned; the gates to the fort were open. But we could see no one, no movement, no bodies. It didn’t make sense. Did they burn the fields, or were they attacked.
After about a half hour we decided that we would approach the gate for a closer look. Slowly we moved up, nothing, no one, no guards.
I noticed that there were tire tracks leading to the gate, it looked like some big buses or trucks had been there, backed in. Did they leave? Why won’t they let us know? No, this is not right, I thought.
“I think it is okay to go in, the place looks abandon.” Mom said.
“Slowly, let’s go slowly” Tanya replied.
We all sense the wrongness of the situation. We dismounted and started toward the gate. As we reached it and started in, even the horses sensed it, or should I say smelled it. There was death here.
We moved into the main court yard and over in the corner by the gate was a number of bodies, as we checked on them it was clear they had been shot in the head, but there were few, too few for this community, there were seven bodies, but this was a community of 80 maybe more.
We looked further. I coughed at the smell and when I did, I heard a call.
“Finish me, please finish me.” It was in a room off the court yard. I looked in and there was Keith, or what was left of him. His legs and arms had been chopped off and were lying near him. He was bandaged, but in a bad way. His breath was raspy, and he was close to death. Tay turned and ran out of the room puking as she ran.
“What happened?” Mom asked.
“Sick, we were all sick, dying, and turning, and then they showed up” he wheezed.
“Who, Who showed up?” Tanya asked.
“Them, the army guys, Ken and Tyrone, the ones we banished. They came back. Most of us were in no shape to fight, the few of us that were left.” Keith said, staring into space now.
We were silent and then he continued, “The ones who had turned, they loaded them into a couple of cattle trucks. I don’t know why, they made a couple of the sick people, Pam, they used them as bait to get the dead into the truck.”
“They found me, and did this to me, wanted me to turn, to suffer. Please, kill me. I am so close, I don’t want to be that way!”
“We will, we’ll help you cross.” I told him. “But why, why did they take the dead?”
“Revenge, they are gonna use them for revenge, to get the other group” he rasped.
“The other …… oh fuck, …… Keith, who am I?” I asked, but it was too late. He was dead.
“Fuck, it is us; those trucks are headed to our camp. We have to warn them, we have to warn them!”
We searched for the radio and Sat-Comm, and we found them, or at least some of the pieces.
It’s late now, an hour of sun was left, and we can’t ride back. The horses are worn out. But we have to get back. We scrambled to find a car, a motorcycle, or a truck anything. We found one that was drivable with some fuel. Tanya and I started back, I hope, I hope we get there in time.
Teckla and Tay rode with us. We hated to leave the horses, but there was no choice, if what I thought was happening….we need to all get back to Romanica and we need to be ready for a figh
t, the fight.
(Lance) Del and I are still on horse patrol, and I have to admit, after sleeping in a real bed rather than the cots we are used to in the camp, I am kind of getting spoiled. The queen-sized mattress is awesome, better than the two cots pushed together, although, I do miss my air-conditioner and the convenience of the computers and such.
We did a little riding today, but it was more to kill the boredom.
We rode over for dinner tonight and hung out for Fire Pit. It was story night, but I had nothing to contribute.
We stayed later tonight because it was a full moon and we would be able to see for the ride back.
Del and I settled in for the night, and as we lay there I could not help but think life was pretty good.
(Margo) Bo Peeping it, I kept an eye out for the Momma Lion. But our paths didn’t cross today. We had a little storm in the afternoon, but not enough to bring the sheep home early.
Code and I did a little lake time after dinner and then headed over to the Fire Pit for Vespers. It was story night; Grace began with the classic tale of the Bloody Skull. The end result was that we were led to believe that the blood skull was in the gym bag that the girl found, but it was only gym clothes, what else would it be, lame story, but it kept us busy.
Fred also shared a story with us. It is funny after what we have been through, and seen, scary campfire stories just don’t hold the impact that they once did.
But Fred’s story was about a rabbit, a cute little bunny that had a little issue that made it want to eat things other than carrots and lettuce. This little bunny liked to eat people. What it would do is find a person who would take care of it. And then, when the full moon arose, it quadrupled in size, and would rip their owner to pieces. Not bad, at least it was original.
Off to bed, we are going riding early tomorrow, I want to head out to the ledge area and check on Momma Lion and get some riding in.
The Event Trilogy (Book 2): The Gospel According to Matthew, Margo & Lance Page 35
