Susan & Nathan
Once he was done reading it, I took it from his hands and stared at it. “They were here,” I said with a smile.
“Looks like we get to cross your river,” said Bobby. She seemed upset.
“You ok, Bobby?” asked Gus.
She shook her head back and forth. “I can’t swim.”
“We’ll use the structure of the bridge,” I said.
“Is it safe?” Her eyes were full of fear.
“I’ll make sure you stay safe,” assured Gus.
“Bobby, I know you don’t know us well yet, and I know asking you to go on with us like this is unfair. I promise you that you can trust Gus with your life, though,” I said.
The poor woman had tears welling in her eyes, but nodded.
“It’s not the river that scares me so much as going on foot. The upside is that there’s never been much of a population out this way,” said Gus. “So hopefully the dead will be sparse. We’ll take what weapons we have. Leave the rest behind.”
The others had left two bottles of water behind in the SUV for us, along with some stale graham crackers. The three of us shared them quickly, and then readied for the crossing of the Pysht River. I had nowhere to tuck the knife I had salvaged from the ranger station so handed it off to Bobby for safekeeping. Gus slung his shotgun onto his back so that the strap crossed his chest. He suggested that he cross first with one of us and then come back for the other. I refused, and said I would follow him and Bobby. Clumsy as I tend to be, I knew that Bobby needed more help due to her fear.
We descended the embankment slowly, off to one side of where the bridge had fallen. Gus warned us both that we needed to be mindful of what we grab onto since there would be a lot of sharp edges. The ruins of the bridge were much more intimidating close-up, and for just a moment I reconsidered the wisdom of pursuing this path. Gus was now wearing a pair of dark green “Ranger Pants,” which fit his waist but fell short in length. He instructed Bobby to hold onto the back of his waistband as much as she needed. He would go slow and help direct her steps, and I would watch and follow their path. The rocks were slick with moss and I fell on my butt at the water’s edge. The other two didn’t notice, so I stood and just moved forward. The sound of the water rushing by was loud, making communicating with the others nearly impossible. They were thankfully slow-moving. After about ten feet we were forced to get our feet wet as the water deepened. There was a length of metal railing from the bridge that twisted out into the current, and I watched as Gus stayed close to that. He and Bobby stopped when they were thigh-deep and waited for me to join them.
“We’re going to have to swim,” he shouted over the noise of the river. “Bobby, I want you to climb onto my back and hold on while I get us across. Zoe, you sure you’ll be ok on your own? I can come back for you!” he hollered.
“No,” I shouted back. “I’ll be fine!” I could feel the dead inside my mind, closing in behind us.
“Watch your feet! There’s bound to be twisted metal and broken concrete! Bobby, whatever you do don’t let go of me!”
My teeth were beginning to clatter together from the ice cold water. “Let’s go!” I hollered.
Bobby climbed onto Gus’ back and wrapped her legs around his midsection with her hands on his shoulders. As they moved forward as one, I worked hard to keep up. Not only were my feet turning numb, but the current was picking up. I held onto the fallen guardrail as long as I could, but eventually had to let go when it twisted downward into the depths of the swirling water. Gus seemed at ease in the river, and I only imagined that Bobby must be using all of her energy to stay calm. They were neck deep in front of me, so it took me by no surprise when I encountered the drop off that sent me plunging into the freezing water. My breath caught in my chest as the last warmth was sucked from my body. Gus was farther ahead of me than I cared for, so I kicked my legs and paddled with my hands as hard as I could. My shin collided with something beneath the water, causing a dull ache. I did my best to ignore it, and continued on. Eventually Gus and Bobby began to emerge from the deep water, and I knew we’d be out of the river soon. Finally I found blessed footing. There was less of the bridge wreckage where we were climbing out since we had drifted downstream with the current.
Finally on the other side, we scrambled out of the water and tried to catch our breath. Now would have been a great time to own a spare set of dry clothes.
“We need to keep moving,” I huffed. “To keep warm and stay ahead of the dead.”
“Do you sense more behind us?” asked Bobby.
I nodded. “Ya. As far as I can tell I can sense them when they’re within maybe a mile.”
“How about ahead of us?” asked Gus.
“Not yet.”
“Ok, let’s move on. First priority is either a strong shelter or a car,” suggested Gus. I admired how he always slipped into a role of leadership so naturally.
“Thanks,” said Bobby through clattering teeth. “For getting me across.”
“Don’t mention it.” Gus stood and then held a hand out to each of us. “Shit Zoe, you’re bleeding.”
I followed Gus’ gaze down to my left leg, where indeed a small steady stream of blood was running down toward my foot. “I hit it on something in the deep part. I didn’t know it was cut.”
He knelt down on the ground in front of me and looked at the wound. He made his signature clicking noise and sighed. “It doesn’t look too deep, but let me know if you need to stop.”
“’Kay. Gus, where’s the shotgun?” I asked, noticing it was no longer strapped around him.
“Fuck, the strap must have broken in the water! Let’s get moving.” He looked pissed.
Gus stood again and the three of us began the ascent to the remaining roadway above. I used several shrubs and ferns for handholds. I could feel the dead getting closer behind us. Their hunger was sickening and mixed with a rudimentary rage. I climbed with renewed desperation to put distance between them: the dead, and us: the living.
CHAPTER 24
The sun was high in the sky above us, and the stretch of highway we were walking on was void of trees to shade us. Daytime temperatures still being cool, and the fact that we were all still wet from crossing the cold river, I was glad for the added warmth. We had walked a mile at the most, keeping our pace brisk, when we came across the first signs of our lost civilization. The remains of an old gas station stood alongside the highway. The windows and door had been boarded up long ago as evidenced by weathering. A lean-to that once covered a lone gas pump in front of the building was half collapsed. The cedar shake roof showed signs of being taken over by wildlife. We passed it by since finding supplies inside seemed unlikely and since the building itself looked as if it may collapse at any time.
The signatures of the Roamers in my brain had paused for a brief time. I could only assume it was a recess in their advancement as they got to the river. I had hoped they wouldn’t be able to cross, but within moments I could feel them pressing forward once again. They had seemed slow and unable to move very fast as we drove past them the day before. I could feel them picking up speed with a renewed sense of vigor at the promise of fresh meat. Just as alarming, I could also sense another horde closing in from the west and another from the east. We were weaponless now, aside from the knife that Bobby had hauled across the river.
“I’m getting tired,” said Bobby.
Gus slowed his pace and looked back at me questioningly. I simply shook my head ‘no.’
“We need to keep moving, Bobby,” he said softly. “Find somewhere safe, or a car.”
“The note said they’d try to bring a car back and leave it. We haven’t seen one, so chances are there just isn’t one coming up,” she groaned. I could tell she was getting frustrated, and scared.
“There could be almost any reason they didn’t leave a car for us,” I said. “We have to keep hope, Bobby. We always have to keep hoping…” I let the thought trail off. My own words sounded weak.
&
nbsp; “Let’s pick up the pace,” said Gus, breaking the silence. I assumed he was aware of my thoughts again, and knew that the dead were getting dangerously close.
The cut on my shin was beginning to throb. I tried to force the pain from my mind, only to notice that my hip was starting to ache. I was suddenly seeing our group of three through dead eyes from behind us. As usual, we were slightly blurred and foggy.
“Gus,” I said with alarm in my voice.
Gus was already turning around when I spoke, and had stopped in his tracks. The scent of pine trees in the distance and the stench of death mingled as the Roamer advanced upon us. There was just the one. It had long stringy hair caked with what looked like either mud or blood, or both. Skin had sloughed from its face exposing the right side of its jaw and molars. My heartbeat quickened as Gus stepped in front of me and Bobby, placing himself in arms reach of the ambulating corpse.
Gus possessed no weapons at the moment, and was about to face the creature with his bare hands. I watched as he made contact with it using his left foot. The Roamer stumbled backward, but regained its balance quickly and moved forward with new determination. Gus kicked it again, this time harder. The creature fell to the ground and snarled hideously. Gus kicked it in the face when it tried to rise again, leaving a stark white area over its cheekbone where dried skin was torn away from the impact of his boot. The boot-battering continued until liquefied brain oozed from the Roamers head and onto the asphalt. Finally the creature lay still and Gus stood there looking down at it, trying to catch his breath.
“We need to go,” I said with urgency. “There’s more of them close behind.”
“Ok, let’s pick up the pace,” added Gus. “Bobby, you still have that knife on you?”
“Ya.”
“Good, keep it handy. Let’s go.”
Gus started out at a slow jog to set the pace. I grabbed Bobby by the hand, knowing she was tired and pulled her forward with me. We kept a steady pace for almost a mile, when I could feel her lagging behind more and more.
“Gus,” I called out. “Bobby’s slowing down,” I huffed. I was well aware that stopping would mean death. I could sense that the living dead would soon be within sight.
“Bobby, we have to hurry,” he urged.
“I’m trying,” she said between breaths. “My side hurts so bad.”
“Get on my back,” he ordered. “Fast!”
Gus was the kind to leave no one behind. Bobby wrapped herself around him while he knelt on the roadway. As soon as she was attached to his back, he stood. He made it look like lifting her was no effort. I grabbed onto his hand and urged him forward. The sounds of the dead followed us; eerie clicking and keening mixed in with unearthly moaning. I was aware that they were planning something but wasn’t privy to their intentions, aside from devouring us. It was as if I was intentionally being blocked from some deep section of their rotten minds.
“There!” I shouted. I started to divert our path off of the highway toward a tall metal electric tower. “Climb!”
We rushed to the structure, reaching it just as the small horde came into view. The keening grew louder. The living dead sounded frantic. Gus helped Bobby get her footing on the metal tower, pushing at her butt to encourage her to hustle. He hoisted me up next, not taking time to be gentle. The air filled with the scent of rot and foulness that accompanies only those beings that belong in the grave but refuse to stay there.
“Hurry!” I screamed at Gus. “Climb!”
He began climbing as the nearest Roamer arrived at the bottom of the tower. His ability to hoist himself took me by surprise. He was strong, but I hadn’t realized he could climb like a monkey. Granted, fleeing for your life can make one do things they might not otherwise have done.
“Keep going!” he shouted at both of us. “As high as you can! We don’t know if they can climb or not!”
Bobby was just above me, struggling to find a foothold for her left leg. Being directly beneath her, I was unable to advance until she did. I looked down, which wasn't wise. Not only did I feel dizzy from the height, but felt a pang of deep-rooted fear as I saw one of the zombies pursuing us. It was arching its head backward at an unnatural angle, clicking and groaning in an organized fashion. I knew then that it was instructing the others to follow it. There were seven in all. The three of us were halfway up the tower, with only one way to go. Panic built within me. I continued inching my way up once Bobby found her hold again. Not daring to look down again, I only knew that the other Roamers were climbing because their incessant noises were growing closer. I wondered briefly if I’d be seeing Molly again, after I too was dead.
The sound of gunshots filled the air, along with the roar of a car engine. I stopped climbing and tucked my head into the crook of my arm. I flinched with each shot that rang out. The keening of the dead stopped suddenly, as did the gunfire. I worked to slow my labored breathing, and then looked down at the overly ripe corpses that lay splattered from a combination of being shot at and falling to the ground. I was dazed and barely heard my name being called.
“Zoe!” It was Abbey’s voice. It sounded so distant. I looked out beyond the footprint of the tower and saw our friends standing there. “Zoe!” called the preteen again.
“Abbey!” I called back as I began descending the tower. The trip down was faster than it had been going up. Once I reached the ground, I waded through the mess of decayed flesh and liquefied innards. I ran to Abbey and embraced her. She smelled good, like shampoo and soap.
“Looks like we showed up just in time,” said Nathan’s familiar voice.
I sensed Gus behind me, and turned to confirm. I flashed him a quick smile. Bobby was beside him, looking like the ‘odd-man-out.’
Gus extended his hand to Nathan, who took it firmly. “Owe you one, brother,” he said.
“Glad to see you both made it.” Nathan looked at Bobby, and extended his hand to her. “I’m Nathan, and this here is Abbey.” He looked behind him and gestured with his head. “Susan over there, and Boggs in the car.”
“Bobby. Really glad to meet you.”
“Welcome to the group, Bobby,” he said.
“Thanks.” She looked a bit shy, and rather traumatized.
“There’s more of them on the way,” I muttered quickly. “We need to go.”
“Pack into the car,” said Nate. “There’s not much room, but we’ll make do.”
We jogged the short distance to the vehicle. It was an old station wagon with only two rows of bench seats, and the cargo compartment in back was full of supplies. Susan climbed in behind the wheel and smiled weakly at us. Boggs was in the back seat, looking out his window, obviously avoiding looking at us. Abbey and Nate took their seats up front with Susan, with Abbey sitting in the middle. Gus opened the back driver’s door and encouraged Bobby to scoot over toward Boggs. He stepped in next and situated himself as close to the middle as possible, with me following and getting a choice seat squished against the door. Boggs had yet to look at us let alone acknowledge that we were there.
“Boggs, good to see you’re alive, brother,” said Gus. Boggs responded with a low grunt followed by shaking his head back and forth. I waited for Boggs to say something to me, anything, and was hurt when he didn’t.
The station wagon still faced the direction from which we had come, and I saw more Roamers rounding the bend. “Susan, go!” I whimpered.
She turned the car around in an arc, and drove away. The interior of the vehicle was too warm so I rolled my window down and put my face up to the opening. The fresh air was refreshing.
“Where are we headed?” asked Gus.
“Adam’s grandparent’s motel,” said Susan.
“Who’s Adam?” asked Bobby.
“That’s me,” grunted Boggs, finally speaking. “She’s the only one who calls me Adam.” He sounded not only cranky, but outright rude.
“Well, pleased to meet you, Adam-Boggs.” Bobby made herself sound extra chipper, which I could only assume
was intentional and meant to make Boggs feel like an ass. I fought the urge to giggle.
The scenery passed as Susan drove. Mountain terrain and tall trees gave way to rolling hills of grass and shrubs. The going was slow in areas where the infrastructure of the highway was quickly collapsing. I had never considered that nature would begin reclaiming the earth as quickly as it had. Nathan explained that they had cleared the road of three separate accidents and stalled vehicles left in the way. Assuming nothing had changed since their drive earlier in the day, the path “home” should be clear. They hadn’t found another functioning vehicle so had been driving back to the downed bridge daily in hopes of finding us. Their serendipitous timing today had saved our lives. Abbey was quiet for most of the trip. She was busy reading a new novel that she had found at the motel. Susan said very little, with Boggs saying even less. Bobby, Gus, and I spent the time just listening to Nathan as he told us about their adventures since being separated from us. Linus and Agnes had branched off in their own direction when they had all reached the Pysht River and the downed bridge. It had been Linus who had delivered the blow to Jane’s head to keep her from rising. I was glad, in a way, to learn it hadn’t been one of the others who I had grown to consider family. The trauma had been too much for Agnes to bear, and she had insisted they go back to being on their own. She had explained that she just wasn’t ready to lose more friends.
CHAPTER 25
We stopped at the intersection of highways 113 and 112 so that everyone could stretch. I gladly climbed out of the crowded back seat, followed by Gus and Bobby. Boggs got out through his own door, and walked to the side of the road. I wanted to walk to him in hopes of a conversation of some sort, but his body language warned me away. Gus took me gently by the elbow and we moved away from the vehicle.
Standing face to face, he placed his hands on my shoulders and spoke quietly. “He’s hurting, Zoe. Give him time.”
I nodded in understanding. “No one’s noticed,” I said quietly.
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