HOLD
Page 5
Then we’re going to have a major problem.
By late afternoon the train finally brought us into the city. I shut the door to the engine as we began to smell the stench of death and undead alike. It does tell me though, that they are rotting despite the nanotechnology, or at least the decomposing is a faster process. In the long run this may just be a waiting game. Minutes later in the train yard, my fears became reality. There were cars on every track. I stopped the train despite a few ghouls already curious about us. I left Beth and Sid locked in the engine. I climbed to the top of the engine with the railroad map. I was able to see everything ahead and all obstacles that we must pass. I generated a quick plan and got back inside the engine to explain it to Beth.
Minutes later Beth was gripping her hatchet ready to use and had Sid’s chain-leash wrapped firm in her other hand. I had my suitcase, now full of all the food I could pack inside it in my left hand and the sword held point down in my right hand. We were ready to make a run ahead of us to the last train on the track. We hit the ground running as fast as we could, especially Sid. I made it a point to take the lead for the ghouls that came after us. I took upswings at the ghouls tearing through them or just knocking them down. It was just enough as we kept running and reached our new ride - four engines and five tanker cars. Beth and Sid got inside quickly. Beth started the engine - glad I taught her because a ghoul snagged my foot, tripping me. It was leg-less and crawling under the engine. I cut its hand off, but it kept coming. As soon as I lifted the sword to take another swing, Beth had backed the engine a bit and crushed the ghoul in half at mid-torso. I jumped up and made my way into the engine. Beth looked a bit freaked. I think it was because she didn’t even mean to move the train at all. I just smiled at her and thanked her with a kiss. I took over the controls, got the train pushing forward and checked the engine fuel. We’re fine, and according the railroad map, we’re still heading west.
DAY - 28
The current train ride has been quite scenic. The track followed the Kansas River for quite a while just as the map states. This track has us officially on course to the Pacific Railroad. There were more flatlands and lots of farms around - pretty much all the eye could see. Looking ahead though, we saw distant hills. I truly look forward to reaching the mountains beyond those hills. I still think it’s the only place we’ll truly be safe.
By dusk, we reached the west bridge that crosses the Kansas River and into the city of Topeka. That’s when all hell broke loose. We had no choice but to stop the train right in the middle of the bridge. About a hundred feet ahead of where we stopped was a passenger train, stopped and blocking the last few yards of the bridge. I made my way to the top of the engine again to look ahead. I could see that the passenger train was one engine and nine cars. I decided to confront Beth with another train hopping option, but that it was contingent on removing all possible undead passengers still on the train.
She poked me in the chest and then held her one index finger at me. She repeated this several times until I guessed what she was trying to say - “ you first. “ I agreed though. I would take the lead. Beth decided we should leave Sid in the engine. I agreed. I wanted him safe and somewhat guarding things. I grabbed the sword, and Beth grabbed her hatchet. We made our way up to the passenger train and entered through its back door, which took a good budge to get open. It was the baggage car - no patrons to worry about. We immediately had the same idea and began opening every bit of luggage for things we could use. I eventually made my way to a wooden crate on its way out west to someone in Denver, Colorado. The packing slip is what really caught my curiosity though - GENERAL AUTHENTICS & CO. I knew the name instantly. They make replica firearms and blades. My father would get their catalogs when he was into Civil War re-enactments, and the guns really worked. I grabbed Beth’s hatchet and wasted no time in opening the crate. Obviously some collector ordered a pair of 1873 Calvary issue, six shot revolvers - with ammo.
This changed my plan, so I grabbed Beth and the guns and went back to our train. Tomorrow morning I plan on clearing out the passenger train much easier. I'm afraid it's going to depend on how good a shot I am with these hand cannons, though. Still, one shot from these should take a head clean off.
DAY - 29
At daybreak I was out fiddling with my new pistols. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to load them and then another few minutes to get the courage to fire them. The rounds are.45 caliber, and I had heard many stories of how much they can kick. Still, I fired a round of each gun into the passenger train's baggage car. I can’t believe how much my ears were ringing or how big holes were they put into the baggage car. My wrists felt a little sore as well. Beth and Sid both emerged looking quite pissed that I had awakened them with the loud gunfire, so I apologized. I decided to go ahead with my new plan and helped Beth get ready. We left Sid in the engine again. I showed Beth how to load the pistols. I planned to use them one at a time until empty while Beth stood behind me and reloaded the other.
Finally, we started in on clearing the train. We entered the baggage car again and bust the door open into the coachseating car. There were several ghouls already waiting inside - like dogs that were to be released from their kennels. They immediately came for us. The entire site of them scared Beth that she sidestepped and basically fell down the stairs leading to the dining undercarriage of the car. I followed after her.
Luckily there were no ghouls in the section below, but they were making their way from above. I helped her to her feet, and we made our way across the car to a vestibule area. Our backs against the wall, literally, I had to shoot out a window for our escape. I wasn’t looking, but Beth had taken off with one pistol and all of the ammo back to our train. I, with only five shots left in my pistol, ran alongside the passenger train to its engine. It wasn't until I reached the engine that I realized that Beth wasn’t behind me. I saw her enter our train engine safely and then witnessed an outpouring of ghouls from the window I shot out. I was forced to make a decision I didn’t want to initially. I boarded into the passenger train's engine that I knew could contain several ghouls. Also there could be the open door with access to the rest of the train - more ghouls.
I did it anyway. Once inside, there were only two ghouls in the back of the engine. Two shots and I blew huge chunks out of their heads dropping them both. I shut and used the feeble lock of the door at the back of the engine. Knowing the lock was weak to a possible rush of ghouls, I acted quickly in starting up the engine. I set it for 25 mph, got it running good and jumped out of the engine onto the ground. Beth had our train running already, chugging forward. It was slow going but fast enough to get away from the ghouls chasing it and also heading my way. Beth was out on the walkway waving fo
r me. I had to limp fast and ditch the pistol to fully pull myself on board. I'm thinking I broke my right foot.
DAY - 30
Beth was very caring last night, but I kept telling her not to worry with me. I can deal with the pain, and surprisingly, I have dealt with it very well. I awoke earlier than Sid or Beth as usual and decided to take off my shoe and sock to get a good look at it. My every toe is black and blue and swollen. I could feel it throbbing that tells me the break is just above where my big toe and the one next to it meet. Still, though, the pain isn’t as bad as it was yesterday. That's a plus. I put five socks on my broken foot and wrapped it a bit with duct tape. It’s actually a comfortable sort of protection.
Beth and Sid joined me in watching the passenger train ahead of us. It was basically leading us down the track. Every now and then a ghoul would make its way out of the window I had shot out, and they would fall beneath the train getting split in half or get thrown for a good distance. We laughed our asses off while Sid barked some for good measure. I had another good look at the railroad map. Topeka, KS was long behind us, and Colorado was in our sights. Had I just given the passenger train a higher speed, we may already be in Colorado. I just hope the passenger train goes until the end of the line in California and doesn't run into another train creating a big ass mess. We should be fine if we get well past Denver and into the Rocky Mountain range. I can’t say that I’m ready to go hiking just yet, but I’m sure as shit getting sick of this train.
Late afternoon brought us another change in luck. Our train had met up with the passenger train and was basically pushing it. Somehow the passenger train was losing speed - the ghouls may have gotten to the controls. I boosted our train's speed to 50 mph, though I don’t think we were really topping 40 mph. Suddenly a new plan came to me, and I put it into action despite Beth shaking her head, " NO. " I immediately grabbed our remaining pistol and Beth’s hatchet and limped my way out on the front of our engine’s narrow walkway. I stretched out as far as I could and finally jumped through the baggage car door. Once in the baggage car I made haste to the outside front of it and to its connection joint. I chopped the hoses loose and struggled until I unlocked the joint. I then made way to the back of the car and signaled Beth to stop our train. My plan worked. The velocity and weight of the rest of the passenger train pulled away from the baggage car and kept going further down the track. It went far enough down the track that we could barely see it, but it did look as if it came to a stop. Now that the passenger train is stationary on our track, I'm gonna need a plan to try and derail the damn thing - another damned sleepless night, I imagine.
DAY - 31
All night long, Beth and I were skittish about sleeping. We feared that the remaining ghouls from the passenger train would make their way to us sometime in the night. With our train being stationary they could have gotten inside. Come dawn, our fears were only half-realized. There were several ghouls making their way to our train, but they were scattered about and lumbering around - easy pickings.
By Noon, a new plan was set into action. I limped to the railed walkway outside the engine. Beth was behind the engine controls and was slowly pushing the baggage car down the tracks. We were only going about 5 mph, so it was my job to go from side to side on the train's walkway swiping away potential stragglers. The damned ghouls tried it, too. They started to come after our train. Some attempted getting a hold of the baggage car but then fell and were dragged a ways or were caught under the wheels. The same thing occurred with the cargo cars of our train, but for the ones that caught onto the front engine, I got back into the swing of things. They were all at the perfect level for removing their heads. Then I noticed that there were a number of ghouls pulling themselves aboard our other three engines - not good - I couldn’t reach them. The walkways don't go all the way around to the back of the engine, so that also means that those ghouls weren't a threat to reach us as long as we kept moving.
Beth stopped our train just as I planned for her to - about twenty yards behind the stationary passenger train - the baggage car left there in position. Beth immediately started backing us up at a faster speed. More ghouls took a chance to board the engines while we were momentarily stopped, so I had to make quicker work of them cutting off whatever parts it took to have them fall off. Beth stopped our train again after a while and started us back going forward - this time at a much faster speed. I rushed back inside the engine, and we all braced for our planned result - hoping it worked. A minute later and our train became a battering ram. We struck the baggage car with such force that it shoved it violently into the passenger train. That, along with our train still barreling forward was enough to completely derail the passenger train.
A moment later and I stepped out on the walkway to assess our train's damage. It was busted up a lot but still seemed to be running strong. I looked back to our other engines - no more ghouls - probably all knocked off in the huge impact.
Other than the soreness in my foot, I can smile as we are faster heading west for the mountains.
DAY - 32
Apparently I had the train going too fast overnight. We have already entered the state of Colorado, and I can truly say that upon entering the area, one feels the increase in terms of “ above sea level.” Beth definitely felt a decrease in the outside temperature. She’s been cuddling nearer Sid and I for warmth. I don’t exactly mind the cuddling, though. She’s a lovely girl, and it takes some of the attention away from my foot.
At midday I was forced to stop our train. There’s another stalled train on our tracks - a cargo train. I'm just glad we didn't come across any stalled trains in our sleep. I don't think there's any way our train could survive another head-on collision. All of which means I have to plan for something other than derailing our new obstacle.
According to what I see on the railroad map and some of the signs in the town that's only a hundred yards or so away, we have reached Cheyenne Wells, Colorado. We're just inside the Colorado State line. I grabbed my sword and got outside to the ground, looking about the area. Though the map confirmed that we’re way above sea level, the scenery is still flatlands - hills in the distance. Beth didn’t want out in the cold air, but Sid did. Sid loved it and took off running about truly enjoying his playtime. I was happy for him, but would've been happier if he was paying attention as I had counted on him in previous times. I quickly found myself turning around to the moaning of three ghouls who must have been holding on to the train since yesterday. Their limbs looked worn, and they were very slow moving. The cold air was seemingly slowing them just as I hoped for - probably near freezing from the wind and speed of the train. I pulled my sword and then Sid started his yelping and growling. I was shocked to find that disposing them wasn’t as easy as before. My first swing resul�
�ted in lodging the sword halfway into the first ghoul’s neck. It was like I tried to cut through a tire.
Beth hurried down from the train and buried her hatchet in another ghoul’s head, taking it down, but her hatchet stuck firm also. She luckily had the pistol, too, and was able to use it to shoot the other ghoul in its face dropping it. I kept struggling with my lodged sword, not wanting to relive the last scenario when my sword was stuck. Beth wanted to shoot, but I didn't want her possibly shooting the blade. I slung the ghoul to the ground on its side - the sword edge pointing down. I instantly thought to kick the blade of the sword downward until it finally cut through the ghoul's head. Then I noticed that I had actually used my broken foot to do the kicking - I'm an idiot. Beth helped me back in the engine - Sid followed. Tonight will probably be a cold one, but I can’t justify using the engine’s fuel just to run the heat - not yet.
DAY - 33
I couldn’t even sleep. Beth and Sid were out in no time and huddled together for warmth. It's still winter, so there’s no quick end to this cold weather either. Then I noticed that it began to snow. It covered the ground quick, and a thin sleet began sticking to the train. I knew right away that things had just worsened for us. I started thinking that some things in Cheyenne Wells were going to have to be taken for us to survive.