It’s swollen and very red, but the dark spot hadn’t grown any bigger. All the pain looks to be worth it so far.
We encountered a few ghouls once we hit the main street.
They came from between some of the small buildings, but as soon as they showed their faces, Beth took aim and blew their faces clean off. It was no time before we reached our train. In even less time Beth agreed to my new plan. She grabbed the most supplies she could carry, and allowed me to carry the other shotgun, pistol and our ammo. I think it took only a matter of an hour before we reached a car lot. I checked all of the newer vehicles - just trucks and SUV’s - seeing which ones had full tanks of gas. I decided on a black, Honda CR-V.
They get good gas mileage and have plenty of space for us.
Plus, this one had a dead person’s chewed off hand on the ground beside it with the vehicle’s keys - what luck. We made ourselves comfortable in the Honda and drove further down the main street. Our only stop before heading out of town was a grocery store. We left Sid in the Honda. Beth and I burst into the store with a grocery cart. There were maybe only a handful of ghouls inside. They were very stiff and barely moved. One was inside a small, cellular phone booth and was trying to eat one of the phones. A few were behind the deli counter and looked to have been sampling all the meats in the display case - basically there were no real threats. We stayed together and grabbed canned soups, beans and the like. I made it a point to smack the ghoul in the cell phone booth and take some of the phones. I will see if I get any service from them. Maybe I can contact other survivors - dial until I get an answer, I guess.
Beth and I made haste in loading up the Honda. We were just as soon on our way driving towards the mountains.
DAY - 40
Barr Lake State Park is where we are. The place is an amazingly huge area of flatlands that still looks untouched by the corporate machine. It’s supposedly a complete wildlife reserve. The thought of many infected animals isn’t appealing, but the lack of people and a wide-open path to the visible mountain range ahead of us is very appealing. We’ll take the Honda as far as the gas tank allows and walk the rest of the way. Our only problem should be the fact that we’re going to miss the convenience that is plumbing.
It was near dark when the gas tank ran dry and we were forced to head out on foot. My hand still burns quite a bit, but with the cold air outside, I figured I would carry whatever it takes. Beth carried quite a bit, too. We let Sid off of his leash. He was fine, pouncing around for a while but finally sticking near us and keeping pace.
As dark had fallen, so had our strength. Beth and I were at the point to where we were dragging our supplies in our makeshift baggage along the ground. We had finally reached the base of the mountain range we had been striving for. It was then that we spotted a place to hold up. It’s a station of some sort that has an antenna on it. Atop the antenna was a blinking, red light that attracted us. Were it not dark we probably would have just started scaling the mountainside and would have never seen it. We found reserve energy and reached the station quite quickly. The station is no more than a mobile home with steel walls - better than the shitty wood most trailers are made with, so I have no complaints. The door to the station was wide open, and the inside looked like one hell of a fight had taken place. I searched the entire station to find no ghouls. They probably left in search of more food.
As Beth and I got settled in, got Sid settled and locked ourselves inside we began to see through the windows that it was starting to snow outside. This time the snow seemed something of a comfort and a beautiful sight to stop and watch. I rummaged around a bit more in the station and found the place to be void of electricity except for having to use a generator in the back. There’s no way I’m turning it on.
It’ll be loud and attract too much attention. The light on the antenna is run off of a huge battery - like for a car. Except for some equipment in the back, the only thing I really recognized was a laptop left on a desk in the main room where we decided to sleep. I did find some nice, thick blankets in a closet, though, which is helpful as I foresee a night of huddling together for warmth.
DAY - 41
Sid woke Beth and I this morning. He was yelping up a storm and starting to growl a bit. Beth and I jumped up and each grabbed a shotgun. We took to looking out all of the windows trying to find out what had Sid in such distress.
Though my hand still hurt, I loaded my shotgun rather fast.
Beth stomped her foot a few times to let me know she found something from the window she had been looking out of. I joined her in gazing out at the snowy, forested mountainside.
Off in the distance there was a hulking mess of a Grizzly bear. It seemed to be headed our way - perhaps following the sound of Sid’s anxiety.
I brought Beth down to sit on the floor with me below the window. We motioned for Sid to come over to us. Sid came and Beth started petting him to calm him down and quiet him. I took the time to study my left hand. The purple spot was going away - turning green and yellow - signs of healing, like with a black eye. It gave me a feeling of confidence I had lacked for a while. Beth smiled, acknowledging the same excitement for my apparent finding of a cure. It directly went to my head - knowing that I had an answer for the nano-infection. My adrenaline kicked in. I told Beth that the bear wouldn’t be leaving soon. It was looking for food, probably, and acting upon instinct would have it hanging around for a while - especially if it could still smell well. I’m sure Sid’s scent would be a catalyst for the hungry, undead bear.
Beth tried to get me to calm down and remind me about my foot - how I was lame. I couldn’t do it, though. I got up and decided to go hunting. Beth seemed reluctantly following me and staying ten yards behind me. I tried my best to sneak about from tree to tree in order to reach close range for shooting the bear. I was maybe thirty yards from it when it started to charge us. I quickly raised my shotgun - right hand on the trigger - top of my left arm to steady my shot. I could also see Beth take off to my right, and then kneel down, aim and steady her shotgun. The bear soon closed to within ten feet of us, and we both unloaded on it. The bulk of our shots tore through what remained of the bear’s head and neck.
It fell limp and its momentum had it tumble past us a bit brushing up snow off of the ground. A path of blackish blood ruined some of the beautiful snow. Beth and I made our way back into the station. Sid was going nuts for a bit because of the loud shots. We calmed him down, and he seemed less uneasy. Beth and I watched out the windows for the remainder of the day. We ate some of the last of our canned foods for dinner - almost time to start hunting our food again. Sid should enjoy that.
As we shall huddle again under blankets again tonight, I am left with a thought I can’t get out of my head. The bear will leave a smell for anything else in the area to pick up on. I just hope we haven’t
sent out a signal, basically saying, “ come and get it.”
DAY - 42
I awoke very early. I immediately looked outside to see if any other animals had come because of the bear’s carcass. I saw nothing. In fact, the snow had covered the bear in the night. I then checked out my hand again. It’s definitely healing. The dark spot continues to fade, and the swelling is about gone, though the skin is starting to flake like from sunburn.
I became very impatient sitting around waiting for Beth or Sid to wake up. I decided to take a quick step outside - with the shotgun and my sword, of course. I just wanted to be outside. Moments later and I found myself wandering off up the mountainside. I kept glancing back at the station to see if I needed to go back and let Beth know what my intentions were - with the whole area being a wildlife reserve there had to be enough animals around for food. Surely some of them weren’t affected. I should have probably woken up Sid and brought him along, but I kept going. After several hundred feet I came upon a rocky ledge that leveled off quite a bit. In front of me past the ledge was a cave entrance. It was big enough for a small car to have entered, and it looked very dark past the first twenty feet or so. The bear instantly came to mind. I raised my gun in case this was a den for others or perhaps, worse predators. I took a good look back down to the station - still no one stirring about. Curiosity got the better of me, and I soon found myself taking a slow walk into the cave. I only went as fast as my eyes would adjust to the darkness. I was slowly starting to make out the true depth of the cave when I witnessed many bats, dead and torn apart, just laying all over the cave floor. Something had been eating rather well. That something started coming out of the shadows for me. I turned quickly and limped as fast as I could to exit the cave. I had just about exited completely when I felt a huge push that sent me to the rocky ground. I rolled over quickly to see a mangled ghoul - a hiker, still wearing hiking gear and a huge backpack. The ghoul knocked away my shotgun as soon as I tried to aim it, and then grabbed my right hand ready to take a nice bite out of me. In a pure rage of adrenaline I used my left hand to rip my sword through my belt loop and bury the blade into the ghoul’s jaw. It let go of me and started to stumble around like all the other ghouls - only confused as to why it couldn’t seem to fully close its mouth. It looked like it was trying to bite through the blade. I yanked the blade out with both hands and took a stronger swing. I was able to cut deep into the ghoul’s head dropping it, though still wriggling. I grabbed the shotgun and finished the job. I snatched the hiker’s backpack and made my way back to the station where Beth and Sid were now awake and wide-eyed at me.
In the backpack we found matches, a detailed map of the area, a flare gun, a hunting knife, some warm clothing, a compass, and a calendar. I checked the calendar with the number of entries I have written. It’s already February. In fact, tomorrow is Valentines Day. Beth smiled at the revelation and then gave me a long kiss. The look in her eyes has me a bit shaken. She has held me tighter this evening. I feel we may find ourselves succumbing to our hormones soon.
As it stands, I’m surprised I haven’t made a move before. I really respect her. I think I may finally know love.
DAY - 43
Last night I had a long conversation with Beth. I told her that kissing me alone could have transferred any remaining nanotech, were they not all destroyed by the electric current. I wanted her to be beyond cautious and very mindful of what could happen should we give in to our hormones. I can truly say that it stopped her for a matter of minutes in deep thought. Then the inevitable happened anyway. I really don’t even remember the last time or if ever I had such animalistic actions towards a girl. At the risk of embarrassing Beth, she was quite ferocious as well. It drove home the fact that it is purely human nature to react sexually when you find that connection. It’s not like we could ever wait to find a Minister to marry us. Of course, I also remember something my brother had said many years ago - “ you don’t buy the car without test driving it first. “ So crude, but oh, so true. I’d like to think my brother is alive and well somewhere, too, but I’d never know with him being such a hippie and going place to place without contact for months. It’s also possible the drugs he had been known to do may have been his demise and would probably have made him a slow and easy meal.
Around midday Beth woke up. I had already brought in Sid from chaining him up to a desk in the back room so he wouldn’t bother us last night. The two of them just stared at me for a while as I was deep in thought looking over the map from the backpack. I finally spoke up about what I had been thinking - that there was a big, red circle on the map for an area only a mile away. It must have been where the hiker was headed. Just the same, it could easily be where he made a mental note to never return. I expressed my curiosity, though and that I wouldn’t mind risking a look at the area. Of course, with the day half over, I would much rather wait until early tomorrow. The hike there and back could easily take a full day’s light.
Late afternoon brought another snowstorm. It wasn’t bad enough that it hampered visibility, so Beth, Sid and I took outside to enjoy ourselves - shotguns in tow, of course - just in case. I found a Pine Tree that looked fit for climbing and picked a Pine Cone for Beth. I told her that it was the best I could do - no way would I have found her any roses. She accepted it with the smile that is becoming my favorite reason to still be alive.
As soon as evening approached, the sounds of howling began to break the silence of the forest. Sid was yelping aloud and growling. He was no help at all, as he was basically leading the howls our direction. Beth decided to hold Sid still and pet him to calm him down. I took outside and back into the tree I climbed earlier. I waited for a while to get a clear view of two wolves that looked very torn apart, yet very intent on feeding.
I fired one shot taking off one of the wolves’ head, but at the same time the branch I was standing on gave way sending me to the ground. Luckily it wasn’t that far of a fall, but it still hurt like hell. I was able to keep a handle on my shotgun and take out the other wolf that was running for me. Beth came running to help me up, and Sid darted over to the wolves’ corpses. Sid didn’t get too close to the dead wolves, but he got near enough to hike his leg and piss on them. I really don’t understand that dog.
DAY - 44
Sid found himself in the back room again last night. I found myself a scoring machine again. I didn’t sleep too well afterwards this time, though. I had evil dreams of what raising a child in this world would be like. In that regard, I am damn near better off alone. The damage could already be done, though. It worked that way for my parents - they were in trouble seven weeks after they first met. I’m not sure how yet, but I need to explain it to Beth. I’m sure she will agree when the reality of it sets in.
It was before sunrise when Sid began growling at the
back wall of the station. Though it’s metal on the outside of the station, the walls are still like any other building inside, and Sid was trying to scratch his way through the drywall. Beth and I calmed him down to near complete silence so as to listen for what was bugging him. We then heard it. There were scurrying sounds and scratching sounds coming from within the wall. My first thought was mice. Beth made hand gestures showing me she thought it was more likely rats. I didn’t like either thought. I have a phobia of rodents. A mouse bit me when I was eleven years old. You’d think at that age I wouldn’t be susceptible to phobias, but after having a rabies scare and a series of rabies shots soon after because it was a wild animal - a common field mouse - it just left a lasting torment in me. I am quite quick to set mousetraps - we just don’t have any. I’m probably likely to start shooting if I get irked enough. Whatever they are, though, they’re safe for now. The last things we need are holes in the wall as it’s cold enough in here.
My hiking plans were already pushed back a day from dealing with Sid for several hours. By evening Beth and I had finally managed to get Sid to stop growling or yelping any - he was laying on his back in the front room with his legs in the air. I do value his heightened senses, but his animal instinctive reactions are enough to drive anyone crazy. I would try to stuff some cotton from a pillow or something in his ears, but I’m sure he’d just scratch it out and then chew on it.
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