The Dead Are Sleeping

by Paul Westwood

  Trevor came out to join me. “Need some help?” he asked with a tired croak.

  “I’ll grab the arms and you grab the legs. We will dump all the bodies overboard.”

  “What about our people?” he asked.

  “We don’t have time to bury them.” I said flatly as I grabbed the arms of a painfully thin vampire.

  “You had time to bury your friend Joel,” he reminded me as he took the feet.

  Working together, we dumped the first body over the side. It splashed and then began floating down river, the head and torso bobbing along the current.

  Trevor continued. “We’re still civilized aren’t we? They would have done the same for us. I knew these people. They were friends. We have to do the right thing for them.”

  About the pick up another vampire, I stopped to look into Trevor’s eyes. “I know it is the right thing to do, but it’s a matter of time. It will take all day to find a place, dig a hole, and bury them. We have two dozen dead here that would require burial. I don’t want to spend any more time out here if we don’t have to. I want to get to New Orleans.”

  “It’s still not right.”

  “Come and help me,” I said. Another dead vampire went over the side. Leaning against the railing I took a few breaths. This work was too much. I hadn’t slept all night and was beginning to run out of energy. “Look we can compromise. We’ll take our dead and wrap them up in tablecloths from the dining room. We will weigh them down and say a few words before letting them sink to the bottom of the river.”

  Trevor carefully considered my proposal. He narrowed his gaze, looking at nothing in particular. And then his eyes met mine. They showed no hostility. “I will agree to that, provided you say the same kind words you gave that Joel fellow. I’m no good at stuff like that. I get too upset.”

  “Sure,” I said kindly.

  We were friends again.

  It took us a good hour to clear the top deck, leaving a floating trail of bodies as we went. The second deck, however, was more difficult since it contained the remains of those who were just recently passengers, and should have been under my protection. I felt guilty for letting them die at the hands of the vampires, and leaving them in their hour of need so I could rescue Allison. Trevor and I went to work with tablecloths and rope, gently covering the bodies of our comrades until we had a good dozen shrouds ready for burial in the river. The remains of the vampires were disposed of the same way as their kind.

  It was lunchtime when Trevor and I got down to the bottom deck. Allison was resting on a chair with her feet propped up. She appeared to be asleep, her chest moving slowly with slow, rhythmic breaths. Sarah was standing behind her with a wet cloth and was busy dabbing at the fevered forehead. The bandage at the throat was showing blood through the gauze but not too much. She would need stitches but I didn’t have the supplies here to do that.

  “How is she doing?” I asked.

  Sarah looked worried when she answered. “Whatever you gave Allison has knocked her out.”

  “I thought it best for her to sleep. She got quite a chunk taken out of her.”

  Trevor took me by the arm and took a few steps away so we could talk privately. He obviously didn’t want to worry Sarah. His eyes were narrowed with concern. “She’s bit. Any chance she will become a vampire?”

  I could only shrug. “I don’t think so. This isn’t like the movies. At least I don’t think it is. I mean getting a bite, especially this deep, is bad enough if done by a human. Allison will need antibiotics pumped into her to stop the infection from spreading further. I would also like it if she had some stitches but I’ve never done anything like that. I mean the wound could be worse. She was lucky that the artery located on the neck wasn’t bitten through.”

  Trevor slowly nodded. “Well we had better get these bodies here dumped over the side. And then we can take care of our deceased friends. They will need a proper goodbye.”

  I cast a glance back at Allison. A feeling of dread crossed my heart. I could only hope that she would get better. If she died then any hope I had for the world would die with her.

  Trevor and I got back to work. I ignored the hunger pangs and exhaustion that wracked my body. I just wanted to clear the ship before the stench of the dead became overpowering. The remaining vampires were dumped out of the back of the boat. The corpses bobbed away in the current. When we were done, Trevor and I returned to the second deck. From there we wrestled the wrapped bodies of our comrades to the top. We decided to leave Sarah out of this macabre exercise. She had seen enough today.

  When Trevor and I finished there was a neat row of bodies laid on the decking. The black blood of the vampires had soaked into the wood, staining it in strange baroque patterns. Trevor stood to the side, his head bowed and hands held together as if he was about to pray. And maybe he was.

  Clearing my throat, I wondered what I could say about these people who were mostly strangers. I looked over them and then to the shore. After some faint thoughts were gathered and formed into words I began to speak. “These men and women never expected their lives to take such a strange twist. They were retired or young, looking forward to a normal life. Instead they were thrown into a world gone insane, where the dead have come back to life to prey on the living, and an army, who once protected the country, who drove these innocents from their homes. These people traveled with us, hoping to be protected until some new safe haven could be found. But fate has said otherwise.”

  I took a breath. I remembered my own wife and all those who had already died. “Now these people will never know pain, starvation, or the fear of the unknown again. Instead they will be free of our pressing earthly concerns. And may they know peace everlasting.”

  “Amen,” Trevor murmured once I had finished.

  Working together, the bodies were eased into the water. Each shroud wrapped body splashed into the river, and then drifted gently into the depths below, the white cloth looking like submerged snow. A chill of sorrow passed along the length of my spine.

  When we were done, Trevor finally spoke. “Those were some mighty pretty words you said, Tom. You should have been a preacher.”

  “I’m not exactly the religious type.”

  He looked at the trees on the shoreline but his gaze seemed to stare past the leafless branches. “Based on what we’ve seen so far I don’t blame you.” He then let out a laugh that didn’t contain a trace of humor. “I guess the big cosmic joke is on us. Maybe God got tired of his little experiment and decided he was done with this world.”

  “You could be right,” I said wearily.

  October 28th – Evening

  Trevor went back to the bridge, pulled the anchor up, and started the engines. The boat started moving forward . The thrum of the diesel and the splash of the paddlewheels was a welcome sound. I returned to the lower deck to watch over Allison and help Sarah with her vigil. I staggered down the stairs, feeling exhausted beyond belief. I wanted nothing more than to sleep a thousand years but I had to look after the others first.

  Allison was where I had left her, looking more ill than before. Sarah was off to the side pacing the floor. She ran over to me, her mouth pursed in worry.

  “It’s Allison,” she blurted out. “She’s getting worse. I mean she’s sweating something bad. She’s burning up! What are you going to do?”

  I glanced back at the patient. “I’m sure it’s just shock. I’ve given her antibiotics. We’ll have to wait for the medicine to take effect.”

  “I wish Elizabeth was still here,” Sarah blurted out. “She would know what to do.”

  “I’m sure she would,” I admitted. “I’m certainly no doctor. I don’t even know if I’m even giving her the right drugs. I just recognized the pills because I was given the same prescription for a sinus infection.”

  “So you don’t even know what you’re doing!” she angrily spat out.

  “I’m trying my best.” It even sounded weak to my own ears.

  “We need a
nother doctor. He would know what to do.”

  “Maybe,” I said with a shake of my head. “As far as we know no one has been bit by a vampire before and lived to tell about it. We don’t know what effect the bite will have.”

  “Are you saying she’s going to die?”

  “I don’t know. I hope not. But I want you to try and get some sleep. I’ll watch Allison, okay?”

  “Okay,” she said glumly.

  I watched as Sarah found a chair in the corner, an area free of blood, and curled up into a ball. Her eyes closed. After a few moments, I heard a little snore. She really was tired.

  I carefully went over to Allison, walking on my tiptoes to stay quiet. I felt her forehead. It was hot. Too hot. She drowsily opened her eyes, but I could tell she was having a hard time focusing.

  “Where are we, darling?” she managed to say with a hoarse whisper.

  “On the boat,” I said. “We’re still headed to New Orleans.”

  “That’s nice. Where’s little Louis?”

  It took me a moment to realize she was hallucinating, thinking of her family. “He’s off on the top deck,” I said. “Busy looking around the ship.”

  “Raul, tell him to be careful!” Her intonation rose with every word as she struggled to get up.

  “I will,” I said soothingly.

  This seemed to calm her down. She closed her eyes again and quickly fell into a fitful sleep. I pulled up a chair next to hers and held her hot hand, wishing she would get better. I didn’t know how I would react if she died. There had already been too much loss. It wasn’t long before I fell asleep myself, even though my own mind was crowded with worry. Exhaustion had crept up and there was nothing that could stop me from embracing the darkness.

  It seemed like only a few minutes, but when I woke up I knew it was much later in the day. Allison’s hand was still in mine and it seemed like her temperature had gone down. I looked over and saw that she was sleeping normally now, her mouth slightly open and with a gentle rhythmic breathing. That was a good sign. I stood up, released her hand, and turned to see that Sarah was still asleep. She looked peaceful; far removed from the worries of the world.

  I left, slowly taking the stairs all the way to the top deck. The sun was low, maybe an hour or so before it would hit the horizon. The boat was chugging along at a good pace. I went to the bridge. There was Trevor, steering the boat. He looked blearily about. I wondered how much longer he could stay awake.

  “How are you doing?” I asked.

  “Tired,” he replied gruffly. “I’m used to it though. Back when I was younger I worked a crab boat. There wasn’t much time for sleep back then, not when the crew was so busy making money. I’ll make it until we can find a place to lay anchor. I’ll get some sleep tonight, provided you promise to stay watch.”

  I nodded. “I can do that. How much longer until we get to Cairo?”

  “This evening if we keep on going. How is Allison doing?”

  “I don’t know. The fever doesn’t seem as bad but she still hasn’t regained consciousness.”

  “Maybe she’s getting better then. Now if you could take over so I could shut my eyes for a minute. And then I’ll go and make us something to eat. We’ve all been running on nothing but stress. A little food will help us out. A week of sleep would be better, but, as my old shipmates used to say, some grub will have to do until then.”

  I took the wheel, backed down the throttle a bit, and began to steer the boat down the river. It was a good feeling to have that kind of control over such a large ship. Sure it was no battleship, but it was certainly bigger than a rowboat. After Trevor was sure I could handle the job, he sat in the corner with his knees pulled up. In a few moments he was asleep.

  October 29th – Night

  Trevor was back at the helm, guiding the boat slowly forward as he used the spotlight to probe ahead in the darkness. It was an eerie view outside, the black water lapping against the prow which broke into white luminescent waves. The shoreline on each side was gone, lost in the murk of night. I had already checked on Allison, who hadn’t woken up yet. Sarah, her small face lined with worry, was watching the patient. But still, we were surviving.

  The constant thrum of the engine stopped. Before I could say anything, Trevor reached over and cut the power to the spotlight. The glow of the low lights on the control panel was the only thing I could see.

  “Tom, do you see that?” Trevor asked as he pointed toward the river ahead. His hand was nothing but a shadow pressed against the blank inkiness.

  I went to stand by him. Peering into the darkness I thought I saw a faint orange glow against the horizon. A line of trees outlined this dim light. It was too early in the morning to be the sun and anyways the ship was almost facing due west.

  “What’s over in that direction?” I asked.

  “That should be Cairo,” Trevor replied. “We’ll find out soon enough.” He pushed the throttle forward and turned the spotlight back on. The boat began probing its way through the water. Every passing second the light grew brighter until it the branches of the surrounding trees on the shore shone with an orange glow. The light on the water reflected it back, creating a crazy kaleidoscope of hellish colors. It looked as if the world was on fire.

  And it was. Or at least the corner of the earth once called Cairo, Illinois. Once we got close enough it was plain to see that the buildings crammed along the riverside were on fire. Tall columns of flame swept the sky with a brilliant symphony of red and orange. It was hard not to stare at the conflagration since it was horrible and beautiful at the same time. There was a rush of noise, the sound of the surrounding air being consumed by the fire, and the crackling of wood and the falling of brick. Even at this distance the coolness of autumn had been replaced by a dry, unrelenting heat. It was an inferno.

  As the boat edged closer, Trevor pulled back on the throttle. We began to drift along with the slow speed of the water. Off to the right I could see the mighty Mississippi, the light of the fires bright enough that I could make out the edge of its farthest shore. I wondered what had happened here. This was no ordinary blaze.

  My answer came from above. There was a howling rush and my eyes just caught the blinking light of a fast-moving jet moving over the city. Perhaps it was my imagination but I thought I saw a tumbling cylinder framed against the wall of flame. If a bomb was dropped it didn’t seem to add much to the fire, which was already raging out of control. But this sight did snap us out of our horrified spell.

  “We’ve got to get out of here,” he said, eyes wide. His expression was set tight with fear.

  “Do it!” I said with a voice rising in panic.

  He hit the throttles wide open and aimed for where the two rivers met, staying to the right side of the shore where the light didn’t reach as far.

  My fear was that we had been spotted by the jet, who could easily radio in our position. Or perhaps the pilot would circle around and take a stab at us with some air-to-surface weapon. Either way I didn’t want to hang around and find out.

  After a few minutes of watching the burning city pass by, I went and grabbed the shotgun, which had been resting against the corner. I said, “I’m going to go check on Sarah and Allison. Keep the speed up and don’t stop for anything.”

  “You’ve got it, captain,” Trevor shot back with sarcasm. But there was also a half-hidden look of pleasure on his face. Perhaps, like any other sailor, he enjoyed wringing the most performance out of his boat, even as something as ponderous as this ship.

  Running out of the pilot house, I headed toward the stairs. The shotgun bumped against my back as I went. My race to the steps was cut off by the hard thump of an approaching helicopter. This one was coming in fast, the sound of the rotors breaking the air with a chaotic clatter. I pulled the shotgun off of my back, and pointed the barrel toward the oncoming shape. It wasn’t a Huey or even a Blackhawk. It took me a moment to register the name: Apache. This was an armored attack helicopter meant to take out ta
nks. We wouldn’t have a chance to fight this thing off but I still couldn’t surrender. We had come too far to be captured.

  We were never even given the chance to surrender. There was an orange flash from the stubby wing. My mind said the word missile and then my world disappeared into a terrific crash of breaking glass and splintered wood. My ears were ringing. I felt a sense of weightlessness like I was flying in the air in slow-motion. The shotgun I had been carrying was no longer in my arms. I could see the boat from my temporary perch. It looked like a ship that had been made out of matchsticks and then stepped on by an angry giant. I flipped over and then hit the dark water with a hard splash that almost knocked me out. I went deep, losing my sense of direction in the inky blackness. After swallowing a mouthful of water my instinct took over and I began to swim.

  After a few strokes – it seemed like hours of oxygen deprived agony – I broke the surface and gulped in some precious air as I took in the scene in front of me. The boat was now a good hundred feet away, still slowly moving along by momentum. The prow was already starting to settle into the water. What was left of the top deck was burning with little fires. I couldn’t see Allison, Trevor, or Sarah. I began to swim, kicking hard and swinging my arms through the water. I had to rescue them. I stopped as I saw the Apache circling overhead. Had they seen me? I knew that helicopter was home to sensitive electronic equipment that would give the pilot or gunner the ability to see in the darkest of night. My own body heat would give me away. I decided to risk it, swimming underwater for several yards before coming up for air.

  Looking up again, I saw the Apache speed off. But the receding of its blades gave way to a new sound. There was another helicopter. It was a Blackhawk. It swept over and then hovered above the sinking ship. And then I saw four figures in black rappel down the side and then stand on the broken and burning deck of the ship. From there they quickly broke off into pairs. Even though I had no weapon I began to swim harder, hoping to save my friends from being captured.