America the Dead

by Joseph Talluto

  As I was about to try my luck I got a weird surprise. Suddenly one of the men yelled something to someone behind him and then there were three men in the window. The new man kept his rifle on the Post Office, while the other two aimed their guns down the street past the building I was in. I had no clue what they were aiming at, but I wasn’t going to ask this gift horse to smile.

  Just as they fired, I opened up, pumping two rounds at each man. The heavy bullets thudded through them both, knocking one back and bouncing the other off the window frame, sending him tumbling to the ground below. I didn’t see if he got up, as I was firing at the third man in the window. My aim was off and I hit him in the head instead of the chest where I wanted. A crimson mist spread out behind his head on the far wall as a new hole opened up in his face. He slumped down without firing a single return shot.

  I kept my gun on the building, but didn’t see anyone else. By this time I figured Nate and company had their guns at the ready as well, so I decided it was okay to evacuate the premises. I pulled a garbage bag out of one of the cans and quickly stripped the dead men of their ammo and weapons. We didn’t need the guns, but the ammo was useful and maybe we could trade the guns for something later.

  I glanced over at the Post Office and quickly jerked my head back as a bullet went screaming past my ear. I shook my head at my stupidity and decided to try another method of communication.

  I worked my way back to the front of the building to retrieve Gina, but she was nowhere to be seen. Stepping out into the daylight, I looked around and saw nothing. She must have bugged out when she had the opportunity. Can’t say I blamed her.

  I went around the south end of the building and as I turned the corner, there was a renewed burst of firing from the Post Office. Across the street I heard a gasping scream, then a sickening thud, like someone else had dropped out the window. I guess Tommy or Duncan’s patience had been rewarded. Cool.

  I stayed behind cover and yelled out. “Don’t shoot, you crazy bastards!” I waited for a minute, then got a reply.

  “Step out and keep your hands where I can see them! Twitch and I’ll blow you to hell!”

  That would be Tommy. It was nice to see he was still alive. I put my hands around the corner first, then followed them. I couldn’t help but grin like a damn fool when I heard, “John? Jesus H. Christ! John!”

  Tommy was leaning out a window with Duncan providing backup when he saw me. Both men ducked inside and a second later came barreling out of the back door of the Post Office. I wrapped the two of them up in a bear hug, glad as all get out to see they were still alive.

  Tommy grinned at me with tears in his eyes. “When I saw you go down, I didn’t know what to think. Nate gunned the RV forward to try and protect you, but they were shooting from so many places we had to get away. How in Jesus did you survive?”

  I shifted so they could see the pocket and blown magazine. I pointed at my skull as Duncan whistled and shook his head. “Don’t do that again, man. Don’t ever do that again.” His own eyes were wet and he wrapped me up in another hug.

  I had to admit, my own eyes were misty, as I thought about not seeing these guys again. They were as much my brothers as my own blood and meant as much to me.

  Looking over the two of them, I saw they hadn’t escaped injury. Tommy had a nasty burn on his neck that was going to take some tending to and Duncan had a crude bandage on his forearm.

  “Let’s get out of the open. There’s still a couple of these fuckers to deal with,” I said as I went over to the open door.

  I walked in and saw Janna seated on some bags of undelivered mail. She smiled when she saw me, but I could see she was still worried for her friend. Maybe she was worried about lying to us and leading us to an ambush that nearly got me killed, but I could be wrong. I went up to the front counter, where Nate was still holding vigil against the other building. There hadn’t been any firing for a while, but it took one oversight to get you killed these days.

  The sunlight through the bullet-pocked window bounced off glass shards, through little rainbows of light all over the service area. The counter was heavy brick and mortar and the chipped bits of rock told how close a fight it was and how smart Nate was in choosing it as a place to make a stand.

  “Hey, Nate,” I said, stepping into the service area.

  “Hey, John,” Nate said, not taking his eyes off the enemy building. “Thought I heard a .308 talking out back. Nice work with the guys across the street.”

  I looked out and saw two bodies crumpled at the base of the building. “Thanks,” I said, putting the garbage bag of loot on the counter. “Looks like you’ve been busy too.”

  Nate shrugged. “Could be worse. If we were up against real military, we’d all be dead. They guys weren’t even close.”

  I figured that. It was too easy to get the drop on the guys in the other building. Military personnel would never have left their rear so unguarded. I looked over at the building. “Think we got them all?” I asked.

  “Maybe.” Nate was uncertain. “Only one way to find out.”

  “True. Well, I got a back way. Coming?” I asked, grabbing up the garbage bag.

  “Sure.” Nate got off the counter and headed my way. As he passed, he looked at my ruined vest and magazine, then up at me. Without warning, he wrapped a big arm around my neck and pulled me in. Holding onto me for a second, the big goof shook his head, then let go. “Thought I lost you, man,” was all he could choke out.

  I nodded. “Wouldn’t want to leave you guys, either.” I rubbed a hand across my eyes, stupid dust was everywhere. “Come on, let’s finish this.”

  We gathered up the other three and I led the way out back along the route I had followed getting here originally. When we crossed Columbus, Tommy looked down the street and asked, “What’s that?”

  About twenty yards away, a small form was crumpled on the pavement. I looked closely and saw familiar brunette hair. I looked down and shook my head. “That used to be a girl called Gina.” It was obvious now what had happened. Gina had seized the opportunity to run and exposed herself too long to the gunfire of the men across the way. That was what they were aiming at when I fired back at them. Unknowingly, I had avenged her death almost instantly, but it was of little consolation now.

  Janna cried out and ran to the small form, dropping beside Gina’s lifeless body and holding her to her chest. Duncan trotted along side, keeping his rifle ready and looking extremely grim. I raised a hand and signaled to Duncan and he nodded. We needed to be moving quickly. He and Janna were going to bring up the RV.

  As we crossed the street and worked our way back along the Spruce to Walnut, I gave Nate the intelligence I had inadvertently gathered. There were ten men in the attack, we had so far accounted for eight of them. I had seen a map in the truck and from a quick reflection, I had a very good idea where the men planned on rendezvousing with their commander. That gave us an edge and me an idea. But we had to finish this first.

  Running down Walnut, we came back down Fire Lane and past the day care center. I noticed the building we were looking for had an open door at the back and quickly I realized we outnumbered the guys we were chasing.

  Nate and Tommy agreed to check out the building while I hung back to see if I might get lucky. I walked to the edge of the parking lot and looked around. The town seemed normal enough, but I could see zombies in the windows of many of the houses, unable to get out. These guys apparently hadn’t figured out how to work the doorknobs yet.

  A sound behind me caused me to look and see both Nate and Tommy emerge from the building, each carrying two additional rifles and ammo. We were well set for any more encounters.

  A different sound reached my ears and I turned the other way to see the truck, the source of a lot of my misery, pull out of the side street it was parked on and roar away to the north. I lifted my rifle and though it was a long shot, I had to vent somehow. I fired six times and had the satisfaction of hearing the bullets hit the truck. I
f they had any effect, I didn’t see it, but at least the fleeing bastards knew they had been to a fight. We had taken out eighty percent of their attacking force and had received only minor injuries in return. We had lost Gina, but since she wasn’t really part of our outfit, I didn’t count her in the list.

  Nate and Tommy came running at the sound of firing and saw the truck lurching out of sight around the north bend.

  I started walking back and waved them to come with. “Come on. We need to saddle up. I want to be waiting for those two when they get to their rendezvous point.”

  “You know where that is?” Nate asked, stepping in beside me.

  “Yep. I saw their map before they shot me.”

  “Well, well. Maybe we’ll get real lucky and our good friend Major Thorton will be there.”

  “Yeah.”

  27

  We hit the road after burying Gina in a shallow grave. I gave Janna the choice of heading out on her own or coming with us. She decided to stay with us, probably out of a sense of self-preservation, but after overhearing her asking questions about Leport and our home, she seemed open to the idea of settling in a safe community. Duncan was thrilled, I could see and I was hoping he would be able to keep it together for the task at hand. Given what we had just been through, we were dealing with men who had no qualms about shooting anything and cared very little for life.

  I was driving this time, giving the others time to treat their wounds and get some rest. I hoped we would get ahead of the ambushers, but to be sure, I was burning up a lot of gas to get there as quickly as possible.

  According to the map and it was hard to tell, we could take Rt 762 to Rt 33 and then pick up Rt 50 from there. It was an odd coincidence that we would be travelling to a road we needed to get revenge we wanted. Win-win in my book.

  We were on the road for four hours when we finally reached Stroud’s Run. It was a very nice park with a lot of trees and a big lake. There was a National Forest directly to the East of Stroud’s Run, but this was still very nice. I pulled the RV into a small road called Township Highway 213A. From the looks of things, the road was all of two hundred feet long. Whoever named the roads in Ohio sure loved their job.

  The sun was setting slowly and the new growth trees were casting long shadows in the waning light. We had passed several towns on the way here and Athens was just a small jog away, home to Ohio University and about thirty thousand zombie co-eds, give or take. We had the river blocking most of them, but travelling at night with your lights on was asking for trouble, especially with those numbers. In the morning, you’d find yourself surrounded, outnumbered and up to your neck in zombie gunk. No thanks.

  I parked the RV backwards near the water, keeping a safe retreat in case of serious attack. The road we wanted was directly in front of us and we could keep an eye on the approaching traffic by settling on the roof of the bait shop that was by Route 50.

  With the sun sinking low, it was better to just settle in and wait. I took the first two hour shift, watching the forest become very dark, very quickly. The rest of the crew found their sleeping spots and Janna was allowed to have the “upstairs” bed to herself. She was still grieving the loss of her friend, so I was sure she appreciated the solitude.

  I sat on the roof of the RV, keeping a low profile and just taking in the surrounding woods. Small rustlings could be heard from every angle and every so often, the water behind me would splash with the hunting jumps of the fish that lived there. There was s very slight breeze that stirred the cool night air, whispering through the new leaf growth. I appreciated the quiet, given the funhouse day I had and I let my mind wander back to my family, especially my son. I missed that little guy with all my heart and I promised myself I would never do something like this again. I couldn’t stand the thought of him or Sarah coming to harm and once again, I prayed with all my might to whoever might be listening to keep my loved ones safe.

  My musings were interrupted by the approach of the dead. Head-high glowing orbs worked their way through the trees, seeking prey and new hosts to infect. I counted fifteen zombies in the immediate vicinity and I could see more out near the road. The arrival of such a large vehicle was sure to cause some excitement in the local undead community.

  I stayed put as the Z’s shambled up to the RV. Hands reached out and tentatively touched the metal surface, soft to the point of being delicate. It was if they couldn’t believe it was real. For myself, I stayed stock still, just watching the glowing eyes bounce among the brush. I was reminded of my conversation with Tommy, that these people might just be infected and not really dead like we had thought these last two years. Jury was out on that one, but my gut said there might be something to it.

  The zombies moved around the RV, then past it, dismissing it as unimportant or scenery in their diseased minds. I watched them move, their heads turning and shifting in the wind, trying to catch a scent of prey. I had heard of them walking hundreds of miles to chase down a scent, but hadn’t believed it until now.

  After about an hour and a half into my shift, I began the long process of moving down the ladder. I had to move painfully slow, careful not to make a sound or any sudden movements. Zombies couldn’t see too well in the dark, but their enhanced hearing allowed them to triangulate your position very quickly. And once they locked onto you, it was game on until one of you was dead for good.

  Back inside, I awoke Nate and he opted to stay in front to watch the Z’s. Couldn’t say I blamed him. I stretched out on the kitchen bench and went to sleep.

  In the morning, I awoke to breakfast on the table. Janna had arisen early and made a decent breakfast out of our stores. I gratefully accepted a cup of coffee and two granola bars. We were going to need to find some more food soon, but for now, this was nice.

  After breakfast, I wanted to take a look down the road and see if there was a way to set up some kind of warning system. Duncan said he was going to try fishing and Tommy was going to clean guns. Nate was going to do maintenance on the RV, so I was on my own. It was only a few hundred feet, so how bad could it be? Besides, all the zombies seemed to have returned to their hidey-holes, as welcoming a thought as that was.

  I stepped out and was surprised to see Janna come out with me. She gave me a lopsided grin and I shrugged. “Your choice. If we get into a situation, I’ll back you, but don’t back me because I won’t know you and might kill you by mistake.”

  Janna’s eyes got wide and I smiled. “Kidding. Come on, I want to look this bait shop over.”

  She smiled and stepped in beside me. I carried my AR again, as Tommy was cleaning my heavier rifle. Janna just had her little pack of scissors and a small 9mm in a holster situated in the small of her back. I wasn’t surprised she knew how to shoot, since most people who survived the Upheaval had to learn or be killed. It was interesting that in the states that concealed carry was allowed, we ran into more survivors than the states that didn’t. It made sense, in a way. People who were armed when the world fell apart tended to outlast those who weren’t.

  It was a couple of yards before Janna spoke. “I was talking to Duncan and I wanted to say I was sorry for lying to you,” she said.

  I shrugged. “I don’t blame you. You were trying to save your friend and didn’t have much choice. Although I will say had the fight gone the other way, you and your friend would not have been released.”

  Janna looked down and nodded. “You’re probably right. But there wasn’t much I could do.”

  “Don’t think about it. You lost a friend, but we avenged her, so from here on out its pretty much a clean slate.” I spoke casually, but we both knew that trust had to be earned.

  “Thank you.” Janna was quiet for a moment, then spoke up. “Duncan says you have a wife and son?”

  I nodded as I scanned the trees ahead of us. “Sarah and Jake are back at Starved Rock, waiting for me. Jake is three and full of beans.” I felt a pang as I missed my son for the millionth time.

  “Duncan said this Major Th
orton sent men to kill your family. Do you think they’ll be okay?”

  Janna was stepping into sensitive territory, but I didn’t blame her. “Sarah is a very strong woman, a survivor. She’s not alone, there’s friends with her. There is Rebecca and Nicole, both capable and my brother Mike, Nicole’s husband.”

  “Is Mike as good as you?” Janna asked.

  I slowed to a stop and looked over the bait shop. It was about fifty feet away and looked quiet. “No, he’s not,” I said. “He’s good enough, but not for ten men.”

  “Why aren’t you rushing back to save your family?” Janna looked shocked that I would stay on the mission.

  “Because there is someone there who is as good as I am, maybe even better. His name is Charlie James and when those men from Thorton run into him, they will wish they were anywhere but there. My family is safe.” I had to believe that last statement.

  Janna was about to respond when the bushes behind her burst upward as a zombie lunged out of the shrub. It had been lurking there, apparently watching us approach. It couldn’t contain itself and stumbled out at us.

  I couldn’t get a shot with Janna in the way, so I started to move to the side. But I needn’t have bothered, considering what happened next. Janna ducked down and rolled to the side, drawing a pair of her scissors in one smooth motion. The zombie followed her motion and got skewered under the chin for its trouble. Janna used her other hand to draw another pair and shifting her grip so quickly I missed the maneuver, plunged the long blades into the temple of the Z.

  She withdrew both blades at the same time and wiped them off on a bit of the zombie’s clothing. Sheathing them without even looking at her pouch, she glanced over at me and gave me a shrug. The attack took all of six seconds from start to finish and during the entire time, Janna kept a sober face, killing the zombie with as much emotion as taking out the trash.