Glory (Book 3)

by Michael McManamon

  The little boy looked so proud of his toy. Though he seemed even more proud of his decision to keep the toy regardless of what others said.

  Jane smiled. Charles did as well.

  "That's a good idea," the old man said. "I like Mr. Baker. I wouldn't want anyMighty Moogie scaring me all night long."

  Robert laughed. "Mutant," he corrected him. "NotMoogie."

  "Well, whatever. I like Mr. Baker better all the same."

  "Me too." Robert stuck out his chest as he spoke.

  Charles patted Robert on the head once more, then turned to get him a drink. He grabbed a glass and filled it with a bottle he took from Jane's backpack. He handed it to the boy.

  Robert took the cup and sat down at the kitchen table to drink it.

  Jane watched him as he did. He seemed so innocent, so defenceless. She turned to Charles.

  "Did you find a wagon?" she asked.

  Charles looked at her in surprise. He had forgotten all about that. "No," he admitted. "I was too busy worrying about you. I couldn't leave the front door until you came back."

  Jane understood. She wished that he had tried to find it, but she couldn't really get mad at him for that. It was nice that he was concerned about her.

  "That's okay," she said. "We can find one later."

  "You want a wagon?" Robert asked once he had swallowed another mouthful of juice.

  "I do."

  "I have one. It's out in the back yard."

  "Really? Is it big? Can you fit in it?"

  "Sure, my father used to pull me around in it all the time. Why?"

  "Because we want to use it to pull you too," Jane explained. After a pause, she added, "When we leave."

  "We're leaving? When?"

  Jane didn't want to bombard the young boy with all of this information, but she wasn't going to keep their plans from him now, either. "We were thinking about leaving in a day or two. And we want to bring you with us. That's why we need the wagon. We don't want you to have to walk."

  "What about my parents?" Robert asked.

  "What do you mean?"

  "My parents," Robert repeated. "What if they come back?"

  Jane couldn't answer. Tears built in her eyes.

  Thankfully, Charles spoke for her. "We'll write them a note," he said. "To tell them that you've come with us."

  "But…where are we going?"

  Charles looked to Jane, then back to the little boy. "We're going to find others. People like us."

  "Like us?"

  Charles eyes focused on the little boy's. "People who haven't changed."

  Robert didn't reply right away. He took a moment to think things through. When he was finished, he looked between Charles and Jane.

  "Okay," he said. "I'll come with you. But we have to write a note. We have to tell my parents that I've gone with you. And you have to write your names, so they can ask people if they've seen you."

  "That's a good idea," Charles said. "I can do that."

  "One more thing…you have to let me bring Mr. Baker."

  Charles tilted his head back and laughed. "Of course, we're going to bring Mr. Baker! I wouldn't leave without him."

  Robert smiled. "Okay." He finished off his drink. "Want me to get the wagon?"

  *

  Jane wasn't going to let Robert outside, but that didn't end up being a problem. From where they were standing, he showed her were the wagon was. She ran out and got it.

  It was a red metal wagon with solid wheels. Jane thought that it would be perfect to carry the boy in.

  Of course, she knew that the wheels might be a bit loud and could call attention to them. But she didn't expect the little boy to walk the whole way with them. After all, they didn't know where they were going or how long it would take.

  She wheeled it onto the hallway floor.

  "This is a good wagon," Charles said. "Very strong!"

  Robert smiled. "It's the best wagon ever. It can carry anything."

  "Well, we only need it to carry you. You don't weigh too much, do you?" Charles asked jokingly.

  "No, not at all. I'm perfect for it."

  "Great." He turned to Jane. "So what did you find to eat?"

  Jane walked over to her backpack and pulled a few things out of it. Once Robert saw the box of macaroni and cheese, he started pointing at it.

  "That! That!" he said. "That's what I want!"

  "All right," Jane said. "We can make that."

  She grabbed Charles' camping stove and a pot and filled it with water that she had gotten from the store. Then she waited for it to boil.

  As she did, Charles and Robert went off to read the boy another book.

  Jane was left alone.

  She could feel all of the day's events come rushing back. She thought of Petey. She thought of Robert's parents. She thought of the little boy's stuffed animal.

  Then she began thinking of her own family.

  What had happened? What had caused this change?

  She was sure that no one knew. It was just one of those things. She'd have to deal with it. Everyone would. Though it wouldn't be easy.

  Jane felt another tear build in her eye. It rolled down her cheek and fell into the boiling water.

  Chapter 14

  They hadn't had much of a break walking since morning. Rick wasn't going to consider their little stop at the hill one. All they had done was watch those creatures pass.That hadn't been relaxing at all.

  He wanted to say something about it. Tell them that they had to stop, that they needed something to eat.

  Of course, he wasn'tgoing to say anything.

  He turned to his friend. "We gotta get out of here."

  Joe nodded his head. "Should we just make a run for it?"

  "I don't think so," Rick said. "They'd either shoot us or chase us…and then shoot us."

  "So, what can we do?"

  Rick shrugged his shoulders.

  He took a few more seconds to think about. There had to be something. If Carl and Big Mike were busy looking the other way, they could leave. They might even be able to walk slowly and drift out of sight. Then again…

  Carl raised his hand.That same action copped from a war movie."Stop!"

  Rick and Joe did as they were told. Any thoughts Rick had had of escape left him for the moment. He looked at their leader, unsure of what was going on.Maybe those things had come back. They might be charging them at this very moment.He reached down and grabbed his gun -the one he had taken from the girl. As nervous as he was, he was ready for a fight. He wasn't going to go out without one.

  His fingers wrapped tightly around on the gun's grip, but he didn't pull it free. He wanted to see what Carl had to say first.

  Besides, if Carl turned around and saw Rick with a gun in his hand, who knew what was going to happen? Rick didn't want to find out.

  Carl turned and looked at him. His hand was still in the air. A closed fist now.

  "It's time to eat," he said.

  That was all.

  Rick was handed a chocolate bar. It wasn't much of a meal, though it was better than nothing. He thought about the steaks he had had back at camp the other night. And the beer. It might've been a bit warm, but it was definitely better than this.

  A chocolate bar?

  His friend didn't look too bothered with his food. He had opened the pack and had already eaten most of his bar.

  Good ol' Joe. Never complained about anything.

  Rick caught Joe's eye. Then he looked down at the chocolate bar. He put on a set ofsad eyes for him.

  Joe smirked as he finished off his own bar and threw the wrapper onto the ground.

  Yeah, good ol' Joe.

  Rick shook his head, frustrated.

  "Something the matter?" Carl asked.

  It took Rick a second before he knew that Carl had been talking to him. He looked up. "What?"

  Carl looked annoyed. But that was nothing new. He usually looked bothered. "I asked if something was the matter," he repeated.


  Rick could feel Joe looking at him, nervously. "No…I…uh…was just thinking about this food." He held up his chocolate bar for Carl to see.

  "Is something the matter with it? Is it that you don't like that particular one?"

  "No, it isn't that. I was just thinking how nice it would be to be back at camp. Eating a steak and all."

  He shouldn't have said it. Sure, it was how he was feeling. But he should have just kept it to himself.

  Rick felt his fingers clasp around the chocolate bar and wished that it was his gun. He'd shoot this crazy fuck in the face and have done with it. He might even have time to actually do it. He could drop the bar, pull out the gun.

  Though maybe not quickly enough.

  Big Mike always had that shotgun in his hands. He was always on the look out.

  Big Mike.Shit, that guy was almost just as bad as Carl. Probably worse. The guy rarely talked. It was creepy. Unnatural.

  They were both fuckin' nuts.

  Rick continued to hold on to his chocolate bar. He started to feel a little like an upset child on the school playground, fighting with some of the other bullies. He'd usually been the bully.

  Not this time. Now he was the little cowering wimp.

  Rick hated that.

  Yeah, he should just grab his gun and start shooting. Fuck Carl. Fuck Big Mike. He was sure that Joe would help him. Maybe he'd have a chance. But shit...maybe he wouldn't.

  Rick watched their leader. The man's head cocked to one side. Then a slight smile came out on his lips. "Steak?" Carl said. "You'd like that?"

  "Well, yeah." Rick's voice wasn't as loud as he had hoped it would be, but he supposed that he was lucky that anything came out at all. That smile on Carl's face was really freaking him out.

  "Back at camp?"

  "Yeah."

  "With your little girl?"

  Rick couldn't answer. He felt his face redden. Though not with embarrassment. It was with anger. He didn't want this guy talking about her. He didn't want this guy even thinking about her.

  "Or I should sayyour little girl." Carl pointed at both Rick and Joe.

  Rick looked at his friend, sure that Joe didn't want any part of her.

  He turned back to Carl and wanted to scream. Instead, he looked back at his chocolate bar.

  "I'm sorry," he heard Carl continue to Joe. "I think I've upset our good friend. I didn't mean to. I was only stating a fact. She is, after all, Rick'sand yours. You both found her. Well, Jim too. But there's nothing he can do about that now, is there?"

  Rick gritted his teeth together. Speaking about his dead friend. Speaking about his girl. He couldn't stand it!

  He glanced back over at Joe.

  What the fuck had they gotten themselves into?

  *

  After the men finished their chocolate bars, they resumed walking. No one knew how long it was going to take to get to town, but Rick hoped that it was going to be soon. The sooner they got their things, the sooner they could get back to camp. Then he and Joe could figure out a way to take the young girl out of there and escape.

  Day 9

  Chapter 1

  Adam opened his eyes just as the sun was coming up over the horizon. He was lying on the side of the road, his bag of guns underneath his head. He sat up and pulled a bottle of water out of it. There was barely anything left inside.

  He took a sip and threw the bottle onto the ground. He got to his feet.

  He hadn't found Shelly yet, and he was staring to wonder if he ever would.

  He hated to think that way, but he couldn't help it. There was no sign of her anywhere. He had searched for her the whole day yesterday, going up and down roads, sometimes passing the same place two or three times. He hadn't found her other shoe, either.

  What if he never found her?

  No,he told himself.Stop it!It didn't do any good to think like that.

  He grabbed his backpack and ran his arms through the straps. Next, he picked up his bike and looked around. There wasn't much out where he was. Fields surrounded him in every direction.

  "Shelly?" he called out. He wasn't worried about the creatures coming after him. If they did, he could outrun them on his bike. "Shelly!"

  Nothing. Not even an echo to his voice.

  He felt the heat of the day building - as was his fear and doubt.

  He wasn't going to find her.

  He hit the bike's handlebars.

  Stop thinking like that!

  He straddled his bike and placed his foot onto a pedal.

  He was going to find her.

  He started biking down the road.

  Chapter 2

  Rick kept behind Carl and Big Mike, Joe besidehim. They had woken up earlier that morning and, after eating another chocolate bar, had started on their way.

  Rick still didn't know where they were headed, but Carl assured him that they were going to find a town soon enough. He said that he had looked at a map last night and knew exactly where they were. Rick wasn't sure if he believed him. He wasn't sure if he even cared enough to.

  He didn't want to be there. Either did Joe.

  They had talked a little about it last night. About leaving. About going back to get the girl and getting the hell out of there. But, in the end, they knew that there was nothing that they could do about it. Carl and Big Mike wouldn't just let them leave.

  So, here they were, walking.

  Rick wondered when it was going to end.

  Chapter 3

  Adam stopped his bike as he came upon a road sign. It said that there was a town a little farther ahead. It had been the first he had seen in a while. At least, in terms of "towns". He had seen streets. He had seen houses. But nothing where a large group of people lived. He felt hopeful that Shelly would be there.

  He placed his foot back onto the pedal and prepared to push.

  A scream stopped him. He knew it was one ofthem, somewhere off in the distance.

  Probably from up ahead, in the town.

  He pulled off his backpack and took out one of the guns.The shotgun. He had to have it ready. Nothing was going to stop him from going there. It made sense that those men would've taken Shelly to a town. He had to check.

  He sat back onto the bicycle seat.

  With the gun in his hand, it was difficult for him to balance himself. Be he managed to press down on the pedals and ride.

  The tires rumbled against the ground, somewhat blocking out the screaming from up ahead. Though barely. He could still hear the creature. And it frightened him.

  Chapter 4

  Carl raised his hand. Rick wondered this time if they had arrived at a town or if there were more creatures.

  Carl motioned him and Joe over. Big Mike was already there.

  "What do you see?" Carl asked.

  This again?

  Rick looked out over the landscape. They were standing on a slight hill and could see for quite a while down a long country road. On it were a few people. Rick couldn't make out if they were creatures or not.

  "Who is it?" he asked.

  "Survivors," Carl responded. "Three of them."

  "Theyare? How do you know they're not thosethings?"

  Carl shot Rick a look.He really needed to think more about what he said.

  "I know," Carl replied through gritted teeth. "Trust me. See how they walk? They don't look like they're stalking anyone. They don't look angry. If anything, the look tired. Maybe even a little scared."

  Rick couldn't seethat, but he'd take Carl's word for it. At least until he found out for himself. If they were creatures, he was out of there. He didn't care if Carl and Big Mike came after him. He wasn't going to go down and battle a bunch of those things for no reason.

  "There's a woman with them too," Carl added. "I can see her long hair. She'll make a nice addition to the cage."

  Rick squinted his eyes and saw her. Definitely a woman. He wasn't sure about the others. Though the more that he looked, the less he thought that they were harmful. "So, wha
t's the plan?"

  "Take the woman. Kill the others."

  Rick hadn't expected that answer. But he shouldn't have been surprised.

  "It won't be hard," Carl assured him.

  Won't be hard? Rick had never killed a man in his life. He hadn't even killed that guy at the farm. He had just left him on the ground. He hadn't been ready to take that step. "I don't know…" he said.

  "You don't know? What don't you know?"

  Shit, he really needed to think more about what he said! He was going to end up getting himself killed. "Maybe we could find something for the men to do."

  "We can't risk them trying to kill us. That's just the way the world is now, my friend. Just the way."

  Rick didn't know what he hated more: being called "friend" or the fact that the worldhad changed. Unfortunately, there was nothing that he could do about either of them at the moment.

  "Let's go," Carl said.

  Rick and the others followed.

  Chapter 5

  By the time Adam came upon the outskirts of the town, the screaming had stopped. Of course, that didn't mean that he was safe. Anything could have happened. The creature could have been killed. Or it was gorging onits kill. It might have even gone to sleep.

  Adam wasn't sure if they slept. He had never seen one do so. But he was sure that they couldn't keep going without some form of rest.

  He stopped his bike and looked around.

  More bodies. More blood.

  Adam felt like shouting out, though he knew that it wasn't a good idea. Unlike the country roads, there might be more of those creatures around. He didn't want them coming out after him all at once.

  He also thought of getting off the bike and walking it into town. It would be easier for him if he was attacked. He could protect himself better. But, in the end, he decided against that too.

  He figured that he could ride a little farther in. It couldn't hurt. If anything came at him, he could cycle away. Plus, he still had the shotgun.