by catt dahman
“Kim seems to be bent on killing RA. Robbie and I hunt down the zombies and kill them; it keeps us going. We just get lucky; we’ve managed.”
“And then you began following me.” Kim cocked an eyebrow at her.
Carla smiled lightly. “We came across you and found you very curious. We felt a kinship; I guess we wanted to watch you and see if you were like us.”
“Like you?”
“Surviving and wreaking havoc on the bad guys.” She avoided his eyes, which made him more curious, but Kim didn’t think she was lying. There was just more to her story than she was sharing.
“Well, for us, it’s Hopetown,” Jack stated, “I think we can do some good there, and it’ll be nice to have a home, again.”
“You tell them Kimball sent you, and ask for Beth and Len; you’ll find some good folks living there.”
“We’ll do that,” Jack said, “Carla, you, and Robbie can go with us, too.” He didn’t really look as if he meant it.
“Thank you. But not yet, we have some places to go, too.” She yawned.
Kim thought the people around him looked relieved that she turned them down.
She had Robbie follow her back to the water so they could brush their teeth and floss. With minty foam around her mouth, she grinned at the boy; he grinned back and showed off a clean smile.
“You both look tired,” Jack said. They nodded.
Carla and Robbie climbed into the tent that was offered and fell asleep before dark, only after Kim promised he wouldn’t sneak away and make them stalk after him again for days. He didn’t doubt they would track him down, again.
He was wondering why they had followed him and why they didn’t want to go to a safe place. He decided to puzzle it out before he went back on the road.
2
Hopetown
“Len, is there a reason my team roster is missing John’s name?” Beth plopped into a chair next to the head of security for the compound, with her head tilted and a fake grin on her face. She was already in a bad mood since she was in a larger size of pants because of her pregnancy.
“I told you all that we have enough people to have six teams: permanent gate duty, and a base; we’ve grown.” Len smiled back. He was an attractive man, but former military: prone to foul language and an ugly temper; however, his people knew he was always loyal to them and loved him, anyway.
“I want to know why the roster says Foxtrot team, and I am listed as Foxy?” Rae grumbled.
“Because you’re Foxy Roxy Rae. You have the Foxiest Foxtrot team,” Len told her.
Behind them, Rev laughed. He and Rae trained as Len’s team, and now Rae had her own team. The joke about her name began when they trained together, clearing zombies out of the trailer park.
The two of them had four new team members to train with, but Rev was up for that challenge. He liked when Len teased Rae and when she pretended to be angry.
“And on horses? Len, you know I haven’t been riding long,” Rae said, her Middle-Eastern accent heavy. “Riding horses and trying to aim a gun at the same time and getting a new team, I don’t feel so Foxy, Looney Len.”
“You have Rev to teach the rest how to ride. You can do it, Foxy Roxy Rae.”
“Oh, maybe I will just kill you one night while you sleep,” she smirked, slapping him fondly, if not a little too hard on the face as she motioned Rev and her team out the door.
“She loves me,” Len said.
“Yep. I could hear the love hidden beneath the fact that she intends to kill you while you sleep,” Beth grumbled. “Now, about me not having John on my team….”
“Thanks for the team, Len,” Mark said. He was gone over six weeks: a prisoner of the Reconstruction Army, or RA, but now that he was back, Len wasn’t letting him sit around and do nothing.Len had him work hard, which Mark appreciated; the stress of leading a team kept the memories of being tortured by the RA at bay. If only he could forget the sounds and sights of the others who were tortured to death by the Nazi group, all would be fine. “I have a kick ass team.”
“No doubt, you have Pak; he’s bad ass enough for ten people, and he was mine,” Beth shouted. Pak, an Asian man who taught them martial arts moves and sword fighting, was not only a positive person and dependable, but also truly fearless.
“I think Beth isn’t happy about losing Pak, either.” Juan grinned. As long as they kept her distracted, he might stand a chance that she wouldn’t figure out he had asked Len to move John.
Juan knew jealousy wasn’t a good emotion, but John was smart, nice looking, and like most of the other men, crazy for Beth.Juan just still wasn’t sure how he won her for himself and reeled with the anxiety.
That was part of the attraction Beth carried; she looked a lot like the actress Demi Moore looked in her twenties:same strong jaw line, long black hair, pale skin, and big green eyes. She could be deadly serious when doing a job but never took herself very seriously. That’s why half of the men watched her with mooncalf looks.
“I worked with it so everyone is pretty much with his or her spouse, love interest, son, daughter, sister...whatever because….” Len pointed at Misty. “Misty taught me that separating people although I think it works best, doesn’t work with all you nuts. And because George said it’s best.”
“Me? Huh?” Misty asked, eyes wide with innocence.
“Yes, you, Misty, you were the one who almost ruined an entire mission; worrying over Mark, whining and dancing like a cricket in a hot skillet, and getting in the way of our trying to shoot almost caused a mess.”
“That was a long time ago when Mark was on the ground, getting stomped by zombies? Of course, I was worried and trying to help. He was getting his ass beaten.”
“Hey!” Mark protested, “Can I have some respect? Jeez. I wasn’t exactly getting my ass beaten.”
“I know. Well, you kind of were,” Misty said, “but everyone was having a bad time of it that day.”
“So, I like separation, but you people have to be with your romantic partners, and all of you got your drawers in a wad; God save me from civilian armies.” Len rubbed at his head. He dared a quick glance at Juan, which Beth caught.
“I think you and I will be having a talk later,” she told Juan.
“I’m always up for a talk with you, Honey.”
“Juan, how whipped are you?”
“Len, you want to imagine living with a pregnant woman who fights zombies for fun? She’s brutal, Dude. Share some sympathy. Seriously.”
“I resent being portrayed like this; as I recall, Juan and Pak were the dumb asses who ran kicking into a horde of zombies like crazed kung fu experts, and Carl was the dumb ass who decided to play Tarzan and swing on chains above their heads; now with a team like that….”
“What the hail am I getting’ pulled into this for?” Carl asked, shoving tobacco into his lip. “Callin’ me a dumb ass, too, wow, no respect.”
Beth continued, “Then, I have Mr. Gothic Jet and his strictly black dress code and a sword-wielding, hormonal Hannah. I swear Teeg is the only one-half normal on my team.”
“Half.” Len winked at Teeg.
“Yeh, I caught the half part. “Brother gets no respect. Least, I wasn’t called a dumb ass.” Teeg laughed at Carl.
“Brother ain’t as ghetto as he acts,” Beth shot back with a wicked grin and moved her head jerkily, making him laugh.
“Len, Beth’s picking on me,” Teeg whined playfully. “Hey, ouch, she kicked me; she actually kicked me under the table. Damn, Juan, you must sleep with armor over your balls at night, never know when she’s gonna have a nightmare and get to cutting….”
“Assuming I need a nightmare?” Beth laughed.
The men groaned in unison.
Julia and Beth caught Alex and Kevin trading smiles and winked at each other. Alex was convinced for a long time he was the last gay man on earth. They were on Mark’s team, and they would corner Alex as soon as possible and get the gossip.
“We need some
time to practice riding,” Alex said. Julia and Beth both burst out laughing, and he gave them dirty looks. “You are both so dirty minded. Anyway, we have it going on when it comes to using our weapons.” The women laughed even harder. “Bitches.”
“Give it up, Alex. Frick and Frack are on a roll,” Len said. “Julia taught Beth everything she knows about being a pain in the ass; you can’t win with two smart-mouthed babes.”
“Cricket, my ass,” Misty pouted. She was sixteen to Mark’s twenty-six, but no one seemed to care. “I didn’t jump around like some insect.” Now was a good time to complain.
Len laughed at her. “I love ya, Misty.”
“Yeh. Sure. Like you love a cricket.”
Len felt better than he had in a long time:hearing his team tease each other and laugh with genuine emotion. From his own, real military experience, he knew this was bonding them, not that they could be much more loyal and dependable.
“Let’s go,” Mark said, “we have far perimeter duty, by horse back.” He ignored Pak’s groaning. Misty cheered, doing a little dance in her roper boots. She had on her cowgirl hat and was ready to go.
“Jules?” Len asked.
“I like my team just fine. If I didn’t, I’d get the pencil eraser and make the changes.” She smiled.
“No doubt.”
Julia went on, “We will loot the farmer’s store for seeds and canning jars, saddles and tack…hay…anything we can use which may be everything in the store. Be back later.”
She swished her hips as she walked out with her team, waving with fingernails painted cotton candy pink by Hannah. For all that, she was the toughest of all the women in the compound. Len and some of the others whistled in appreciation.
“Gimme some fries with that shake,” Len yelled as she left.
“Ha, ha,” she called back.
“Pan?”
“Five by Five, Len. My team is perfect,” Pan said. A former professional baseball player, he was sometimes the group’s philosopher and the best at beating zombies in the heads with baseball bats. “I think Natalie is taking to melee weapons like a demon…like Julia would…demon…Julia…same thing.” He made them all laugh again.
“I heard that,” she yelled before she closed the door.
“Up, up, slash down with a power stroke across the nose area, and it’s done,” Natalie said. “But Pan does that; it takes me a few more hits. Pan made it look easier than it is. I never thought it would be so difficult to break someone’s head open.”
“How about the gate? Conner?”
“Good team. I’ll be training Ivory Joe and the rest on strict protocol,” Conner said.
Weeks before, a demented group who were left over from the compound when it was called Popetown and run by a religious zealot, had, at gunpoint, sent Conner and some others through what they called a gauntlet. It was a sick game; they played it for their own entertainment with survivors they found in a cellar full of traps and zombies.
He lost a hand in the ordeal. His second in command, Johnny, lost part of a finger. Luckily, both were injured by falling boulders and not by zombies, or they’d be dead. “With more joining us, we are adding a small unit to teach them the ropes, give information, find housing, and help find work details. Any with potential for combat teams will be trained and referred to you, Len.”
“Sounds good. Rockin’ steady.”
Johnny rubbed her hands off on her motorcycle leathers and grinned. “We are gonna rock the gate. I like being the bosses of the gate.”
“ Johnny, I have big plans for you, so don’t get too happy at the gate. I have a good team, too,” Len said.“Andie is a warrior; she survived being kidnapped by the RA; she found Nick, the US President’s brother, and Big Bill, Pat, and John. Good team.”
“John was on my team...like Pak,” Beth began, again.
“Who but you could handle Carl and his big monster truck? Huh? And really Jet belongs with you…you have a way with Gothic teens and angst and holes all over their bodies. You adopted him as I heard it.”
Jet grinned and said, “Yep. Beth got me. She’s Mom now.” He smiled sweetly. He dressed in his usual black, his face was dotted with metal, and he, being under eighteen, had tattoos done illegally.It wasn’t a matter of anyone’s having to understand him.He may have dressed a little differently, but he was smart, loyal, and an all-around great kid that anyone would like if he looked beyond the outside. He acted so much like a good big brother to Hannah and Katie that Beth loved him like one of her own children.
“Teeg is perfect for your team since he knows when you are being stubborn: just pick you up and carry you,” Len said.
“Damnit, as if I enjoy that shit,” Beth yelled, “besides, yes, I want all of those; they are great with me, so there.” She yanked her hair back and finished braiding the dark tresses into a long braid. “I just liked my team intact. I’d trade Juan for the other two….”
“Hey,” Juan said, “That isn’t an option. Someone has to watch over you.” He took her hand and kissed it as he passed by, throwing away his cup and winking at Len.
“Is it I?” Hannah asked. This was Beth’s twelve-year-old step daughter, the youngest on any team, but also the only one who had experience and a love for chopping zombies up with sharp weapons.
“I gave her a permo place on the team….”
“Thank you, Len though I wish she’d stay where it is safe, but she’s already over-talked us both with her logic, and I’d rather she be with me and her dad.” Beth kind of stuttered on the last word. She and Juan hadn’t been a couple but six weeks, but in this new world, time wasn’t to be wasted, and Juan stepped eagerly into the role of father to both of Beth’s step daughters.“Ahhh.” Len looked at Juan.
“Ahhh.” Juan nodded. “It’s me.”
“Len, do you have any inkling of how Juan is gonna be watching and hovering over me?” Beth pointed out.
“I have an inkling.”
“I had an inkling, but I gave it up for Lent.”
“I am serious,” Beth shrieked with frustration, “Juan is going to be hovering. He’s worse than Hannah and Teeg.”
“Hey,” Teeg protested, and Hannah giggled at him. “I keep getting pulled into this conversation when I’m minding my own business. Can we go back to picking on Carl for being a dumb ass?”
“I am supposed to worry and protect my woman,” Juan said.
“Your woman?” Beth shrieked again, “My, God, do you hear that? I’m his woman? Len, nooo, don’t do this.”
“You’re the one who caught preggers,” Len pointed out. Technically, they all suspected the baby was conceived right before Juan and Beth got together, when Beth was with Kimball, but no one alluded to its being anything but Juan’s baby, now. “You’re his woman.” Len shrugged, the side of his mouth twitching as he tried not to smile.
“It sounds as if I am owned. I hate that.”
“I’d make an honest woman of you if you’d stop refusing.”
“She won’t agree to be an honest woman?” Len asked, “shameful.”
“Okay, whatever, I will agree if that will stop you from calling me your woman,” Beth said. Juan smiled, satisfied.
“I’ll get with the others, and we can have a few weddings,” Len said.
“But back to my being hovered over by Teeg and Hannah and Juan!” Beth said, “what about that?”
“ I hear your concerns and acknowledge them,” Len said, “thanks for sharing, Beth.”
Throwing her hands up, she walked by Len, gave him a kick in his shins, and walked out, giving up.
Len laughed, “One slap, one kick, not a bad meeting; I feel pretty good now. Andromeda, star of all stars, let’s get to work; you are my shining star,” he sang.
“Len, when someone stabs you one night when you’re asleep, the list of suspects is gonna be very, very long,” Andie told him, following.
George laughed as they went to various duties, proud of the camaraderie and closeness of the teams. F
or all the teasing and silliness, Len was the glue that held them all close. Some days just started off this well.
3
Delta
Julia slapped the top of the cab on the big truck twice. Lance, driving, backed up and headed out with the cargo: everything stripped from a farming feed and seed store, a goldmine for them. With these supplies, they could can the current harvests and plant for the fall and winter, insuring they would have good, fresh food. Saddles and other tack were plentiful for the horses, feed for all of the animals they had, solar hen houses, medical supplies for the stock, and much more.
“I swear, with all of that, everyone will be most tickled over the bandanas and duct tape,” Walt said, “I like those chicken warmers.”
Julia laughed. Walt already seemed more at ease with at least one of his sons with Pedro and headed back to the compound and relative safety. Safety was relative these days.
Manny ran towards Julia, speaking Mexican and then switching to English. “Big bunch over there. Some by the truck, blocking us from it.”
Julia understood suddenly why Len always groaned when they said: ‘a big bunch.’ How much was a big bunch? But Manny looked worried, so it was a sure thing there were at least twenty-five.
“Let’s leave the one truck and bug out in the other one.”
“Fifty,” Manny added.
A big bunch was fifty. Okay.
“They’re doing that again, and I think they’re coming from other places, seems like a lot of them,” Julia said. They ran in silence, ducking behind stalled out, wrecked cars as they went. “Okay, take five and get some water. It’s hot out here. I don’t want y’all dehydrating.”
“Y’all, that’s what I say,” Walt said, his Arkansas drawl exaggerated.
Walt held up a hand in warning. A zombie was close, shambling along.A man was dressed in the remains of tattered business clothing, intestines dried up and lumpy in his open stomach, an eye-watering stench coming off of him in the humid air. One eye was torn out long ago while the other was partially ripped; from the looks of his knees and hands, which were more bone than flesh, the loss of vision caused him to fall often. The shriveled, dried up wounds were only a little less sickening than open wounds would be. He had only one scuffed, dress shoe on.
