Caleb, Landon and Clara, followed by a trio of foxes and chattering monkeys raced down the stairs and into their arms.
“Ewwww. You guys stink.” Landon said after hugging them all.
“Yeah, smells like poop.” Caleb added. “Come outside, meet our new friends.”
“I think that’s you.” Tobias said and tried to rub armpit sweat on him. “We’ve been bathing in rose petals the last few days.”
Harper and Vanessa helped Swan up the stairs as Donny lent Analise a shoulder to lean on. Kodiak and Tobias gathered their saddlebags and weapons and followed the tribe out into the sunlight. He squinted at the destruction and saw an old red Cadillac on its roof off to one side. The two-story farmhouse was spread out across the fields, a lot of it on the mound of the storm cellar. The barn was completely gone, the only thing remaining was a brown square of dirt where it had been. Harper squealed and ran for Bert who had his head up in a tree that had somehow managed to stay standing. He was languidly picking at the few leaves that had survived the winds. When he saw her running for him, he lowered his head and licked her salty, blonde hair. She hugged him tight then let him get back to his foraging. Her eyes threatened to overflow, she couldn’t believe it. Maybe Kodiak had been right to let him run free. The barn was gone, if she would have gotten him inside, they would be too.
The people that came to help kept their distance. They knew the animals were friendly, they knew the kids treated them like household pets but that was them. They weren’t too eager to run up on a thousand-pound bear or a pack of wolves and introduce themselves.
“I guess you’re those world-famous wild kids.” A scruffy bearded man said when he stepped up after a moment. He was tall, skinny, wore a wide grin and a trucker’s cap.
“And you must be Kodiak.” He added and stuck out his hand. “They call me Scratch. Heard a lot about you, those little one’s never shut up. Pleased to finally meet you.”
“Likewise.” Kodiak said. “Thanks for pulling us out. One of my tribe needs to see a doctor. Do you have any?”
“The best in the territories.” He answered and registered Swans sweating face and pale complexion. “Come on, let’s get her over to the ambulance, we weren’t sure what kind of shape you’d be in when we found you so we came prepared. One of the SS sisters is standing by, she’s just a little wary of the bears.”
“SS sisters?” Kodiak asked and Scratch looked around and held a finger up to his lips.
“Uh, I mean Sara. Best not to let them hear you say that. And if they do, you didn’t hear it from me.”
“Okay.” He answered, not sure he understood.
Swan refused to let them help her walk, told them she wasn’t an invalid, just needed a little booster shot.
“Hyenas have a nasty bite, filthy things eat the undead.” She told Sara as she carefully unwrapped the soiled bandages her wrist.
Sara eyed the wolves nervously, they were huge and hovered around the girl protectively but once she saw the wound, she ignored them. She had work to do, the wolf girl could lose her hand if she didn’t get that infection under control.
“How’d you find us?” Kodiak asked as he was introduced to the others that made the slow trip out to search for them. The giraffe knew where they were, it just wasn’t in any particular hurry. It stopped frequently to nibble leaves.
“Well, that long-legged critter over there showed up at the gates after the storm blew through. He still had the saddle so we figured he was from your group. We’ve been expecting you for weeks. We were all trying to figure out what to do with him, when those three little savages came tearing up the street all painted up like Indians on the warpath toting ice picks and knives like they were ready to go to war. They were sure some guy named Gordon had ambushed you. Once we got them calmed down, President Meadows sent a rescue party. That giraffe led us straight here, although he took his sweet ass time.”
“I need to thank him. Is he here?” Kodiak asked as he scanned the half dozen vehicles and the people gathered near them, some still keeping a safe distance.
“Well, he is a she and that’s her standing by that big ugly fella.” Scratch laughed and pointed at Lacy and Gunny.
35
Vanessa
Vanessa soaked up the warm sunshine and inhaled the fresh air. The storm cellar had been the fuel of nightmares. She had already been preparing for the end, she really believed they would die down there in the blackness after the batteries gave out. She shuddered at the thought. She walked away from the hole in the ground, spread her arms wide, tilted her face to the sun and let it wash the darkness away. She would meet the rescuers in a minute, she needed this.
When she lowered her arms, finished her prayer of thanks and opened her eyes, a man was a few yards away, patiently waiting for her to finish. Ziggy was between them, wings up in a protective stance as she hopped from foot to foot. He was silently crying, the tears rolling down his cheeks were from pure joy and the smile that split his brown face went from ear to ear.
“Daddy?” she whispered. “Is that you?”
“It’s me, baby girl.” He said, almost choking. “It’s me.”
He held out his arms. She felt lightheaded. The earth threatened to spin out from underneath her. The spear fell from suddenly numb fingers. His beard was gray and full, his hair longer, but the rumble of his voice was distinctive and unmistakable. She’d know it anywhere. It had calmed her fears of monsters under the bed, it had sung her to sleep and it had been firm when she’d done wrong.
“Daddy!” She screamed and raced towards him.
Ziggy followed behind, wary and ready to defend her chick. She couldn’t believe her eyes; it just couldn’t be. He’d been in Dallas for work the day her mom had dropped her off for the field trip. She had watched on her phone as the city was overrun before the lights went out for good. In her heart, she had buried him a year ago.
She leaped for his open arms and he caught her, drew her close to his chest and hugged her tight. He let out a laugh of pure joy and swung her around in circles.
“My baby.” He cried softly. “My baby. I thought I’d never see you again.”
“Daddy, I thought you were dead. What are you doing here? Where have you been?”
“It’s a long story, baby girl. I’m here and you’re here now and that’s all that matters.” He whispered.
He wondered what his daughter had been through, what hell she must have endured and how many of the stories he heard on the radio were true. She was a foot taller than he remembered and lean. Her straight ironed hair was gone, in its place a tight mohawk. She was muscular and athletic, with no trace of the baby fat he had tickled when she was younger. Her face was covered in ritualistic scars, faded war paint and machetes hung at her waist. Her leather armor was crude and thick, hand built for comfort and functionality over looks. It showed signs of hard use and was scarred like her body. He decided he didn’t care what she had been forced to do to survive; he felt only pride that she had.
“You need to meet my tribe.” She said and pulled him towards the others. “How did you know I was here?”
“They’ve been talking about you for months.” He replied. “Most of us didn’t believe half of what we heard; you know how Bastille is.”
“Never heard him.” She said. “We didn’t have radio.”
“Oh.” He said. “So anyway the three youngsters made it to Lakota and they told all kinds of unbelievable tales. He’s had them on his radio show at least once a week. They said there was an African warrior princess who rode an Ostrich into battle, that she was fierce and brave and made the best S’mores sandwiches. They said her name was Vanessa and even though she was nice most of the time, she made them learn how to read even though it was hard and I knew it had to be you. You’d told me you were going on that field trip.”
The bears had discovered the strangers had food and were fast becoming best friends with anyone who tossed them a fish or hamburger.
“This is my
dad.” She announced as they approached her group that was gathered around the ambulance, watching the doctor work on Swan’s swollen hand.
“And this is my tribe.” She said with pride and introduced them and their animals.
Sara cut them off halfway through the introductions.
“You can get to know each other later.” She barked. “We’ve got to go, I need her in my clinic, I don’t like the way this infection has spread.”
“Wait.” Kodiak said and stopped her from pulling the door closed.
He quickly signed to Swan, asked her if she was okay getting separated. Do you trust these people?
They took care of the triplets. I think it’s safe.
We’ll be right behind you. He signed and let go of the door.
“Scratch!” she yelled. “Get us back pronto, but don’t drive like an idiot. We have a patient back here that needs medical attention.
“Yes ma’am!” he saluted “Needs a bath too, she’s kinda ripe.”
He threw Swan a smile and a wink then hurried away. He didn’t see her snarl and glare.
“I’ll ride with her.” Harper said and ran for the passenger seat. “Donny, can you make sure Burt gets back?”
He nodded and Kodiak felt the rebuke. His cheeks reddened a little but he held his tongue. She was still mad. He didn’t understand why but didn’t have time to figure it out now.
“We need to get you to Lakota.” Lacy said. “John, do we have a trailer to haul the giraffe?”
“Not really.” Gunny said. “But Tommy can rig something up if we need it.”
He turned to address the boy who seemed to be their leader, the wild looking one that rode the Grizzly. “We’re only about ten miles out, if you kids want, we’ll get trailers out here for your animals. If you want to finish the trip on foot, that’ll give us some time to get finish setting up your accommodations. Your choice.”
Kodiak glanced at the sun.
“It’s a quarter after three.” He said. “We can make it tonight but I’d rather take it easy, get cleaned up and come in tomorrow.”
Gunny looked at the sun then glanced down at his watch. Twelve after three. The kid was good. They talked for another half hour, got to know each other a little and had dinner on the tailgate of Gunny’s truck.
The kids wolfed down Martha’s home cooking but then started to look sheepish halfway through the meal. They were eating like animals. Kodiak was the first to slow and actually start chewing his food and using the napkin instead of the back of his hand. Tobias was the last to start acting civilized and that was only after Analise kicked him.
They let the animals have the rest of the food, gave them directions in, told them what to expect in town and wished them well for the night. They’d see them in the morning.
“Don’t be too late.” Gunny said as he fired up his truck and the triplets climbed in the back seat of the crew cab. “The three young ladies you saved from that Gordon character are eager to see you and of course those three probably won’t sleep a wink.” She gestured at Landon, Caleb, and Clara. “They haven’t shut up since the giraffe arrived. We’ve got each of you homes to stay and your companions will be safe. There’s nothing to fear, welcome home.”
36
Swan
She was clean. Her hair was damp and she relished the feel of the soft cotton bathrobe that covered her frame.
She looked at the pictures that decorated the wall of the new President’s house. One in particular held her attention.
“That’s my son, Jessie.” Lacy said.
She watched the girl as she stared open mouthed at the last school picture taken of her boy before the outbreak. His hair was long, he had on a plain black pocket t-shirt, had a half smile on his face and stared directly into the camera. He didn’t seem particularly happy to be there and Swan could imagine his mom giving him a lecture that morning. Something about smiling this time, grandma thought you looked angry in last year’s picture.
“He looks a lot like somebody I knew; only this guy was way more scarred. His name was Bob.” Swan said.
“Bob? Lacy asked. “My Jessie has a dog that travels with him he calls Bob.”
The hair was the same and Swan stared into the eyes. Bob hadn’t been a handsome boy, he had an ugly scar on his face and he’d been black and blue with bruises but the eyes were the same. She reached up to touch the face as she put the two images together in her mind. He looked so different then, so innocent. She supposed they all did.
“I worry about him out there.” Lacy said as she watched the girl touch the photo almost reverently. “He’s been through so much, but he’s making a difference and I guess that’s all a mother can want for her son.”
“It’s him.” Swan said, her mind remembering the broken boy. “He was hurt. We nursed him back to health, but he didn’t have a dog.” Swan said.
“I haven’t heard from him in months.” Lacy admitted. “The last anyone has seen him was at the Tower. His girlfriend had died, Johnny thinks he got a load of supplies and is camping out somewhere in the mountains. Tell me more about this Bob.” She urged.
Swan told her of the week Bob, or rather Jessie, had spent with them back in the spring and something didn’t add up. Jessie had been exploring new territories and his reports, although sporadic, had been regular. She thought she would have heard if he’d been hurt so badly or had lost the car but maybe not. It was a crazy world beyond the walls.
“That sure sounds like him.” She sighed. “He must have used that alias to protect you guys from his enemies. He has plenty, though from what I hear, most of them don’t survive when they catch up to him.”
“He’s very brave.” Swan blushed at the memory of the boy she’d had a crush on. “I’d like to see him again.”
“Me too.” Said Lacy. “Me too.”
Zero interrupted their conversation as he whined at the door. Nature called.
“They are very well behaved.” Lacy said. “I was a little skeptical of having four wolves in my house. Our cat hasn’t come out from under the bed since they arrived.”
Swan took pride in the words spoken to her. “They are my pack.”
“How’s the arm?” Lacy asked.
“It’s getting better. Doesn’t hurt to make a fist anymore. Soon I’ll be sharpening up my skills again.” she answered.
Lacy watched her buckle the weapons belt around her bathrobe then follow the pack out to the meadow. It looked comical but she knew the girl was deadly with the tomahawks even with one arm in a cast and the other just starting to heal from the infected wounds. She’d heard the stories and read the reports. The doctors had been concerned, the infection looked like the beginnings of the zombie virus. It was spreading the same way a bite from the undead did with the long, red runners. They knew penicillin wouldn’t cure it and had given her some kind of experimental drug, something they’d gotten from Jessie, before it spread any farther. It seemed to be working, she was healing nicely and would be starting school next week.
37
Tobias and Analise
Tobias watched through the curtains as the bears splashed in the swimming pool. It was a big one, twelve foot on the deep end and Runa had happily pumped all the treated water out and filled it with lake water. It was a kind gesture and the polars didn’t seem to mind being confined to the back yard. The fence had been reinforced overnight and now stood taller and stronger than the original wooden one. He wasn’t sure how he felt about it. He understood the bears couldn’t run free, there were too many people, something might happen. He’d argued that Daisy or Popsicle would never hurt anyone on purpose but not too hard. He knew they really couldn’t wander around town on their own. The dogs barked like crazy when they were near and if one was dumb enough to attack them then there would be a dead dog and an angry owner.
He wasn’t sure what they’d expected when they got here, he hadn’t thought about it much. He supposed they would all live together like they had at Piedmont house. That
hadn’t happened. They’d been separated to live with foster families and were supposed to go back to a normal life like everyone else. He should have known it would be like this, they all should have but no one had really thought about it. They were impressed with the town at first. It had everything they’d dreamed of. Hamburgers and hotdogs. Movies and popcorn. Hot running water and electricity. It was wonderful but it came with a price and he was still debating if it was worth it.
He wondered what the others were doing, how they were fitting in with the foster families that opened their doors to the orphaned tribe. They’d already been here for a week and the days had been a blur of activity. Doctor appointments, vet appointments, school enrollments, shopping for clothes and getting comfortable in there new environment took up most of their time. They had internet and spent time catching up, reading through other kids’ blogs and Facebook posts. It was limited but every time Lakota added servers the Tower would send more terabytes of random information pulled from the NSA computers. Eventually, if they wanted to keep expanding, they could have the entire internet up until the day it crashed. He’d tired of it after the novelty wore off. He learned that most of the kids hadn’t been outside the walls other than the first few weeks of the outbreak. Their families had fled here and hadn’t left since. They’d been safe and sound for a year and had forgotten about what it was like outside the walls. The things they complained about were trivial and dumb. The chains on one of the swings set were too long. The truckers hadn’t raided any sports stores in ages and the soccer net had already been patched twice. The internet was too slow and there was too much lag on multiplayer Call of Duty matches.
They all sounded like a bunch of sissies and he wasn’t really looking forward to meeting any of them. He was still adjusting to having hot water with the turn of a knob and electricity at the flip of a switch. He worried that someday the memories of their time in the wild would seem more like a dream and not the reality they’d fought their way through.
The Feral Children | Book 3 | Nomads Page 18
