Undead at Sundown

by McCabe, R. J

  Gina nodded and rose from the seat with the bundle. ‘She’s awful quiet, you think she's okay?’

  ‘I’m no doctor and she’s had a hell of a night for a little one. I'll try and find the doc in the mornin' and get him to take a look. For now lets just take the fact that she seems happy as a blessin’ as she could be cryin' the place down and attractin' those things over here.’

  ‘Ok Bill’ Gina said. She glanced to her girls and with a look, they followed her into the bedroom.

  ‘Ken?’ said Bill. 'Would you be a friend and fix me a drink, I need a bit of somethin'

  'Sure thing Sheriff' said Ken and went about getting Bill a drink. Bill dragged a wooden rocking chair across the room and set it down by the window which looked out on the town. The window was small and it would have been a lot easier to look out onto the town from outside on the porch but he didn't fancy being out there a moment longer if he could help it.

  Ken held the drink out in front of Bill and the Sheriff took it, downing it in one. Ken sipped his own then the two of them looked out of the window in the night.

  ‘These are crazy times Bill. I reckon you comin' here was a blessin'.’

  ‘Thats a nice sentiment an all Ken but at the moment this town feels anything but blessed.’

  ‘Hmm,’ was the only sound Ken made and then the two men stood there in silence, each lost in his own thoughts.

  23

  Bills eyes opened and he could hear crying. He groggily rose from the wooden chair he had been sleeping in, noting how stiff his ass cheeks felt as he did so. It took him a few seconds to register that the crying was that of a small child. He turned and saw Gina rocking the baby in her arms.

  ‘She okay?’ Bill asked.

  ‘Yeah I think so, her cheeks are as rosy as a tanned hide. The girls have gone to fetch some milk.’

  The previous nights happening’s came back to the sheriff and for a second his heart leapt at the thought of the girls being down there with them, those things that wore human bodies but were anything but human beneath. Then he realised that they would most likely be safe. If Trent had been right in his knowledge then the things only emerged when the sun sank from of the sky.

  ‘They gonna be okay down there? I bet that town looks a hell of a sight. There were a lot of bullets spent on that street’ Bill said, his expression hovering between sorrow and regret.

  ‘Those girls are harder than any man would give them credit for.’ Gina said.

  ‘I’m sure you’re right. Wheres you father?’ Bill asked.

  ‘He went down to town as soon as the sun was up.’ Gina replied.

  Bill nodded and looked at the red haired woman in his home. He had fallen for her, he knew it and it had happened so quick he had been helpless against it but he wouldn't fight it. If they got through this hell, then he would take hold of it with both hands.

  ‘I hope you have no regrets about yesterday.’ Bill said.

  ‘If I had any regrets then I wouldn't be here. We could have somethin' me and you and I plan on stickin' around you to find out what that somethin' is.’

  Bill wasn't sure how to answer that and didn't think he needed to as she had said everything he wanted to hear right there in that sentence. He didn't get to think on it for too long though as the sound of hooves rumbled outside the house.

  Bill went to the door and was greeted by the sight of four horses. Tatsu sat on one, Trent on another and on a third sat a slim man with a handle bar moustache and a dark look in his eyes. The forth horse belonged to Jack Blackwater.

  ‘Still in one piece then I see.’ Bill said. ‘How did things play out last night?’

  ‘It was rough’ said Jack. ‘But we managed to hold em off. That big ass gun of the barbers seemed to slow em a lot. The big Apache one turned tail when things got too heavy and what was left of the others followed suit. I’ve been up since the break of dawn. Had me a job to do.’

  ‘Oh?’ said Bill hoping Jack wouldn't be playing guessing games.

  ‘Yep I decided to give my son a proper burial, the burial he deserved.’

  Bill looked at each of the men again, ‘Well, that’s underst….’ And then thought came to him and he tried to push it away as it made his blood run cold. Bill looked at the Trent who was sitting on a horse just behind Jack and as Bill looked at him Trent turned away unable to meet his gaze, which wasn’t like him.

  ‘Please don't tell me you've done what I think you've done.’

  ‘Well,’ said Jack, looking around, ‘Depends on what you think I've done sheriff.’

  ‘Where have you buried your son?’ Bill asked

  ‘Seems to me you're on the right track. Sheriff Bill, I buried him in the only place I saw fit. I needed to give him the same chance that chief gave his boy, a chance for revenge.’

  ‘Are you fuckin' crazy? You saw what happened here last night! Those things are tryin' to destroy us and you want to make more of em? You need to go and dig Joel up right now and put him in some decent ground, ground that means somethin' cause if you don't dig him up then I will. He…’

  ‘Woah woah, hold it right there. Sheriff!’ Jack interrupted. ‘Now I quite like you and from the short time we have spent together I happen to think you are gonna go on and serve this town well, if of course there is a town at the end of this but if you try and take Joel’s body out of that ground then I'm gonna have to cut you down. Are we clear?’

  ‘Jack’ Bill sounded desperate. ‘Think about what you're doin'. These things, they will multiply and whatever crawls up out of the ground is not going to be your son.’

  Jack smiled at the comment. ‘Sheriff, you haven’t heard me out. You see me puttin' my son up there in that god forsaken ground is not just about me wantin' revenge, sure that’s part of it but it’s only a small part. This country of ours is a dry, desolate, depressin', shit hole of a place if I speak true and me buryin' Joel up there is part of my plan to get rid of theses things and I mean all of em because as much of a shit hole this place may be, it’s our shit-hole and I don't know about you but I don’t want anythin' crawlin' around my shit-hole that don't belong there. Surely you share my view?’

  Bill looked a little puzzled, ‘I guess I do’ he said.

  ‘Well, the only way to stop that Indian demon piece of shit from spreadin' that disease is to kill him. Now to kill him you need to do one of two things, thats if my friend Trent here is right in what he says. The first way is to burn the son of a bitch alive on the ground itself. If you manage to do that then, accordin' to Trent, the ground will claim him and that’s the end of that. Now I don't know about you sheriff but I don't fancy tryin' to get that thing over to that ground given that he is a strong as ten men, faster than a cat and climbs walls better than a god-damn spider. I think that way would leave us all either dead as my grandaddy, or runnin' around white eyed, chewin' on other folks and I don't really fancy either of those.

  So that leads me to the second option. Now again, if my Apache source is correct then the body that has risen up out of that ground can be stopped if you use the weapon or object that put them in the ground in the first place. In this case it was my sons Bowie knife that put an end to that Apache and so it’s that knife we need to get to kill him again. Jeez, you say this shit out loud and you sound like a right titty. Anyhow, we find the knife and all of this could be over as the other of the undead can be killed by stoppin' the brain from functionin' and they all tend to stay together, so I think we can do that if we plan it right.’

  ‘Well, I gotta say, what you’ve said up to now does make sense and I actually find a glimmer of hope in your words Jack' said Bill 'Though I don't see where your son comin' back fits into it all.’

  ‘Well, yet again Bill, you haven't waited for me to finish. So to get that knife, which I would bet is in that Apache camp, we need a distraction and that’s because if we ride in there then over a hundred of those savages will be on us and I'll have an arrow up my ass faster than you can say Hi Ho Silver. I would bet al
l of my fortune that the Iron Dog-shit had somethin' to do in my son’s death, So when my boy crawls up out of that ground, I reckon he's gonna be headin' straight over to that camp. Now my son was a bit of a heartless hell raiser when he was alive, so I reckon he is gonna be one hell of a handful when he's the walking dead. Whilst he is causin' a commotion in that Apache camp, we go in, we find the knife, I kill the chief and then we can go and try and stick that knife in the devil Apache.’

  Bill didn't say anything straight away but he was quite impressed in what Jack had put together. There were a lot of if’s, buts and maybe’s. But it was more than he had come up with. ‘So did you come up with this or was it Trent’s idea?’ Bill asked.

  Jack began to laugh. ‘Hell no it wasn't his idea. In fact, he hates it. I bets he regrets tellin' me all about this shit but he doesn't make the rules, I make the rules. I been makin' plans and rules all of my life Sheriff Bill and I have the conviction to go head with what I believe in. That’s why I have millions of dollars in the bank and thats also why Trent here doesn't have a dollar to wipe his ass on unless I give him one.’

  Bill gave a small laugh to that comment. ‘Okay so lets say we manage to stick that thing in the Apache demon or whatever the hell he is. Then we go around and blow the brains out of the other abominations. That still leaves Joel.’

  Jack nodded ‘That it does. Well, my son was stabbed twice and I have this feelin' down in my gut that tells me at least one of those wounds was inflicted by the same knife he stuck in the dog’s son. It’s the way they do things. That would make it the same knife I need to kill the shit-dogs son for a second time. Once that is dealt with then it does indeed leave my son. Now I ain’t willin' to do it myself Sheriff but once the Apaches are dealt with, then you have my full permission to put my son to rest.’

  Bill again thought on what Jack said and thought it made sense. ‘What if that ain’t the knife that killed Joel?’

  ‘Well, then I don't fancy your chances but I will get that ancient old bastard to tell me. If that fails then we need to find a way to get my sons ass back to that ground but I really don't think it’s gonna come to that. So, what do you say Sheriff Bill. You in?’

  Bill thought on it for a few moments he looked back into the room, at Gina and the baby, something had to be done. There were lots of chances being taken in this plan of Jacks but if he didn't agree then what? The things could spread whatever it was they had from town to town, state to state. He had to protect the people and he hadn't come up with any sort of plan himself other than hide when the sun went down. ‘Ok Jack, I'm in.’

  Blackwater clapped his hands together and a huge smile appeared on his bony face.

  ‘I think you made the right decision Sheriff. I reckon with you and me workin' together things might get back to some sort of reality.’

  ‘Well, thats what I’m hoping,’ replied Bill.

  ‘I want you to try and enjoy today Sheriff Bill, me and my boys are gonna to look through the town and see who's still alive and maybe make some sort of register as to who got turned last night. Monty is gonna help us out. I'll meet you by the edge of town an hour before sundown. Then we’re gonna ride up to where Joel is buried. I'll round up as many men as I can who can use a gun. All I need is you and your deputy on horseback ready to kick some ass.’

  Bill nodded. ‘I'll be there.’

  ‘Well, okay then. Its gonna be a hell of a night,’ said Jack excitedly. He turned his horse and rode back towards town, his men following, a cloud of dust rising from the ground in their wake.

  Bill turned and went back into house, Gina had managed to rock the baby back to sleep.

  ‘Sounds dangerous.’ Was all she said.

  ‘Oh it’s dangerous alright. It’s a crazy plan that in normal circumstances a man would laugh at but these are crazy circumstances so I suppose a crazy plan is what’s needed. I don't know how else this can be ended. We have to give it a shot.’

  ‘I know you do,’ said Gina a smile softening her face. ‘You are a brave man and just what the town needs. I hope we all get through this.’

  ‘Yep, me too darlin'’ Bill said. ‘Come tomorrow mornin' I guess we’re gonna know one way or the other.’

  24

  It was roughly an hour before sundown and Bill had left the house and made his way down to the sheriff’s office where he and Ken loaded up with ammo, both worked silently, each in his own thoughts.

  ‘Well, I have as much ammo as I can carry. I just hope I don't fall into no quicksand cause I'll sink faster than a lead turd in a river.’ Ken said, he smiled but Bill could see the nerves on the deputy’s face.

  ‘Yeah, I’m just about done too. You sure you wanna do this? I can make an excuse for you and you can stay with Gina and make sure things are okay here.’

  ‘I don’t want to do this at all!’ said Ken. ‘But want don't come into it. It’s my job to protect and that’s what I'm gonna do. If this thing carries on spreadin' then were all fucked anyhow.’

  ‘Whatever happens Ken it’s been fun workin' with you’ said Bill giving the deputy a smile and a pat on the back.

  ‘Don’t start all the sentimental bullshit Sheriff. We got some fightin' to do and you'll spoil the mood.’

  Bill laughed. ‘Well, lets get to it then.’

  The two men walked out of the sheriffs office and round to where the horses were kept. Luckily the undead creatures the night before hadn't managed to get to them but by the looks of the door they had tried. Cobb stood by the door oaf the barn and watched the men prepare their rides for the evening.

  ‘I can use a gun Sheriff Bill.’ Cobb said.

  ‘I’m sure you can but I would bet you look after horses much better than you do shoot given your young age. Just stay here and keep yourself safe.’

  Cobb look dejected but nodded all the same.

  Once the horses were saddled, the men mounted them and rode slowly to the edge of town where Jack Blackwater and a group of around thirty men waited.

  Bill saw that Jack looked dressed for killing in all black and now with a long black coat on. His men looked focused and the Japanese man was wearing a suit of armour the likes of which Bill had never seen.

  ‘This everyone?’ Bill asked.

  ‘It’s everyone that was willin' to embark on such a crazy mission. Can’t say I blame the rest but I gotta try this all the same. We need to get over to that cursed land now cause if I know my Joel, he is gonna be itchin' to get up out of that ground and cause some trouble. You ready to ride Bill?

  ‘As ready as I'll ever be,’ replied the Sheriff.

  Jack gave a loud tribal shout and then led the group away from the town and towards the forsaken ground.

  25

  The group had stopped around a hundred yards away from the burial ground. The sun was almost down now and nerves and excitement ran throughout the group.

  Jack, Bill and the big Apache Trent headed a little closer to the ground where Joel’s body had been buried, the rest of the men stayed on horseback and out of sight.

  The three of them had gotten as close as they could to the circular patch of ground without the risk of being seen if Joel did indeed rise from the dirt. Bill felt a sense of utter foreboding in the air and thought this might just be his nerves, but he fancied he felt something more.

  None of them spoke as they waited. Bill would glance towards Trent now and again and could see the fear in the big mans face. His own mouth and throat were dry and his balls felt like they had shrunk to the size of marbles. Jack on the other hand seemed to be excited. He couldn’t take his eyes of the ground where they had buried Joel and his eyes were alive but looked a little crazy and Bill could see that this man could still be very dangerous. Jack was a wealthy man who employed all kinds of tough types but he had the look of a killer in him and all the money in the world couldn't get rid of that, you either had it, Bill thought, or you didn’t.

  Soon enough the sun had gone from the sky and the men were surrounded by the nig
ht. Bill began to wonder what they would do if Joel didn’t emerge from the ground but he didn't have to think on it for too long.

  ‘There!’ Bill said, pointing.

  All three men looked towards the patch of slightly raised ground where the body of Joel had been placed. The ground seemed to be moving, shifting. It was hard to make out exactly what was happening with only the moon lighting the area but there was enough light for Bill to see something was definitely down there. He turned towards Trent and noticed the man was muttering under his breath. Bill then suddenly became aware of a drop in the temperature.

  Jack seemed to notice the change too and pulled the collar of his jacket up against his face. Then a sound came and it seemed to travel through the air and all around them. It was a moaning sound, low and drawn out. Bill listened closer and he thought it sounded more like a hundred voices rather than just one.

  The horses began to become unsettled and Bill held tight to the reigns in order to keep control.

  ‘This is very bad’ said Trent. Bill looked at the big Apache and saw his eyes were closed.

  ‘This is exactly what we came here for,’ said Jack before his eyes widened and he spoke again. ‘My god!’

  Bill looked towards the ground and saw, to his horror, a hand reaching up through the dirt. Then the arm was visible and soon the other arm was pushing it’s way through. Finally Bill made out the head of Joel Blackwater pushing upwards out of the ground.

  ‘My boy,’ Blackwater said his eyes filled with wonder. ‘My boy is back dammit.’

  Neither Bill nor Trent spoke. Bill then began to feel like the air around them was filled with pure evil, he couldn't explain to himself why he felt that way but every hair on his body was up and he felt scared.

  Joel Blackwater stood hunched before stretching his arms upwards and then outwards. He then let out a scream which Jack thought sounded nothing like his son.