End of the Line (Book 2): Stuck in the Middle

by Lara Frater

  I waited at the marina for Mike to come back with the rest of the group. I missed Jim. That white boy was gone for three days but it felt like forever.

  Grace stood with me with her favorite rifle on her back, not that I think there was gonna be trouble. We killed only three zombs since we got here, all old ones, and there was no signs of other people ‘cept the ones we found at the farm. Saw some feral animals including horses but they ran when we come near. Saw a lot of fucking birds cause of a wildlife refuge not far.

  I joked with Grace that without zombies she might be out of the job. She told me in that snotty way that we always needed a gun and figured she be the one dealing with the horses.

  She was wrong. An old woman named Lucy worked with horses her whole life and talked about how to best get them. She didn’t think they were feral just escaped from farms and stables.

  I never dealt with horses, rode them once when I was a kid. When I was seven, I got to go to camp once on some kind of scholarship thing cause I did good in school and mama was happy to get one kid out of her hair for a few weeks. One time we got to ride horses. I liked my ride but I was terrified of falling. I only went once that day.

  I knew we gotta start looking at bikes and horses to get around. Gas gonna run out eventually.

  Last night we stayed in the main house along with the two people we found, Frannie and Ricky. Both worked on the farm and buried the staff of twenty in the back. Frannie was young, pretty, flirty, and blond. Ricky was in his forties, Spanish and had a cool mustache. As far as I knew they weren’t involved.

  The farm used to be a big manor with slaves and such, and had a main farm house with seven bedrooms and a slave quarters with eleven rooms. I told Mike there was no way in hell I was staying in some slave quarters in which Ricky told me it hadn’t been slave quarters in 300 years. Frannie said it had been upgraded with amenities in the 1950’s for farm hands and migrant workers and it was pretty cozy. Still I needed Jim to sort out sleeping arrangements. The house wasn’t far from the road. Across the way was a bunch of smaller houses, but I figured we stay in the manor house. If we shared rooms we should all fit. Mike already took the foreman’s room cause it was big and a smaller one next to it. He figured on giving the big room to the bunch of kids and he and Hannah could have the small one for themselves. Dena wasn’t getting her own room, but the room was pretty big, and she could have her own bed. Sure, she’ll bitch, but now she can do it in private.

  There ain’t enough beds in the main house. Figure Jim will sort it when he gets back.

  I watched the dot that became the speed boat. I saw Jim in the back. When he saw me a big smile crept across that face. He looked pretty happy. Manny Hernandez the friendly soldier was with them and I laughed when I saw them holding hands. Gwen was behind them.

  ’Never been so happy to hug a white boy which I did as soon as he got off the boat. He hugged me tightly too.

  “Missed you,” I even hugged Dave when he got off before. I missed that asshole and not just for the sex.

  “Me too.”

  “Glad you safe. Gwen, I’m sorry about Justin.”

  “He was a good guy,” she said, her voice low. “He didn’t deserve that.” I liked Gwen who before this I might have called her uppity cause she talk better than me, but now we equals.

  “We’re ready to get things up and running,” I said, changing the subject. “The people who worked here, one was a farmer, one was going to school for it. Didn’t know they had farm school, ain’t that funny?” I knew nothing about farming ‘cept what I read.

  I didn’t like the idea of working fields but Jim knew his shit about division of labor. At the Costking, I never felt overworked. I wondered what Grace will say when I tell her she’s gotta work. I looked at her. She looked bored but I knew she was happy to see Jim, him being her only friend.

  We got two cars working at the farm. Ricky and Frannie kept theirs gassed up and running. Mike planned to search the towns looking for hybrids. No reason to waste gas. I got in the back of the car Mike was driving. Ricky was driving the other. Grace got into the passenger seat but said nothing. No welcome to Jim, but I knew she was glad to see him. Couldn’t fucking believe she volunteered to come to the dock.

  I wasn’t worried too much about that now. It was important the others were back. We were all together and we could start making this a town.

  “Are you tired?” I asked Jim.

  “A little. Yeah.”

  “Tomorrow morning I want to gather everyone together. The house got this big room. There is also a cantina. We should start a council again. Make up roles—“

  “Way ahead of you Tanya,” he said and smiled which made me feel good. “Tomorrow is fine.”

  I didn’t know why I got nervous. Always thought government was a stupid thing. Always thought it was the man and did nothing for us.

  Instead of me getting up on a stage, we sat at a table. The big meeting room had a bunch of chairs, not enough so some people stood and others sat on windowsills. Ricky said the room was for staff meetings and used to be a parlor.

  Jim spoke first.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Jim said. His sounded shy and a little shaky.

  “Good morning,” said many voices at the same time. That only made Jim more nervous. He looked like a spooked puppy. “Before I let Tanya speak, I want to talk about how we plan to organize this community.” His voice sounded a little less shaky. “There something over 35 of us. We are planning to create a council to make decisions on what we should do. Tanya’s been running my group for a while and she’s good at it. I think she should stay leader at least for the time being. When we used to live in Costking, we had a leader and a council of four additional people. As of now, I want to make that council, Gwen, Felicia, Mike and me. Everyone okay with that?”

  No one said anything. Getting Felicia to agree was pulling teeth but we needed someone from her group. She said she was done with leadership but last night Manny convinced her to accept for a little while. Told her it was a cushy bureaucratic job. I didn’t like her. She gave me the creeps. She ain’t ever sad, mad or happy. Even Rachel was sad.

  “So it’s okay. We promise to be completely open. We’ll have regular open meetings to get everyone’s feedback. Let’s make everyone’s term six months? How’s that sound?”

  Dave wasn’t pissed about not being on the council. He looked relieved when Mike stepped up.

  “As far as housing and rooms, if you want to stay in the main house, we’re going to have to double or even triple up in each room. Frannie and Ricky were here before us and it’s not fair to them to make them share. However Frannie willing to share to stay in the main house and Ricky says he’s willing to move to his own room in the bunkhouse. Those who want privacy, there’s quite a lot of rooms in the bunkhouse. I can’t promise there won’t be sharing. If it’s a lot, we’ll have a lottery on who gets their own room. The only room off limits is the bunkroom for the foreman. It’s pretty big and we are already making it a dorm for the five kids. I want to put anyone over 60 in the main house. Sorry to sound ageist. I don’t think the cold would do you good.” I expected hands but no one said anything. Jim told me last night a lot of the people from the camp were like sheep. They always did what they were told.

  “Please let me know what your preference is. I have paper and pens in the back. This won’t be forever. I want to expand into the town, eventually give people more space. Right now I think we need safety in numbers. I don’t know how many zombies are still on the island. I won’t stop you if you want your own house but I think we better stay together. Any questions?”

  “Can we pick your roommates?” Lucy asked. As leader I was trying to learning everyone’s name and a bit about them. Lucy was in her sixties, loved horses and was one of the few camp people to ask hard questions. Jim got me a couple of books about leadership that he found over the last few months. I’ve been reading them. Hannah helps sometimes with the hard ones.

 
; “If you want to stay in the main house, tell us who you want to room with or anyone you aren’t.” He looked at Eric when he said that. Eric looked away. He wouldn’t have to fill out shit. We all know who didn’t want to be near.

  “Everyone clear on the housing?”

  No one said anything.

  “Next up is occupations. We’re all going to help with farm work, but we also need people to keep this town running, we need law. That’s going to be Mike if no one minds. If you’re good with a gun, I need you with him.

  “We’re also going to have an infirmary. It’s going to be in this room. Once its set up, we’ll have meetings in the cantina. Hannah will be in charge with Felicia. Anyone have any medical background, please assist.

  “We also need electrical and plumbing, that will be Dave. He needs apprentices. Henry is in charge of transportation. Lucy is going to be in charge of livestock. Frannie and Ricky will be foremen of the farm. Joyce is going to handle cooking. Manny is fire chief. It’s okay to be on more than one group. But keep it to two because we really need farming. Does anyone have any questions?”

  No response.

  “Then I’m going to give it to Tanya.”

  One of my least favorite things to do is make speeches. I don’t like words, I like action. I wrote up something short which I hope will be enough.

  “Listen up. I don’t want to keep you long. I don’t gotta a lot of rules except for these three. One you gotta do your fair share. Two you can’t be trouble. I ain’t got a problem if you got an attitude, a chip on your shoulder or cry yourself to sleep, but it can’t interfere with your work. Third, we’re looking for good people, not ones that will do us harm. You don’t hurt other people for any reason ‘cept self-defense. We’re here to rebuild and I need people willing to do that. I ain’t an ogre. If you sick or old, I ain’t gonna make you work the field. Jim’s gonna try to divide up the labor fairly. I’ve known him for a year. He’s fair. We’re good friends but I don’t expect him to play favorites ever. And I know I don’t sound educated, and I’m young, but I’m approachable. You tell me if somethin’ wrong. I’m here for all of you. Any questions?”

  No one said anything. They were all good sheep.

  “Okay, sign up to your groups. Jim will be working on housing and you’ll know your space—“ I looked at him.

  “In two hours, then we needed strong abled bodies people to move beds around. In the coming weeks we’re going to hit other houses and furniture stores for beds and newer mattresses.”

  “Thank you,” I said. “And if you got any questions or stuff, afterwards, don’t be afraid to ask.”

  Then the weirdest thing happened. Most of the audience stood up and gave me some applause. Even Grace clapped slowly. Even her clapping looked snobby. I thought about bowing or something, but instead I sat next to Jim.

  “Did I do okay?” I whispered to Jim as I watched people move around the room.

  “You did fine, what about me?”

  “People like you.”

  “They like you too.”

  “I don’t speak good.”

  “You can practice.” I thought about Maddie. I was thinking about taking some tutoring with her but it never happened. Now it was too late. Hannah helps me when she can.

  Annemarie, who was at the security table, waved Jim over. I saw Grace sitting alone in the back. I figured this was a good a time as any to talk to her.

  “Hello Grace,” I said when I got to her.

  “Tanya.”

  “Not signing up for anything?”

  “Don’t have to. You obviously want me on security and I can deal with horses if you get them.”

  “Can we have a chat alone please?”

  Grace smiled. Even though she acted nicer, that smile oozed of sarcasm.

  We met in the room I been using as a bedroom though it probably won’t be for long. It was a nice room with a canopy bed, wood furniture and plenty of space. Fucking white people and their need for giant rooms. Least we could squeeze a few people in here. I had no idea who Jim would give me as a roommate. When we first got here, people crashed where they could.

  The cats were staying here until everything settled. First day they were enemies, now they are becoming BFF’s. Kinda like us.

  When we came in they were both curled up next to each other. I petted Idiot a few times and she rolled on her back and began purring. I didn’t have a pet growing up, my mother was scared of cats, claimed they were the devil and thought dogs were a hassle, she wouldn’t even get me somethin’ small like a hamster or fish, so I never thought bout getting one when I grew up. I petted Chinakitty to be fair. She rubbed my hand but probably wished I was Aisha.

  Grace ignored the cats and sat in an old brown rocking chair in the corner and rested her rifle next to her. She didn’t say anything but began rocking. She looked bored like she always did. Her blond hair was tied back with a purple scrunchy. Probably tacky for rich white bread.

  “I’ll make this short. It would look bad on me if I do any special favors ‘cept maybe for the old folks. I got enough old people helping in the kitchen so that ain’t a problem if you don’t wanna do it. It’s the farm work. You gotta do your share. No excuses. You ain’t disabled or old. You can go if you won’t do it--”

  “All right.”

  I thought I heard wrong. I expected her to be as stubborn as a rat, complain that being the best shooter meant she can’t do anything else. Even after she gave up pill popping it was hard to get her to do manual labor.

  “What?”

  “I didn’t peg you as deaf. I will help with the farm—“ she did her strange giggle. “Do my share.”

  I ignored the insult. “Was it my speech? Was it good?”

  “No, it was terrible. Ask Jim to write your speeches. He knows what he’s doing.”

  “So you’ll do your tasks?”

  “I knew a time would come where I had to get my hands dirty. As long as you know if I’m in the field, I won’t be able to be on call to shoot.” I almost rolled my eyes on how stuck up that sounded.

  “That’s okay. You’re gonna still mostly be doing guard work but to get this farm working and we need all the abled bodied people we can find.”

  “All right.” She stood up, and nabbed the rifle placing it on her back. “Is that all, may I go?”

  “Yes.” She got up and left the room. That was painfully easy.

  At 1:30 Jim gave me the list of housing for my final approval.

  “One change,” I said after I looked over it. Jim made himself my roommate which was fine and we’d be staying in the room I was already in. He put Eric alone in the bunkhouse which confirmed they had broken up. It must have happened last night.

  “What?”

  “Grace needs to be away from Eric. Put one of them in the main house.”

  “He’s in room 1, she’s in room 10. Ten is right by a backdoor. One is right by the front. She doesn’t even have to see him.”

  “In the night, in the bathroom, going to the main house, going to the cantina.”

  “It’s better than the boat. Besides he didn’t even say anything on his card, only he preferred a room alone. Grace did the same. We didn’t have enough people for a lottery. So everyone who wanted a room alone in the bunkhouse got one. This is a compromise. If either have any problems, they know the options.”

  I looked over the paper again. “It’s a little cliquish, ain’t it?”

  “People want to be with people they know. You’re with me, aren’t you? Henry’s with Dave. We’ll get used to each other. Besides the people from the government camp have only been with us a few days.”

  “We’ll all get along—“ I paused. “Sorry about you and Eric.”

  Jim gave a half-smile. “I knew it was going to happen. He did it before I could. Said he’s moving on. That’s it. I didn’t argue. I wish he would let go of his anger with Grace. She did the right thing.”

  “Anger’s hard to let go off, especially when it c
omes to a loving mother. They don’t have to get along but I don’t want any trouble. Eric knows that, right?”

  “I hope.” I accepted that answer for now.

  “Glad you hooked up with Manny.”

  “No big thing right now. I have no intention of being in a serious relationship for a least a year.”

  “Hang underwear on the door if you need privacy.”

  “I expect you to do the same.” I laughed.

  I saw Felicia and figured this was a good time to talk about Keith who I told not to come to the meeting. He was in his room in the bunkhouse which Jim already assigned before anyone else. I told him to wait for me and I would bring Felicia to talk.

  I made my way over to the medical table where she sat with Hannah.

  “Hi Hannah, can I nab Felicia for a sec?”

  “Sure,” Hannah said. “It’s not like we’re mobbed with people.” I reminded myself later that if I didn’t get enough people for medical, I would volunteer some.

  Felicia looked bored like she didn’t want to do anything but she stood up. “Where to?”

  “Bunkhouse.”

  Felicia followed me through the house. We had left the meeting room and went into the living room the size of a city block. It was filled with fancy and uncomfortable couches. Fucking rich folks.

  The house had a large foyer the seemed like fucking a mile to get across. The foyer led to stairs which went to the second and third floor bedrooms. After the foyer on the right side was another large room Jim planned for communication and council meetings had been the house dining room, behind it was a large kitchen. That led to another door to the servant’s quarters. There were 11 rooms in all, each with four bunk beds.

  At the end of the hall was another door that led to the large cantina with a kitchen and three vending machines that Ricky had broke open and got all the food and soda. Ricky said the farm workers ate in the cantina.