Red Rises (Book 2): Dead To Rights (HZA, Vol. 4)

by Brockschmidt, Marty

  “It's a better plan, if Miri weren't a bundle of nerves. This is a shoot first, ask questions later kind of deal, can you handle that?” Turk asked.

  Margo thought hard for a second. “I can.”

  “Miri seems calmed down now, I've never seen her like this before. If I think she is going to freak again, I'll go with the girls and we'll get to you as quick as we can.” Red offered.

  Miri and Lizzie were waiting at the street, in uncomfortable silence. Lizzie would steal quick glances at Miri, while she glassed up and down the road. Miri shuffled about, opened her mouth as if to speak and then closed it again.

  “Oh for heaven's sake this is ridiculous. Lizzie dear, I am so sorry I scared you so back there. I can't explain what came over me.”

  “I'm sorry to Miss Miri.”

  Lizzie climbed down on to the hood of the truck and Miri hugged her to her side. “The funny thing is, I came along to protect you and Margo. I didn't think the two of you had any business being on this trip and it's the two of you, who end up taking care of me.”

  Lizzie kissed Miri's cheek. “We all take care of each other.”

  “Oh child, I wish it were that simple. Just between you and I, I've become a bit jealous of Turk and Red. Before Turk showed up, Tom used to go to my Jeff to talk things over, now it seems, lately, he relies on Turk. I know Turk is good with weapons, hunting, cars, knows the area, but still he's new to us. Red gets to do things to protect our group and go on these adventures with Turk, while Sue and I stay at home, cleaning and mending clothes and putting meals on the table. I know it sounds silly, but I just feel insignificant.”

  “I'm not sure what that is, but everyone in our group is important and I love you for what you do.”

  The two sat in silence, Lizzie resting her head on Miri's shoulder and arm around Miri's waist. A single zed, once a young woman, slowly approached. The woman's long blond hair, was now matted with blood and dirt, her pretty summer dress, in tatters, soaked with blood. There was no telling how far she had traveled, but the heel on one of her sandals had broken off, causing her to hobble and lurch.

  Lizzie tapped her pistol. “You want me to take care of it?”

  “No, back up on top, I got this.” Miri replied.

  Red and Turk emerged from the woods to see Miri, facing a zed. As it lunged to attack, Miri quickly side stepped, slammed the zed down onto the hood and plunged her knife into the back of its skull.

  “Looks like Miri's nerves have settled.” Red commented.

  “Well, this day just keeps getting better.” Miri responded, after Red laid out the plan for her.

  Once the horses were saddled, the women selected their weapons, Red took her trusty rifle, suitable for the sniper position, she would take. Both Miri and Margo took shotguns, loaded with buckshot. Good for only a short distance, but they could do a lot of damage in a hurry. Lizzie was still to small to handle much recoil, so her pistol was best for her.

  Red looked at the determined faces. “I guess we're set, we better get a move on”

  “One more thing, Margo's trick with the barn zed gives me an idea.” Miri remarked, grabbing a spool of barbed wire and some gloves.

  Turk, working on the assumption that the chase vehicle would wait to close the trap once he confronted the other vehicle, waited until he saw the women, taking up their ambush positions. As he slowly pulled forward, he slid the scatter gun into his lap. The road rose and then dipped back down, hiding the attackers from view. Turk crested the hill to see a truck, with a livestock trailer in tow and a single man, standing in front of the truck.

  “Where's your backup friend.” Turk mumbled to himself, then spotted a poorly concealed sniper.

  Turk continued to pull forward, causing the man to raise his hand, indicating that Turk should stop. The man had a pistol in his other hand, but so far, kept that down. Turk slid the barrels of the shotgun out of the window and pulled to a stop, far enough forward that the truck shielded Turk from the sniper. The sniper needed to shuffle to the side, giving his new position away to Red.

  Turk started the conversation. “Some nasty trick there son, herdin that load of dead on us.”

  “The fallen know their masters, they do our bidding.” The man replied.

  “You got a purpose to this little standoff, fella.”

  “We have orders to take the women and children. They'll come along easily, once we are holding you hostage.”

  “Easier said friend. I've done pulled the trigger on this here scattergun anything causes me to take my thumb off these hammers and it'll knock you clean out of your boots before you can blink.” After a pause Turk continued. “Them gals can be quite the handful, you shore you want them?”

  “Ours is a holy mission, you unfaithful have brought down the wrath of God and he has unleashed the plague of the fallen upon this world. Ours is to purge the world of non-believers.”

  “Takin hostages is an odd tactic for missionaries.”

  “The children are innocents, free of the sins of their parents. The Holy Mother can provide them the blessing of her teachings and they will flourish, under her grace. The woman will give birth to a whole new generation of True Believers.”

  “That has got to be about the sickest trash, I've ever heard.” Further comment from Turk was cut off, by a loud crash, sporadic gunfire, then quiet.

  Miri and the girls had a sparse few minutes to set their trap and get out of sight, before the SUV came careening down the road.

  “Be ready girls, anything could happen here.” Miri cautioned.

  The SUV tore into the barbed wire, stretched from tree to tree across the road. The barbed wire held for only a couple of seconds, before breaking with and audible ping and rocketing back, like a whip. The tip grazing Miri's cheek, opening a bloody gash. However, in those seconds it tore through the front bumper, blew the front tires and caused the SUV to flip end for end.

  The SUV skidded down the road on its roof and finally came to a stop, with the engine still racing and tires spinning fiercely against the sky, still trying to gain traction. Miri had the girls go wait with the horses, not wanting them to be part of this next step.

  “I'm sorry.” Miri apologized, as she fired the shotgun into the nearest window.

  Miri released another round through the windshield and as she rounded the far side of the car one of the passengers, still barely alive, was clawing his way out. Miri fired a round, point blank, totally obliterating his skull. Blood sprayed from the remaining stump, soaking Miri's boots. The sight and smell, coupled with the sheer brutality of her actions, caused Miri to vomit.

  “Miss Miri, are you okay?” Lizzie asked, as she and Margo rode up, leading Miri's mare.

  Miri wiped her mouth, with the back of her sleeve. “I'll be fine dear, stay where you are.”

  At the sound of the crash, the sniper prepared to shoot Turk. Red seeing this, squeezed off a round, sending the bullet through the snipers forehead.

  “Seems like your little party, has been crashed. You got two choices friend, put down your gun and come along with us, or join your friends.” Turk instructed.

  “You will get nothing from me and I am not afraid to die. I have been cleansed by the Mother and I will gain my heavenly reward. You sir, are cursed to walk the earth forever, and your hunger shall know no bounds.”

  “Your choice friend, either defend yourself, or put down your weapon.”

  “I fear not the evil you do.” The man exclaimed, raising his pistol.

  “Ah shit.” Turk said mournfully and slid his thumb off the hammers of the shotgun.

  The ride back was uneventful. Red drove the truck, with Lizzie seated in the middle and Miri riding shotgun. In typical child fashion, Lizzie pulled Red's arm around her, snuggled into Red's side and promptly fell asleep. Red and Miri drove on in silence, the days ordeal having drained them.

  Turk and Margo led the way back. Margo's excitement at acquiring the horses kept her going for a bit as she detailed things t
hat needed to be done for the horses. Turk was glad to let her chatter on so he could allow his mind to rerun the conversation with their assailant. However, Margo too ran down with the rhythmic motion of the ride and she to fell asleep.

  The ride wasn't far and in a short time they were once again pulling up to the service gate, guarded by Prescott and Tracey. As they pulled in the other five not on watch, Sue, Tom, Jimmy, Jeff and Jackson, were there to greet them.

  “The horses are a surprise.” Tom commented.

  “They proved to be quite handy. We'll pasture them by the water tower, meet us up there we've got a lot to talk about.” Turk answered.

  Once they stopped Margo took over unloading the horses and assigning the other three children jobs to clean and brush them. While the horses were being tended to Turk addressed the four adults. “Well I guess the good news is we probably won't have any zeds herded at us for a while.”

  “Hows that?” Tom asked.

  “We had a bit of a scrape with thems that been doin it. Jeff, you got quite the little woman there, she really came through.”

  Jeff looked with concern at the bandage on his wife's cheek. “Are you okay?”

  “I've had better days, guess we all have. I'm better now that I'm home.” Miri replied, hugging her husband.

  Turk continued. “I can't tell you how proud I am of Margo and Lizzie, they earned their keep on this trip.”

  “Margo especially surprised us. That young lady, has quite the backbone to her.” Red added.

  “I'm glad to hear that, but what about this group you ran into?” Tom insisted.

  “It's the True Believers again, but this outfit was different than Cain's group. Cain's group was cutthroats to be sure, this group was fanatical, almost like they were on a crusade. The feller told me their sick plans for our women and children and had the nerve to tell me we was the evil ones. He was happier to die for his cause than surrender to us.”

  “Holy shit, is everyone ok?” Sue asked.

  “They weren't overly skilled in settin their trap, which saved us. We all got blood on our hands though, it's not somethin you ever feel right about.”

  Tom kept the conversation on point. “So you're thinking we can expect some reprisal from them?”

  “We are at war now, no two ways about it. I can't tell you how or when, but I can guarantee we are not done with this group yet.”

  The next couple of days, the mood within the group had taken a distinct shift. Parents were more watchful of the children and men, more attentive to their wives, or lovers. Their efforts were divided on both defensive and offensive measures and as a fall back evacuation plans.

  Margo began giving everyone riding lessons. The mares were trail horses, used to the saddle and easily managed. Bo on the other hand, was a special horse and he was very selective of his riders. Besides Margo, only Will and Turk had been able to ride the big stallion and not without taking a few tumbles first. Red took some delight in seeing, the often infallible Turk, get tossed time after time, from the back of the stallion. Until finally, Turk grasped Bo's reins and stared him straight in the eye, until Bo turned his head away. After that, Bo let Turk sit in the saddle without even a flinch.

  “Miri, don't you think we should leave now, while we can?” Sue suggested.

  “Two days ago, I would of agreed with you, but I see things differently now.”

  “What is different, other than now we know we are the target of a twisted bunch of lord knows what?”

  “Exactly. When I went on the run, I was hoping we would fail and be forced to leave. I began to imagine all sorts of things going wrong and let panic take me over. Those girls shamed me, they were willing to fight for something I wasn't, our home.”

  “But Miri, as long as we are together, we are home. This is just a place.”

  “It is more than that, can't you feel it? This place is our refuge, our sanctuary. When herd after herd of zeds came to our fences, we cleared the zeds and strengthened our walls. When those men turned that herd of zeds on us, in that pasture, I watched a slip of a girl, we all thought to be afraid of her own shadow, face down the whole herd and deliver us to safety. When the car came down the road to close the trap on Turk, a tiny strand of wire stopped them. I know your thinking this group coming is some huge menace, but I'm telling you. we are a force to be reckoned with.”

  “I know we've been through so much Miri, but I can't help worrying about what may be coming next.”

  “Whatever it is, we'll face it together, dear friend.”

  While Sue and Miri discussed the fates awaiting them, Sam and Turk were building a series of gates, along the service road. These gates were meant to slow the advance of anyone, coming down the road.

  Margo and Caleb, took up positions on the earthen barriers they had made along the road to keep watch, as the men worked. “It's all clear daddy, if I see something, I'll let you know.” Caleb called, proud to be part of a mission.

  Margo looked down into the trench they had dug, along the far side of the road, seeing dozens of zeds trapped inside. “Papa Bear, should we do something about the zeds here?”

  “No missy, in the old days folks would put beasts in their moats to deter invaders, we have zeds. I can't believe anyone would dare travel down that trench, with all those zeds in there.”

  Suddenly, Caleb called out. “Daddy, company is coming.”

  Sam and Turk looked up to a see a woman, dressed only in a tattered blouse walking down the road, supported by a young girl.

  “Sam, hang back here with the kids, in case this is a setup. I'll go greet our guests.”

  As Turk approached, the woman called out. “Please, please help us.”

  Two days prior to stumbling down the service road, Abigail Cross was ushered into the office of Mother Rachel, by her assistant Delilah. “Miss Cross come in, come in. Take a seat please.”

  Abigail had only seen Mother Rachel a couple of times, in her time at the compound. The first time was when Zoe was taken from her and Rachel explained, encouragingly as she could, that Zoe was going to be trained to build a new world. The second time, was when Abigail pushed herself through the throng of Rachel's inner circle and tried to demand to know, what was happening to her daughter.

  Of course, it was sacrilege to question Rachel and the Zealots turned on Abigail. Fortunately, Silas was near by and begged for her to be forgiven, explaining that Abigail, was new and taking blame for not explaining the situation to her. He promised to council Abigail and to pray with her, so that she could receive understanding.

  Now seated in front of her, Abigail realized that Rachel needed something from her. She needed to be careful, but Abigail finally had a chance to gain an advantage. “How can I be of service Mother?” Abigail bowed her head in deference, as Silas had instructed and took the seat offered.

  Delilah took a position behind Abigail, near the door, as Rachel continued. “Josiah has explained the mission to you?”

  “Yes he has. He would like me to infiltrate a camp and help him to gain the confidence of the people inside.”

  “I cannot stress enough, the importance of your duty. This world is lacking in faith, it is our sacred duty to carry the true word to the masses. In an unfortunate misunderstanding with these people, we lost our poor missionary Cain, while he was shepherding some youngsters to us. In our benevolence, Preacher Josiah is going to deliver our message of salvation.”

  Abigail had heard stories of Cain and missionary, is hardly the man those stories described. She was also aware that while life in the compound brought security, food and shelter, it came at a price of total acceptance of the True Believer faith. Any disobedience to the faith, was dealt with in the harshest means possible. “I assure you Mother, I will do everything I can.”

  “I know you will dear. Rest assured we will be taking very good care of young Zoe, while you are away.”

  Abigail understood, the barely veiled threat. “My eternal gratitude, Mother.”

 
; “My pleasure. Delilah, would you introduce Miss Cross to Chloe, so that they can get to know each other, before leaving. After that, Miss Cross was promised some time with her daughter.”

  Delilah, who had been waiting motionlessly, replied in a flat monotone. “Yes Mother.” Then escorted Abigail, from the office.

  Abigail's time with Zoe, was all to short. She wanted nothing more than to scoop her up and run as fast and far as she could. Unfortunately, she knew she would make a scant few yards, before being taken down and having Zoe ripped from her grasp. Abigail also had no doubt that even if she completed this mission, as directed, that she would never see her daughter again.

  Still, she had cause for hope. She had sensed that Josiah was putting her with these strangers, to foil his attempts to bring them into the fold. Something in what he said to her, would aid these people in defeating the True Believers. Her meeting with Mother Rachel, was evidence to her that Rachel had become distrustful of Josiah.