The Aftermath Trilogy (Book 3): The Aftermath [Ground Zero]

by Daniel Smith

  As soon as he passed through it he ran for the back door and into the yard he had just made it onto a small brick BBQ next to the wall when he stopped hearing.

  “Wait.”

  Dan turned to face the man in black holding what looked like a shotgun his family standing behind him. Dan turned aiming the autoloader at the man who froze. Their eyes locked two staring at each other for a minute until Dan spoke.

  “Two things,” he started. “First the shotgun you are holding has two safeties you need to release before you can fire. Both are still on,” he said.

  This caused the man in black to look at the shotgun in his hands.

  “Before you can release them I will kill you,” he stated. The man in black blinked.

  “I do not want to do that so lower the weapon,” Dan firmly stated. The man in black seemingly saw him for the first time lowering the shotgun barrel to the ground. Allowing Dan the opportunity to jump onto the wall.

  “What was the second thing,” he called out to him. Dan turned to look at him.

  “Go to Baton Rouge, the people here are worse than the dead. They will turn you into stew if they can,” Dan said turning too jumped over the wall but stopped.

  “One last thing if we meet again, you will decide if we meet as friends or enemies,” he said disappearing over the wall.

  He felt bad as he ran from the place dodging between the trees as he followed the sixty one towards the farm. He felt bad for Leanne and her mother whose name he had never learn but pushed it from his mind as he ran. Looking at the building clouds blocking what little the light coming from the moon then down the deserted highway. He saw nothing as he darted across the highway into the tree line on the other side following it until he found the road to the farm. He knew it was late as he arrived at the barn moving around back climbing onto the small shed allowing him access to a door on the second floor. He entered the dark barn looking around listening. He heard nothing in the darkness until his ears picked up a faint groan.

  Dan’s heart sank at this sound. Flipping the flashlight on as he lit up Manny wrapped in his sleeping bag his forehead wet with beads of sweat before he broke into a coughing fit. He was glad to hear it the undead do not cough. Going to the fire he tossed some wood on stoking the ashes for hot coals to get it going. Before he woke Manny.

  “I have medicine,” Dan said gently.

  9 NEW FRIENDS AND HOPE

  Dan had barely any time over the last two month since Manny had recovered. Going back for Dan’s bike they found it crushed where he had left it.

  “Looks like it was ran over,” Manny had commented. Dan stood looking at it shaking his head.

  “No matter we will get another one,” Manny calmly stated walking off heading for the main highway and the big rig.

  Once their they took several more bikes outfitting two mountain bikes from the semi-trailer with a detachable bike trailer with side bags for both the front and back wheels.

  “We should grab a couple more as backups, Manny calmly said climbing back into the trailer.

  Finishing this Manny was eager to raid the hospital for medical supplies. Dan stopped on the main highway in front of the small turn off leading into town that passed the church. Manny stopped next to him with a questioning look on his face. Dan looked at him and slowly started telling him about the people he had met there. he felt the relief wash over him at Manny telling him.

  “We will avoid them for now but we will discreetly check on them later.”

  The next few days seemed like an endless cycle to Dan between ferrying medicine from the hospital and the gas they had found from the van back to the farm. Dan drenched from sweat and his muscles hurt from all the riding. Manny had decided it was time to check the Correction Facilities he had discovered on his first hospital run picking up some more weapons and food. Dan almost felt pity for all the undead prisoners trapped in their cells their pitiful moans calling out as withered hands reached out from the cell bars trying to grab them as they past.

  During this time, Manny had them riding around the town and outlying areas. He was beginning to feel like he was in school on these rides which were more about teaching him stuff then finding supplies. On one trip, Manny had him go through a pile of books telling him his brain was a muscle and reading would exercise it. He had groaned at that one but did as asked finding a book about people surviving after a nuclear war. He started reading reluctantly only to find out he liked the book and went to find a few more over the next few days.

  They only ran into the road worriers twice during this time when they did. Manny would have them camp outside in the forest showing Dan different ways to be safe in doing so. Dan was not tiring out so easily on the rides now his body adjusting to the long rides. During one ride, Manny had them break into a clothing store for Dan to replace ill-fitting and tight clothing for something better. After one night of outdoor camping, they had been riding down a road parallel to the 33 highway. As they turned to enter a subdivision of several houses, they paused to rest Dan still straddling his tan mountain bike when they heard the clip clopping sound approaching.

  “What,” he managed to get out as Manny held up his hand for silence.

  He started pointing down the road where it split off onto a side street. Dan looked but it took a minute for him to register the massive forms approaching them. They were horses massive ones, almost six feet tall at their shoulder with a dark brown coat of coarse short hair expect for a patch around their nose and mouth of snow-white hair. The area of snow-white hair extending from their knees to the tops of their hooves short brown stubs for tails. Their hooves making a heavy clopping sound as they walked down the asphalt road. Dan remembered them from a beer commercial he watched during a football game with his Dad.

  “Clydesdale horses,” That is what they called them he remembered.

  They were pulling a large metal trailer with rubber tires. Two people sat on a crude bench seat set into the front of the trailer. One holding leather reins pulled on the straps bringing the massive horses and the trailer to a stop. Giving them a chance to study one another sitting on the trailer a man and woman looking in their forties. She had short curly brown hair over a plain looking face. She dressed in a gray flannel shirt with blue jeans and brown boots and was cradling a pump action shotgun on her lap. Dan noted while not pointing at them her hand was resting on it ready. The man had on a dark wide brim hat with no hair visible a scraggly beard on an oval face. He was wearing a red flannel shirt and blue bib overalls over dark boots. A pistol sat in a holster on his belt.

  “Good morning,” Manny called out.

  “Good morning to you,” was the reply that came back.

  Manny put the kickstand down on his bike before getting off it.

  “Wait here,” Manny said without turning to look at him as he moved slowly towards the trailer and people.

  Dan always felt the tension rise in his stomach when Manny did this. He looked around making sure no one living or dead was sneaking up on them after what seemed like hours Manny motioned for Dan to come over. Putting the kickstand down on the bike he moved off the bike. He saw the two people on the trailer climbing down next to Manny as he walked over.

  “James and Marion,” Manny started in the way of an introduction.

  “This is Dan my business partner,” Manny said grinning as James stuck out his hand for Dan to shake.

  Dan hesitated a second on seeing it before he managed clumsily to stick his own hand out to shake. James grip was strong and friendly before Marion her grip equally strong. He paused as he caught Marion looking at him making a sense of caution wash over him before she turned away as if noticing what she had done.

  “They are heading to Vicksburg to help with planting,” Manny told him. Dan just nodded unsure of what was going on.

  “Well Vicksburg, Natchez and the possibility of a new town we have heard of between the two called Hope,” James added in cheerfully. Dan looked puzzled.

  “I di
d not know the government had safe areas there,” he stated.

  Manny smiled at his question but it was Marion who spoke in a gentle tone.

  “They are not government safe areas, they are just people who have banded together to survive,” she said.

  “And they made it,” Dan blurted out.

  “Many people made it, they banded together and trade for supplies, others well they banded with like-minded people and unless you fit their ideas,” James trailed off after a look from Marion.

  His attention torn between the horses, James and Marion then at Manny wondering where all of this was going.

  “They want to know if we want to go with them,” Manny said as if sensing Dan’s questions. Dan looked again at them, and then closer at Manny who made a face that said.

  “If you want.” He hesitated then spoke.

  “That is a long way to bike,” he started. Causing the other three to start laughing he was unsure if he should be mad.

  “No we will throw the bikes into the trailer and go,” James said as he stopped for breath.

  Once settled and the bikes secured in the trailer Manny sitting next to James while Dan reclined behind them on some supplies. As soon as the clopping sound of the horses started up so did James.

  “We married twenty years ago and all that time we raise Clydesdale horses. We had a farm east of here after the plague started people started overrunning the farm. Most of the horses where either stolen when people started to run low on gas or eaten when they ran low on food,” he recounted sounding neither bitter nor happy. Dan wondered if this happened on his uncle’s farm.

  “When the zombies came we left with six of the best ones we still had and a wagon. We trade mostly and rent the horses to farmers to plow fields during planting season hauled people to different towns to get by. Move supplies from one place to another,” James continued. As a foul smell assaulted Dan’s nose as one of the horses relieved its colon and the mess fell noisily to the ground while it was still walking.

  They merged onto the sixty-one highway turning west while Dan drifting in and out of a restless sleep, as the other three engrossed in conversation. He came awake immediately as the cart stopped in the middle of the highway. He looked at Manny who was looking at him, Dan recognized were they were the overgrown inclined road to the farm was on the right.

  “I need you to cover me I have to make a pit stop,” Manny said as he pulled a roll of toilet paper from his backpack that was sitting on the bench next to him.

  Dan nodded and climbed down to the road removing his recurved bow. James and Marion sitting on the trailer not paying attention to what they were doing. Dan and Manny walked to the scrub bush past the drainage ditch to the side of the road as Manny climb behind it and crouched down.

  “What do you think of them,” he asked Dan calmly.

  “They seem all right,” Dan said scanning the roadway only seeing the horse drawn trailer.

  “I think so to, Bit too trusting but good people,” Manny said.

  “You don’t have to go,” Dan commented.

  “No I needed to talk to you. I think we should grab some supplies for our trip for trade,” Manny said.

  “But that means showing them the farm,” Dan said sounding concerned.

  “Yes I think it will be fine, besides they meet with farmers. If your uncle is working on or at a farm they might know him, run into him or know someone that does,” Manny said standing and exiting the bushes. Dan thought about that walking back to the trailer.

  “Everything come out all right,” James asked with a grin only to receive an elbow to his side from Marion.

  “Yes, but we were wondering if you mind a slight delay,” Manny call back smiling.

  The slight delay was not overnight but two days as they went to the farm. Explaining how it was Dan’s uncles they started to come here at the start of the plague. James and Marion seemed a little sad at this news but where determined to help Dan find his uncle if possible. James set the horses free in one of the fenced in pastures as they loaded one hundred gallons of gasoline, ammunition that they did not use in their weapons. Medical supplies they had found at the hospital and a few other items they thought would be good for trade. James urged them to pack some sacks of seed sitting on a palette.

  “Wheat and barley seeds will be good trade items,” James said eyeing them.

  Before they started out Dan and Manny took a can of paint leaving a message for his uncle and family in blue paint on the barn door in case they showed up. The ride down the sixty-one different this time heading down the tree-lined highway at a slower pace than driving. Dan would alternate between watching the way they had come for any surprises to sitting on the bench seat with James handing him the reins and showing him how to handle the horses. To riding his bike ahead of the trailer as a scout. They had traveled most of the day and where entering an area where several small homes sat abandoned with overgrown yards. Along the highway sat several homes in various states of ruin some showing signs of vandalism. James stopped the wagon in the middle of the highway. Set near the front of an open field sat a turn for a road.

  “There is or was a large house with a fenced in backyard right behind those trees,” He said motioning with his hand. “It is a good place to stop so our horses can rest we can spend the night,” James finished tying off the reins as he got ready to step down.

  “Me and Dan will go scout it,” Manny said jumping down from the trailer pulling his rifle from the bench where it sat.

  Dan jumped down from the trailer, removing his bow pulling an arrow from the quiver notching it.

  “Don’t you think it would be safer if you and James went,” Marion spoke up sounding concerned. Dan turned to look at her puzzled.

  “It should be fine,” James spoke up quickly. Manny turned to Marion smiling.

  “Don’t worry he will be fine,” He said motioning for Dan to continue. They had made it halfway across the overgrown field making for the trees before Dan spoke.

  “What’s that about,” he said scanning the trees ahead of them. Manny was also checking the tree line as they walked.

  “She’s concerned that’s all,” Manny stated as he moved a few feet to the left.

  “Did they say if they had kids,” Dan asked slowly as he froze looking at a bush for a moment then pulled the arrow back and took aim.

  With a slight twang, the arrow flew stopping sticking out of a bush. They continued forward.

  “They did not say so. However, from the way she was trying to fatten you up at dinner last night and James seeming happy to show you the horses. I think so,” Manny said quietly as the approached the bush with the arrow in it.

  “Thought so,” Dan said reaching down pulling the arrow out of the bush. Replacing the arrow on the bowstring before picking up a large rabbit handing it to Manny who attached it to a loop on his belt as they followed the tree line towards the road.

  Keeling by the side of a large tree they looked across the overgrown yard past a line of wild looking shrubs at a large house. Even at this distance, they could see the front window broken out and a beat-up blue pick-up truck in the driveway with a tire missing. They both scanned the house looking for any movement or sound. Manny signaled for him to go right along the trees towards the house as he raised the rifle sighting down the scope at the house. Dan shouldered the bow, pulling the black blade of the katana from his back with the distinctive metallic hiss, and moved off. Keeping low near the trees he reached the shrubs stopping at seeing a body with a knife sticking out of their back. Lying on the ground in a pair of dirty blue jeans and a denim vest over a bare chest. He looked back to Manny motioning to what he saw when Manny looked at him. He made a hand sign showing one person then made a motion they had agreed on indicating they were not alive. Dan moved off towards the house quietly giving the body a wide berth until he came to the corner of the house.

  He moved forward to peek into the broken window. The front room was a mess of trash and s
cattered furniture seeing no one else. He looked back at Manny and motioned for him to come forward at the same time noticing the body lying in the front yard had started to move. Dan moved to the fence of the backyard looking over the fence he saw nothing in his line of sight for the backyard. He heard the pitiful moan to look at Manny was about halfway to him as he looked at the shambling figure coming at him. The man had been thin before he died and now looked like a rotting skeleton. Nevertheless, what Dan was looking at under the zombies baldhead sat what he estimated to be twenty pounds of gold chains of different sizes and shapes. Reaching out with skeleton like arms Dan could see on his withered hands where full of rings some fingers having two each. Dan took two or three quick steps forward bringing the black blade down into the zombie’s brain with a crunch. Once it fell Dan turned scanning the area listing for any noise. He only heard Manny come up beside him and look at the now still form on the ground.

  “Must have worked as a jewelry salesman,” Manny whispered moving past him to the window of the house.

  He motion for Dan who climbed over the windowsill cursing quietly as he turned sharply. Manny looked up at him Dan was shaking his head as he examined a six-inch tear in his mostly new pants. There was no blood just an angry red line on his skin Dan waved it off and moved quickly towards the opposite wall keeping out of Manny’s line of fire. Looking out into the backyard and signaling clear. Manny came through the window and slung the rifle over his shoulder as he pulled the tomahawk from his belt. They checked the other rooms of the house and Dan had just finished checking the basement. When he saw Manny wiping the yellowish sap that passed for the zombie’s blood off his tomahawk onto an old towel.

  “His partner I think,” he said motioning to the yard. “Was sitting in a pool of his blood on the bathroom floor. Must have had a disagreement,” Manny said moving for the front door.