Their bodies were decaying and their stench was beginning to ruin the General's meals. Mick Canales had been brought in to install ventilation before supper this evening. It was unnerving to Mick to be working so close to these creatures. However, what he mostly was, is down right pissed off for the way these men were being treated. It was undignified for these heroic men to be kept as a source of amusement to this madman.
The General came in just as Mick was packing up his tools and took a sniff, “This is better.”
Mick sniffed, “You're welcome. I worked with Tobin to set the timer. Saves on electricity and heat. Now if you can get me a heat exchanger, I could do this up proper.”
“Whatever, just as long as I enjoy my meal.” The General snapped back.
Mick turned to the soldier guarding him, “Take me home Jeeves.”, then turning back to the General, “You know where to find me, if things need a little fine tuning.”
Sara Parsons waited in her room for her escort to take her to dinner with the General. She had no real idea why the General asked her to dinner, the man was more than twice her age. To be on the safe side she put on a dress with a revealing neckline. She was just finishing up her makeup when the knock sounded on her door.
Having enough sense to avoid giving the soldier a free look at the goods, Sara slipped a wrap over her shoulders before opening the door. The soldier had Sara walk in front of him as they made their way to the General's quarters. He eyed her backside appreciatively as it sashayed back and forth with each step. The soldier had no idea what the General was having for dinner, but he had a pretty fair idea what he going to have for dessert.
The General greeted Sara at the front door, took her wrap and showed her to the dining room, “Come in. Mister Grey has our dinner all set.”
Sara could see his eyes wandering to her cleavage, causing her to straighten up and roll her shoulders back, making the girls stand out, “Thank you. Its smells wonderful.”
The General pulled out a chair, “Please be seated.”
Sara sat and as the General closed the dining room door a noise made Sara looked to the back of the room, “Ohh mmy. I didn't know you kept them in here.”
The General seated himself at the end of the table, “It pleases me, to have my enemies watch me enjoy my victory over them. My set is incomplete without McPherson.”
Sara struggled for a reply, “Yeah that McPherson was a real piece of work.”
The General poured them each a glass of wine, “The man is a cold blooded killer, sneaking up on my men while in the orderly process of fulfilling their duties. How on earth did you people let such a man be in charge.”
Sara drained her glass to give her time to concoct a response. Holding her glass out for a refill, “He had the good Sergeant there behind him. We were all so afraid of the dead, we thought the soldiers were going to protect us. Pretty soon old Ivan starts barking out orders, tellin us do this and do that.”
Smiling the General filled her glass, “Ahh, I thought as much. A hayseed looking to take advantage. Besides the soldiers, who else helped McPherson?”
Sara returned the General's smile, her eyes beaming at him from behind the glass. He had given her the power to implicate anyone she wanted. She needed to take her time with this, “You might have to give me some time to think on this. There is, of course, the rest of the council, McPherson hand picked then without asking anyone else.”
The General topped off her glass, “We have the whole evening ahead of us. Would you be so kind as to retrieve our dinners from that tray behind you.”
Sara tasted her dinner, licked her lips with the tip of her tongue and touched the General's arm flirtatiously, “Mmm this is good. So General, if a may ask? Why did you, select me to dine with you this evening?”
“You alone have shown the presence of mind to work with me, instead of struggling against me.” The General answered.
Sara replied in almost a whisper, “Well yes, you are in control.”
The General nodded, “Indeed.”
The General slowly pulled his arm away from her hand, “When we came here, there were guards at the gates. Who organized them?”
While Sara wanted to strike out at Bill, she wanted to hurt him through that whore he hooked up with, “Blade, ahh Corporal Byrne lead our militia.”
The General could tell she was holding back and replied angrily, “The Corporal would have a chain of command. Tell me who they are?”
Sara's eyes teared and lowered her gaze submissively, “Please, don't be cross with me. I was not involved in these things. If you allow me I will find out for you.”
The General took her hand, “Of course, be my eyes and ears in the community. Be cautious, they cannot suspect you.”
Sara looked up, smiled and answered her voice husky, “Whatever you desire.”
The General patted her hand, “I have one final requirement tonight.”
Sara whispered, “Yes?”
The General pushed his chair back, parted his knees and opened his pants.
Sara looked at him and then back at the three corpses, “But they are watching.”
The General gave her a haughty laugh, “This is not open to debate woman. Pay no heed to those mindless creatures.”
Sara got down on her knees. Placed her hands on the General's legs and paused. The General placed a hand at the back of her head and pulled it down into his lap.
When you spend a lifetime laying next to someone, you become attuned to their rhythms. Percy always knew when Mae was restless or annoyed with him. He also knew when she was sleeping deeply. Even when he was asleep, he still could sense when Mae was in distress.
The disease that had taken Mae's mind, eventually wormed its way into the rest of her body. It came as no surprise to Percy that he awoke as Mae's breathing subtlety slowed. He resisted the instinctive urge to try and sustain her life and let her quietly slip away and waited for the inevitable.
Percy could have driven the small sharpened stick, he had prepared for this, into her brain before she turned. However, he wanted the chance to tell her goodbye and so he waited and watched. It was close to dawn, but still fully dark, when Mae's body began to stir. Percy raised himself to his knees over Mae's body, placed one hand gently on her throat just below her chin.
Mae's cold fingers reached towards Percy, “Darling Mae, I grew up never knowing luf or family. You gave me both. The man I am is because of you. I am sorry for the times, duty took me from you. When you are with Dorothy, tell my Liebchen, Papa misses her every day.”
Percy took the small dowel, no bigger than a pencil, and rammed it into Mae's ear canal, piercing through to the brain. Mae's struggles quieted and her flailing arms dropped. In the near dark of early morning Percy dressed Mae in her best dress, removing the small locket she wore with Dorothy's picture inside. Retaining that as his own keepsake, to remind him of both his wife and daughter.
When they were called to breakfast, Percy carried down Mae's body wrapped in a sheet. He ignored the stares, murmurs and offers of help. Crystal fell in step beside Percy, respecting his need for stoic silence.
At the community room Percy walked directly to Stu Redding, “Master Sergeant sir, I respectfully request to be allowed to bury my vife.”
Stu softened his demeanor at the request, “I am sorry for your loss. I'll assign a detail to watch over you. You know, the ground is going to be a bitch to break through. Why don't you pick out a couple of men to help you.”
Stu thought a moment and then added, “You don't want to do this on an empty stomach, come place your wife in the side office here, while you have something to eat.”
Crystal addressed the sergeant, “Mae and I, had developed a special connection, I'd like to be added to the burial party. I also ask you to allow the Pastor to say a few words.”
Stu looked at Crystal and nodded his approval and then turned back to Percy, “Follow me so you can set your wife down. When you're ready, bring your burial party to me.
”
Percy continued to refuse help in carrying Mae's body, so Crystal walked by his side. As they made their way to the small community graveyard, Bill and Jason helped wheel pastor Jim over. The two guards Stu had assigned kept a distance from the group, allowing them some privacy. At the graveyard, Percy picked a spot more in the sun, still the ground was frozen solid. Bill and Jason took turns with a pickaxe to loosen the topsoil.
Once they had broken through the top few inches digging became easier and they could switch to shovels. Crystal encouraged Percy to set Mae down and move in position to supervise the work.
With their backs to the guards Percy spoke quietly, “You vanted to talk?”
“Oh we don't need to bother with it now.” Crystal replied.
“Life goes on.” Percy stated.
“Alright, if you're sure. We were curious about a couple of things.” Crystal said.
“I vill do my best.” Percy responded.
“The young men, they took out on the special detail.” Crystal started.
“That is probably a recruitment exercise. They vill be vell treated. Though if it goes on long enough some may turn against us.” Percy exclaimed..
“Yeah, it was a regular party. They take us out on many more of these special details and there's a few that will be signing up.” Jason added.
Crystal then brought up the rooms and nightclub, Cassie had helped to set up. Percy visibly tensed as Crystal laid out the details.
“This is not good. They are making an I N I. I'll bet anything on it.” Percy said.
Crystal looked quizzically at Percy, “A what?”
Percy answered softly, “Intoxication and Intercourse. They are setting up a brothel.”
Crystal felt like she had been punched, “Shit.”
Bill crawled out of the grave, “I think we are deep enough. Percy can I help you with Mae?”
“Thank you.” Percy answered.
Pastor Jim rolled up and began to pray, “Heavenly Father, we commit the body of our sister Mae Evelyn Braun to the soil. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection into eternal life with you. Not this evil perversion that has spread across the world.”
One of the soldiers called out, “Looks like your done. Time to get back to it.”
Pointing a finger at Bill and then Jason, “You two are on wood pile, Wheels the greenhouse needs you and you other two have a field to clear. Move your asses.”
They made their way into the compound and one soldier peeled of directing Bill and Jason off. Corporal Smeils came up joining the soldier with Crystal, Percy and Pastor Jim. Crystal tensed as the General's enforcer approached.
“Hensley, how about I give you a hand and take the good Pastor here over to the greenhouse.” Smeils said.
“Gets me out of the cold quicker, he's all yours.” Hensley replied.
Crystal placed a worried hand on Jim's shoulder, but Smiley stepped in, “Don't worry sweetness, I'm a good driver. Wheelie here is in safe hands.”
Hensley directed Crystal and Percy out to the field where the others were working and Smiley pushed Jim's chair in the direction of the buildings that held their greenhouses. However, Corporal Smeils did not turn into the entrance of either greenhouse, but kept on going to the space between the two buildings. Leaning against one of the buildings was a large and heavy set soldier.
Pastor Jim tried to remain calm, “Uhh, I think you overshot the door.”
Corporal Smeils slowly brought the wheelchair to a stop, but stayed behind the Pastor, “You know, the General's been workin real hard to deliver a message here. He is trying to make you people understand the way the world is and your place in it.”
Jim gave a nervous laugh, “You all have made the General's position on things abundantly clear. Near as I can tell we have conformed to every one of his directives.”
Corporal Smeils clicked his tongue in admonishment, “Yet you continue to act like there is some higher power. That gives folks hope, for a better day. Whether these people see the light of day or breath the air is entirely at the General's whim.”
Jim lowered his head, “I can't help it, I serve the Lord. A man may not serve two masters. You may persecute me, but I will still pray for you. If you strike at me, I will offer you the other cheek as well.”
Smeils laughed out loud, “Hear that Beast, the man is asking for a beat down.”
Beast stepped in front of the Pastor, hands balled into fists. Jim raised his head in defiance and slowly turned his head to expose his cheek. Beast drew back left fist and landed a punch, causing Jim's head to snap back. Jim breathed in deep and turned his head exposing the other cheek. Beast threw a right causing blood to spray from Jim's mouth.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Jim uttered as Beast began to pummel his body.
“Blessed are those that mourn, for they will be comforted.” Jim struggled to get out.
Beast became enraged that this man refused to plead for the beating to stop.
Smeils laughed again, “Preacher man. I was just thinkin, when Beast here finishes beatin the life out of you, you are going to be one of the most pathetic dead piece of shit. Just sittin in your chair, ooohh so scary.”
Smeils found this image so hilarious that he broke into peals of laughter, totally unaware of the form coming up behind him. Lou Miller, hadn't been nicknamed Big Lou for no reason. Even the past few weeks of short rations, had barely made a dent in his size. When he let go a punch at the back of Corporal Smeils head, the man dropped like a sack of potatoes.
Beast, focused on delivering as much punishment to the Pastor as he could, only partially looked up as Smeils fell. Lou having to work with just his left arm the past few months, had strengthened that arm considerably. He put everything he had into the uppercut to Beast's jaw, literally picking the other man off his feet and sending him flying to the ground.
Lou didn't wait to make sure that Beast was as unconscious as Smeils, but grabbed hold of the back of the Pastor's chair. As he ran, unable to do anything more for the Pastor, he talked, “Jim, I'm hoping I'm right about this Sergeant fella. Otherwise, we're going to be in it, in about two shakes.”
Clearing the two buildings that held the greenhouses, Lou needed to cross the courtyard, “Doesn't look like they figured out I'm gone yet.” Lou took a quick glance over his shoulder, “It doesn't look like those two are following either. Let's get a move on Pastor.”
Sergeant Major Stu Redding was in the office he had taken for himself, near the community room. While Stu's primary function was to maintain the General's troop, combat ready, during this occupation he had also assumed the role to maintain order within the civilian population. His ability to do either of these had been hampered, by the deaths of two of his key squad leaders, trying to recapture Ivan McPherson.
Stu was glad to be able to turn over the recruitment task to SPC Josh Wade. Wade was able to sniff out men who would be willing to throw their loyalty behind the General and had the necessary lax moral compass. Smeils and Beast would be next in line, however, Stu saw them as sociopaths and their loyalty to the General was tied to them having opportunities to indulge their perverse desires.
While Stu was finding it increasingly difficult to blindly follow the General's orders, his loyalty to Mayhue was deep seated. Stu had been born with a harelip and his parents inability to afford proper medical care, left him with a permanent sneer and nasal speech. To make matters worse Stu's father died at an early age. Stu's mother eventually remarried a man who did not want children.
Stu was constantly upset at the bullying he received from other kids. His stepfather decided Stu needed to be toughened up and convinced his mother to send him to a military school. Stu found himself in an environment that had developed hazing to a fine art. To make matters worse, Stu who was a big as boys two years his senior, always seemed to be the one punished when he stood up to his tormentors.
Mathias Mayhue
, then a Lieutenant Colonel, saw something in the young man and taught him how to retaliate without bringing disciplinary action against himself. Under Mayhue's tutelage Stu advanced in rank and respect at the school. When Stu graduated, he joined the service and after boot camp, Mayhue transferred him into his unit. One of the first things, Mayhue did for Stu is order the repair of his septum, but required his lip be left alone. Mayhue felt that the sneer gave Stu an angry look.
Stu was disturbed when the guard in the lobby challenged, “Hold on you two, you got business here?”
Lou understood he needed to tread carefully, “Uh, I found our Pastor. Looks like he had some kind of an accident. Is the Sergeant here?”
Before the Private could answer, Stu exited his office, “What kind of accident?”
Heartland Zombie Apocalypse (Vol. 2): The Dead of Winter Page 13
