ME: I need you, man!
REGGIE: Why?
ME: because we’re brothers, man! My best friend. We been through hell and back!
REGGIE: Oh, no no no! Don’t pull that card. That shit ain’t right! Don’t toy with my emotions that way. I’ll chop your throat.
ME: We will be as sneaky as possible. Be careful. Just watching. We won’t take any risks.
REGGIE: That’s what we always say and then fuck it up.
ME: Just recon. We won’t get close and we got the tools to be as safe as possible.
REGGIE: I hate you. If I die I’m going to kill your ass!
ME: How would you kill me if-
REGGIE: Shut the fuck up! You damn well know what I meant.
ME: Let’s go see how Jim is doing with Kelly.
REGGIE: Yeah…that should be fun…if she ain’t done killed his ass.
**
As could be expected, Kelly was “flipping tables” over all of it. By the time we arrived they had calmed down a lot, but when Kelly opened the door she gave me that look she gave me many times before we got to Haven.
KELLY: Don’t worry, I’m not going to go off on you! Jim got the worst of it and suffered for you. I should have known you’d eventually do something like this!
REGGIE: I’m right there with ya, sister!
KELLY: Shut it, Reggie…you’re right there with Jack, don’t kiss my ass.
REGGIE: Shiiiiiiit.
KELLY: Finally safe and…[sigh].
JACK: Safe at the moment…it’s not totally safe if we don’t know what we face out there. We just need to-
KELLY: Save it, I got the whole gist of it from Jim.
JIM: Ben’s pissed, too.
ME: At me?
KELLY: Shit, no! As usual he wants to go with you and help. And you better-
ME: He’s not coming with us on this.
KELLY: Finally…we agree on something.
JIM: He’ll get over it. He’ll be double pissed though when we ask Travis and he can’t go.
ME: He’ll just have to deal. Travis is older.
JIM: Yeah, but you know Ben. Stubborn…and already using the case against us about all the time he was out there.
ME: Which he’s right, but he needs to take more time and just have some fun. He deserves it. Let him have the semblance of a normal life while he can.
**
Later on, I went to speak to Alexis about the plans. She was highly receptive and eager to help in keeping Haven safe.
ALEXIS: I’m glad Alan agreed to this. I would have never imagined.
ME: Well, after going over it all he realized the logic in knowing. Either way, he approved and we can hopefully begin soon. I just need to “recruit” a couple more at least.
ALEXIS: What made you come to me?
ME: Alan actually personally recommended you and I know you’re skilled in firearms and archery. You have experience on the outside.
ALEXIS: He recommended me? That’s fucking awesome! Glad I’m thought highly of by the big brass [laughs].
ME: What do you prefer? Firearms or a bow?
ALEXIS: I always carry my handy dandy compound bow. Primary. I also keep a side arm pistol and a blade. Bow’s are quiet. No need attracting other dead heads.
ME: We only used firearms when we had no choice out there.
ALEXIS: Yeah, I always see you guys walking around with a gun on one side and a blunt weapon on the other. Reggie and his machete…Kelly and her hatchet and Jim and his bat. And of course you with your crowbar.
ME: Got it from an asshole I once knew. He doesn’t need it these days.
ALEXIS: Obviously. Well, I’m on board! You just let me know when you got everyone assembled and we can have a group meeting.
ME: Sounds good. Thank you, Alexis. It’s asking a lot, putting yourself at risk like this.
ALEXIS: Have to these days, mister. It’s for the greater good. No thanks is needed.
**
Later that night around 9:00 I caught up with Travis near Rachel’s place. I waited until Ben went home to Jim and Kelly’s. I didn’t need to argue with Ben right now.
TRAVIS: It’s crazy. You’re absolutely out of your damn mind. It’s dangerous as hell-
ME: Let me go over it with you some-
TRAVIS: And I want in!
ME: I…what? Oh!
TRAVIS: [laughs]. All I said stands, but you don’t need to explain. It’s kind of self explanatory. It’s smart. Shocked Alan agreed, but it’s smart.
ME: Well, that was easy. You saved me making a big speech.
TRAVIS: I was never one for speeches, anyhow. So who we got? You and I, and I’m assuming Reggie and Jim? Kelly?
ME: Kelly no, she’ll be here with Ben, who’s having a shit fit right now.
TRAVIS: He didn’t mention anything to me.
ME: He was told to keep it on down low until I could talk to people.
TRAVIS: Well, I agree with you. He doesn’t need to go out there. He’s tough as nails and smart. Resourceful little shit, but still.
ME: Maybe you can get him to calm down?
TRAVIS: Yeah, I’ll talk to him. No problem.
ME: Okay. And Alexis is on board.
TRAVIS: Good! She can handle herself. She’s like a damn ninja.
ME: I’m also going to talk to Todd.
TRAVIS: I don’t know him well enough to say much…a few small conversations and that’s about it. I will say one thing, though…that day…he didn’t hesitate and he was a good shot. I’d say he’s had some experience with guns.
ME: We didn’t talk weapons but I just had a good feeling about him after I spoke with him.
TRAVIS: Well, we need all the help we can get for this. We have no clue how many Head Hunters there are. I wouldn’t imagine they outnumber us…but, doesn’t truly mean much…half the people here aren’t fighters. Not properly trained.
ME: That might be something we should be working on. Alan never brought that up?
TRAVIS: Nah.
ME: I’ll talk to him later. Everyone should know how to deal with a threat. We need contingency plans in place, too. What if shit went down and we got separated? We have to think ahead.
TRAVIS: You’re good at this. The hell were you back in the world? Military adviser or something?
ME: Just a security guard. I think about these things because of what we went through. We learned through trial and error and learned to think five steps ahead out there.
TRAVIS: Makes sense.
ME: Okay, I’m heading home. I’ll stop at Todd’s tomorrow and then call a meeting at my place once I have everyone we need on board.
TRAVIS: Sweet. I’ll see ya then.
**
The weather was warm…about sixty give or take…when I stood on Todd’s cement patio behind his one story house. Like most spring days it was cloudy and threatened rain at any moment.
TODD: Gotta say, pal. I’m surprised you asked.
ME: I know you care about this place as much as anyone else. Like I said, other people just need to get to know you. They assume things because of the distance you keep. But they’re grateful and have respect for you, believe me.
TODD: Larry mentioned some people said they were glad I was there to help that day…I really appreciated that. Yeah, I’ll help. Does that conclude the entire team then?
ME: Yes. You and I…Jim, Reggie, Travis and Alexis.
TODD: Suicidal Six.
ME: Don’t jinx us. Reggie would strongly agree with you, though. We’ll meet tonight.
**
Originally, we were going to meet and go over everything and report it all to Alan…instead we decided to have the meeting at Alan’s and go over it all at once.
JIM: There’s quite a few buildings we can gain access to and watch from. They’re at a safe enough distance. We can set up our listening dishes and watch with the binoculars.
ME: Don’t forget the buddy system we set up. No one goes alone. We do this with two teams
of three and three teams of two when need be.
REGGIE: Well, duh. I sure as fuck ain’t doing anything alone.
TRAVIS: What gear do we have to work with? I mean how much?
ME: We have four pairs of binoculars, three of those listening dishes and one night scope. Flashlights of course.
REGGIE: Wait, Imma stop ya right the fuck there. We’re going out at night?!
JIM: Well, yeah. Day recons and night recons.
ME: We have to know their patterns and routines. That includes night.
REGGIE: This gets better and fuckin’ better. Won’t see any Roamers creeping up on us.
ME: We’ve been out in the dark before…just been awhile.
ALEXIS: But what if there’s infected inside some of these buildings we need in? We’ll have to be extremely quiet clearing them. And if a ton came out of somewhere, we may have to end up shooting.
TODD: She’s right. If that happens we’ll be dealing with the dead and the Head Hunters. We’ll be sitting ducks.
REGGIE: Todd is smart, I agree…let’s scrap this whole silly thing and go back to being happy. Who’s with me?
TODD: I didn’t say scrap. I’m simply saying we have to be extra careful.
ME: I’m thinking they would have cleared out most infected anywhere near them on their own. It’s probably ninety-nine percent infected clear.
REGGIE: That’s a one percent chance of us getting fucked up…which is still too high for me.
ME: Nothing we can do about it. I’d be willing to guess it’s safest around there than anywhere else. They’re not going to let Roamers freely wander around their camp.
TODD: Maybe not wander…doesn’t mean they’re not there.
ALAN: What’s that mean?
TODD: These people could easily use infected as weapons or as security. Set traps that will open doors and let them flood out. Have Stagnants sitting here and there…if they spot something they scream…perfect security system.
REGGIE: Shit fuck! I never thought of something like that! Now I’m more spooked than I already was about this.
TRAVIS: But they’d have to be stupid! Dead Calls would alert them, sure…but it’d attract other infected. Including Bolters.
ME: Well, we already know these folks aren’t stable. Maybe they think it’s worth the risks.
ALEXIS: You think they just go around scavenging to survive?
JIM: Maybe for awhile…I think they probably kill anyone they see when they have the chance and take their shit, too.
ALEXIS: Who the hell would approach them for help to even get themselves killed? I’ve never seen the place but from what I’ve heard it’s not too inviting sounding.
ME: They probably travel out and find people.
TRAVIS: Least people have a warning when they see the place to go the hell the other way. Could be worse…imagine if they looked inviting, like here. They’d be drawing poor suckers in.
ALAN: That’s absolutely horrifying!
JIM: Well, that’s not the case. People don’t seem to travel a lot through there, though. It’s an urban area and most people know that means more infected. We find more people cause they’re cutting through the countryside.
ALAN: Right, right.
ME: That’s the plan, to take us back to the main subject, to scope them from a distance. A far distance at first.
ALAN: When are you guys starting this?
REGGIE: Next year.
ME: Next week, gives us time to really map it all out. We meet each night until then. Good?
All were in agreement. Well, except Reggie.
**
After a week of meticulous planning and debate we were ready to begin. We decided for the first “recon mission” we would arrive in the far side of main street just before dawn, as the sun was peaking on the horizon…enough to avoid needing headlights. Easier to do these days, considering traffic is non-existent. On clear bright nights when we needed to be out at night (which was rare) or got caught out after sunset, we drove slow with our lights off to avoid detection. Of course, we try to avoid night travel if we can help it. But it would be necessary a few times to watch these assholes and see exactly what they were up to. It was to ensure the safety of our people. I thought we at least owed that to Chuck. I also believe, knowing how Chuck was, he wouldn’t have wanted a fight to erupt and risk further lives of Haven. Had Alan not been able to keep control and talk some people down, war is what would have occurred.
Once we were creeping down main street I began to have flashbacks of the first time we had came here. How easily we could have been killed. Dawn was slowly approaching. It was still rather dark. Reggie, Todd and myself were in my SUV (yep, still have it). Jim, Alexis and Travis were next to us on the “wrong side” of the street in that red truck we first met Ray, Travis and Kurt in. That red truck we once dodged like we dodge the infected. How times have changed.
I raised the night scope and zoomed in down the street. We weren’t close enough to see them. I scanned the buildings lining the sides of the street, checking every window and roof top. No sign of anyone on watch this far up. No signs of any infected either, for that matter.
I hated this.
I motioned for Jim to creep forward with us. We slowly accelerated toward the small hill that dips down. We stopped at the top. Again, I scanned the buildings on each side. I focused next down the road. I could make out the two box trucks. A man was standing on each one, both brandishing what could have been automatic rifles. In the grassy areas off to the sides of the trucks were the same sticks planted firmly in the ground. A head was on the top of each one.
ME: I see two men…one on each truck.
Reggie began that nervous shuffle of his in the seat beside me.
TODD: The fuck you doing??
REGGIE: Shitting my pants, how about you??
ME: It’s a nervous tick he’s got…you’ll get used to it, believe me.
TODD: What do you see?
ME: Just the two guys. Armed. Heads on sticks like before.
REGGIE: Fuck this, man. Why’d I agree to this? Feeling rather stupid now.
I leaned out the rolled down window and whispered over to Travis what I saw. Jim raised his binoculars…it was starting to get light out and he could vaguely make them out. He gave a nervous look as he handed the binoculars over to Alexis and Travis.
JIM: We need to back up out of view…in a few minutes we’re gonna be visible to them.
REGGIE: Go back! Go back!
ME: We’re going, fuckin’ relax.
We reversed about fifty yards back and parked between two buildings and out of sight. We stepped out and looked around with caution. Not a sound and nothing in sight.
ALEXIS: What now?
REGGIE: Something stupid, I’m sure.
ME: We go on foot and take a closer look.
REGGIE: Fuckin’ called it.
JIM: Shh!
We made our way down the sidewalk toward the hill; keeping as close to the buildings as possible. I kept looking into the store front windows expecting to see something hideous looking back at me. We crossed the street and ducked around a building at the top of the hill and made our way around it. Behind the three story structure we found a fire escape. It was perfect. I had Todd and Jim boost me to reach it. Once there, I carefully slid the later down to them. We all made our way up to the roof and crawled to the edge of the roof and looked over their front truck wall. Reggie looked over at me in dismay.
**
It was hard to make a lot out at the distance we we were at. I raised binoculars. At first I wasn’t sure of everything I was looking at. Slowly it all came together like a puzzle to give me a clear picture.
Multiple garden plots dotted the left of the road leading further down. A few women were tending to them. They looked a little tense and we soon saw why. One of them stood up as a dark haired man walked past. It looked like she maybe asked a question…he abruptly slapped her hard across the face, sending her to the ground.
He yelled something inaudible and pointed to the garden she just landed next to.
I lowered my binoculars. I looked to my left and saw Reggie looking back at me. He didn’t look too fearful anymore. He looked downright pissed off. He shook his head in disgust.
The Dead Lands Diary Vol. II) Page 5
