One Hour to Live

by Gary M. Chesla

  “I’m fine,” Lisa replied.

  Kevin looked at Lisa.

  “I’ll tell you all about it later,” Lisa said.

  “Relax Kevin,” Bob said.

  Kevin slowly turned his head to look up at his dad who was standing next to the bed looking down at him.

  “You just opened your eyes for the first time in three days,” Bob smiled. “Give it few more hours.”

  “Three days!” Kevin said sounding surprised.

  “Yeah, you’ve been loafing around up here for three days,” Lisa smiled, “while the rest of us have been doing all the work.”

  Kevin looked back at Lisa.

  “Did you tell Dad what we saw?” he asked.

  “She told me,” Bob said as Lisa nodded. “For the first time in my life, I’m happy we live in Bolivar.”

  “How have things been around here?” Kevin asked.

  “Except for Bill’s moping around because you didn’t bring any beer back with you,” Bob laughed. “It hasn’t been too bad. A dozen zombies paid us a visit yesterday. They hung around for a few hours but eventually moved on.”

  “Sorry I missed them,” Kevin grinned.

  “Just rest for a few more hours,” Bob said. “We can talk later.”

  Bob and Sandy got up and went down stairs, leaving Lisa alone with Kevin.

  “I think I’m starting to feel a little better,” Kevin said as he tried to sit up.

  Lisa put her hands on his shoulders to make him stay down.

  “I figured that when you grabbed Sandy’s leg,” Lisa smiled. “Thank God I got up here when I did.”

  “Funny,” Kevin replied.

  “Sandy didn’t think it was so funny,” Lisa grinned. “At least at first, but if you would have had another two or three minutes with her, I think she would have come around.”

  “Stop,” Kevin laughed. “It hurts when I laugh.”

  “Sorry,” Lisa laughed. “I haven’t been able to tease you for three days. I’m ready to explode.”

  “I’m sure you are,” Kevin tried to laugh.

  “Hey,” Lisa smiled. “Don’t start something if you can’t handle the consequences.”

  “Good idea,” Kevin replied as he closed his eyes.

  Lisa leaned down and kissed him.

  “Rest now,” Lisa said. “I’ll come back in an hour and bring you a sandwich. You must be starving.”

  “I am, just don’t bring me any liver,” Kevin said.

  “Don’t worry,” Lisa smiled. “Bill ate all the liver. He said it tasted purrrrfect.”

  Kevin laughed.

  “Stop it already,” he laughed. “Please.”

  “OK,” Lisa replied. “Only because you said please.”

  “Why don’t you lay down with me for a while,” Kevin asked. “It will make me feel better knowing you’re here.”

  Lisa snuggled up next to Kevin.

  “OK, but if you grab my leg, I’m going to scream,” Lisa laughed.

  “Then I promise not to touch your leg,” Kevin whispered.

  “That will be the day,” Lisa laughed.

  Lisa smiled as Kevin leaned his head against her shoulder and promptly fell asleep.

  Chapter 19

  September, One year ago

  Bob and Bill sat at the table.

  Sandy sat across from them.

  “Are you sure?” Bob asked.

  “Positive,” Sandy answered. “It was a green van. I was sitting on the porch, you said it was OK for me to sit on the porch so long as I was careful and kept my eyes open.”

  “I know,” Bob replied. “I’m not yelling at you. You didn’t do anything wrong. When did you see the van again?”

  “Ten minutes ago,” Sandy replied. “I saw it yesterday too when I was out there.”

  “You should have told us yesterday,” Bob said, trying to keep his emotions hidden so as not to scare Sandy. “You’re sure it was the same van?”

  Sandy nodded.

  “I didn’t think it was important then,” Sandy replied. “It was just a van. It was just driving on the street. I didn’t think that was anything unusual.”

  “Do you think we should try to stop them if we see them again?” Bill asked. “They could tell us where they’ve been and what they’ve seen out there. Maybe there are areas that aren’t as bad as what Kevin saw in Seward and New Florence.”

  “I don’t know Bill,” Bob replied as he thought about it. “It just seems damn unusual. I mean I’m not all that surprised. We’re alive, I’m sure it’s possible that there are others out there that are also alive. But after what happened to Kevin, this van showing up now just makes me feel uncomfortable.”

  “What happened to Kevin happened in Seward. Like I said, they could be from anywhere,” Bill said. “I would feel better knowing there are some other people out there that could help us. Believe me, we could use all the help we can get.”

  Bob scratched his head and thought.

  “I don’t know,” he replied. “My gut is telling me that something isn’t right.”

  Bob looked at Sandy who had turned white and was trembling as she sat on the wooden kitchen chair.

  Bob knew when raising Kevin, that kids didn’t always tell you the whole truth, not because they were trying to hide something, but because they really didn’t understand the question or fully appreciate the situation.

  Sandy, Bob was sure, didn’t understand what all had happened over the last week.

  She knew something was very wrong, but he was sure she didn’t fully comprehend the scope of what the appearance of the zombies meant for their future.

  Her thoughts existed in the context of her world, which was very limited. Her world only consisted of Robinson, her home and her school.

  The outside world held little meaning to her.

  Bob was sure she wasn’t thinking that there were zombies all over the country right now.

  Bob wasn’t sure this was the case, but at least he was able to consider the possibility that zombies had overrun everything. All indications were that was what had happened.

  At her age, Sandy also trusted just about everyone.

  She had little experience with or hadn’t seen the dark side of mankind yet.

  Bob decided to rephrase his questions.

  Sandy was nervous, he wanted to find out why. It couldn’t all be because she thought she was in trouble for not telling him about the appearance of the van sooner.

  Something else was bothering her.

  “Now Sandy, you’re not in trouble,” Bob smiled. “But why did you decide to tell me about the van today, but you didn’t think it was important to tell me yesterday?”

  “Because it scared me today,” Sandy replied.

  “Why did it scare you today and not yesterday?” Bob asked.

  “Because they stopped out on the street and were looking at me,” Sandy replied.

  “Why did that scare you?’ Bob asked.

  “I recognized them,” Sandy replied and began to tremble. “They were the men that hit Kevin with the wrench. They looked at me and pointed. I could see them laughing.”

  “Shit!” Bob thought to himself.

  “Then what did they do?” Bob asked.

  “When they saw me looking at them, they drove away real fast,” Sandy replied.

  “Would you do me a favor?” Bob asked.

  Sandy nodded.

  “It’s a real important job,” Bob said. “Would you go back out and sit on the porch and keep your eyes open and let me know right away if you see or hear that van again?”

  “OK,” Sandy replied, then got up and went outside.

  “Why would those guys come around here?” Bill asked.

  “Whatever their reasons, I don’t like it,” Bob replied. “Do me a favor and keep an eye on Sandy. Don’t go outside. I don’t like the idea that van has come back two days in a row. My first thought is they are checking us out. If they don’t know you and I are here, I want to keep it that way. I
’ll be back in a minute.”

  “Where you going?” Bill asked.

  “Just keep an eye on Sandy,” Bob said as he stood and walked to the stairway.

  Bob walked up the steps and went to Kevin’s room.

  In Kevin’s condition, Bob wasn’t too concerned about walking in on a private moment between Kevin and Lisa.

  He was aware there had been many private moments in that room recently.

  That was fine with him, Bob was happy for them.

  The look in their eyes each morning when they came down for breakfast, reminded him of Monica.

  Bob also knew that, in all probability, Kevin and Lisa’s time together would end much sooner that they knew, just like Bob’s time with Monica had ended.

  Even if the world returned to normal, there never seemed to be enough time for things like that.

  The good things in life never seemed to last as long as you would want.

  With what had happened to the world, the long-term prospects didn’t look good for any of them.

  Bob opened the door and looked inside the room.

  Lisa was snuggled up next to Kevin.

  They both appeared to be asleep.

  Bob walked quietly over to the bed and gently shook Lisa’s arm.

  A smile spread across Lisa’s face, then she slowly opened her eyes.

  She was startled to see Bob looking down at her and her smile changed to a look of concern.

  Bob put his finger to his lips and whispered, “I need you to come downstairs.”

  Lisa nodded and slowly took her arms from around Kevin and slowly slid off the bed.

  Bob was waiting at the table when she entered the kitchen.

  Bill was standing at the window, looking out between the cracks in the shutter that covered the window.

  “What’s the matter, Bob?” Lisa asked as she sat down at the table.

  “A couple questions first.” Bob replied then asked, “Did you or Kevin tell those guys in Seward where you lived?”

  “Yeah, Kevin told them we were from Bolivar,” Lisa answered. “In fact, they asked us for a ride to Bolivar to get away from Seward. I don’t think they were serious about a ride. I think it was just a distraction so they could get in position to hit Kevin and take our car. Why?”

  Other than the wrench they hit Kevin with, did you see if they have any real weapons?” Bob asked.

  “Not that I saw,” Lisa replied. “Bob why are you asking me these questions? What’s wrong?”

  “Sandy said she saw them drive by the house today,” Bob said. “She saw them drive by yesterday too. She said when they saw her watching them, they sped off.”

  “Damn,” Lisa replied. “Why in hell are they coming here.”

  “Times like this brings out the best and the worst in people,” Bob replied. “Some people will get together and work to make the best of a bad situation, while others might see it as an opportunity to do what they weren’t able to do when there were laws to keep them in line.”

  “Like steal someone’s car,” Lisa replied.

  “Besides trying to steal the car, what else did they do or say?” Bob asked.

  “Like what?” Lisa asked.

  “Did they make any,” Bob paused, then said, “inappropriate comments?”

  “Do you mean did I think I was going to be raped?” Lisa asked. “I got the idea that was a good possibility. It was more the way they looked at me than what they said. They said they would find something to do with us. They all got a big laugh out of that comment. Steve also made a comment about putting me over his knee and beating my ass, but I could see it in their eyes. I figured it could happen as soon as they got me us someplace where they didn’t have to worry about being interrupted.”

  Bob nodded, “That’s what I figured too. How’s Kevin?”

  “He said he was feeling a little better, then he fell asleep,” Lisa replied. “He’s not ready for this yet.”

  Lisa thought for a second then asked, “Do you think they found us and were scouting us out for the best way to get in here?”

  “That’s what I was thinking,” Bob said. “I’m not sure if they know Bill and I are here. He and I should stay out of sight until we see what they are up to, it could be an advantage for us.”

  Lisa looked around.

  “Where’s Sandy?” she asked.

  “She’s out on the porch keeping a lookout,” Bob replied. “I have Bill keeping an eye on her. She’s OK.”

  “What do you think they will do?” Lisa asked. “They know we’re here, I just know they are going to come back to try and finish the job. They were a bunch of arrogant assholes. I think they were pissed off more than they were afraid when I got the drop on them with Bill’s shotgun. Thank God they didn’t try to get the gun away from me. I think that Al wanted to call my bluff, but the zombies coming up on the bridge made them change their minds and just leave. It was probably the only time I could say I was happy to see zombies.”

  “You showed a lot of guts,” Bob said.

  “No, that would have happened in another five minutes if I wouldn’t have gotten off that bridge,” Lisa smiled weakly.

  Bob thought for a minute.

  “For now, we’ll stay alert,” Bob replied. “I need to think about this for a while.”

  “If they don’t come back soon,” Lisa asked. “Do you think they might try to sneak up on us during the night.”

  “I doubt it,” Bob replied, not unless they are stupid. With all the zombies that are out there, I doubt they will come back at night. It would be too dangerous. The zombies could get them in the dark before they knew those things were out there.”

  “What can I do to help?” Lisa asked.

  “For now, until I can think this through, how about you sit by the bedroom window and keep watch. You should have a good view from up there,” Bob replied. “In the meantime, I’ll have Bill keep an eye on Sandy while I try to figure out how I would attack us if I were them. They found a car, we have to assume they also found weapons somewhere.”

  “If they got their hands on some guns,” Lisa asked. “Do you think they might just try to pick us off one by one?”

  “I don’t think so.” Bob replied as he thought about how to phrase his next words. “I think they are going to want to get you and Sandy alive.”

  “I think I would rather be dead,” Lisa grumbled.

  “Don’t worry your pretty head over this. We’re not going to let that be an option,” Bob smiled. “Why don’t you go upstairs, keep an eye on Kevin and let me know if you see them trying to sneak up on us.”

  “OK,” Lisa said. “I wish that damn shotgun would have been loaded.”

  Lisa got up and went back upstairs.

  Kevin was still asleep, but his skin color had returned to normal from the pale pasty color it had been the last two days.

  Lisa dragged the stuffed chair from under the reading light in the corner over nearer to the window.

  She sat down and propped her feet up on the window sill as she looked down over the yard and Market Street.

  Lisa hoped that Steve and his friends would go somewhere else and leave them alone.

  Bob said she had showed guts the other day, but she wondered if he had any idea how scared she had been.

  She did the only thing she could think of at the time.

  It was either that or, she didn’t want to think about what would have come next.

  She could have endured their abuse, if it would have ended there, but she knew after that they would have probably beat her to death just for the hell of it.

  Lisa looked back down into the yard.

  She started to tremble.

  She didn’t know if she had it in her to face those guys again.

  She doubted she would be as lucky the next time.

  If she were a cat, over the last week she had already used up eight of her nine lives.

  Bob got up from the table and walked over to the closet.

  He reac
hed in his vest which was hanging on a hook on the closet wall.

  He ran his hands through the vest pockets and pulled out the shotgun shells.

  “Sixteen shells,” Bob thought when he finished counting the shells in his hands.

  “It might be enough,” he said to himself, “there are only three of them.”

  Bob slipped all but four of the shells back into the vest.

  He took the four shells that were still in his hand and walked over to Bill.

  “Here, put these in your pocket and not your gun,” Bob said. “I don’t want to get accidentally shot in the ass before we get through this.”

  Bill took the shells and dropped them in his front pants pocket.

  “I heard you talking to Lisa,” Bill said. “Do you really think those guys will be back. Since they know Sandy saw them, maybe they will think it best to just move on.”

  “No, they will be back,” Bob replied. “Their kind won’t leave until they get what they want or they’re forced to move on.”

  “If they come back, I could run out in the yard with my shotgun,” Bill grinned, “Maybe that would scare them away.”

  “Or maybe they would die laughing,” Bob replied. “You and I can’t let them know we are here until the last minute. The element of surprise might be the only thing we have going for us.”

  “OK, we wait until they show up and then both of us jump out with our shotguns,” Bill smiled. “I got you.”

  “No I don’t think we can scare them away,” Bob replied. “At least not that way. If three young guys show up with rifles and see two old men with shotguns and two girls welding kitchen utensils, I don’t think they will be shaking in their boots.”