by catt dahman
The cuffs were protocol in case he turned, which had been proven necessary in ninety-nine percent of the cases.
She deftly laced a strap across his chest and used bolts in the floor to secure the strap. He wouldn’t be able to move fast if he turned and became dangerous. “How is he?”
“He’s in mild shock and has lost a lot of blood, but the IV should help. He has painkillers and antibiotics started, and the bleeding is slowing. I think it’ll stop soon.”
“Sitrep?” Mark yelled.
“Alive and it’s hopeful,” Rae yelled back. In a quiet voice, she asked Lance, “How are you?” She held a sports drink for him to sip.
“That’s enough.”
“Lance, you know the rules; I can’t have you going into shock. What you did was very emotionally and physically difficult. Now behave, and drink. Nick will have to drink, too.”
Neither man argued but did as she asked. Rae looked over the situation again to be sure she hadn’t missed anything that needed to be done. She had a mental checklist she followed.
The creatures were finally finished off, and all that the group had to do was remove bodies and move cars. Len sent two to relieve Mark and Jessie, and they went to the van. Len was able to report that Matt’s team was having little action, and they were helping move cars.
“What happened?” Len asked.
Some of the team explained, and Len winced. “I hope Lance didn’t put that boy through too much pain. He’s gonna turn anyway.”
“It was less than a minute, Len,” Lance said.
Len shrugged and looked at Mark. It was his team, and what they did seemed best at the time and under the circumstances.
Len changed his tone. “I’m sorry, Lance. You did the right thing, and I hope he does well. That was quick thought and action.”
“I would have called it the same; it was one bite, and Lance moved fast, but Robbie was active after the bite, so he may have sent the infection through his bloodstream.
Since we were in the battle, it would have been a wasted attempt just to sit him down, finish, and then come back to shoot him. We could have just put a round in his head, but we were under stealth orders to use melee weapons, and it would have been hard to spear him in the eye.
We could have let him fight, but the activity would turn him faster, and we’d be back to the spear in the eye, or maybe he would have gotten one of us since we have weak-sister on the job,” Mark said.
“But you had two fighters out of the battle tending him,” said Len although he did need to bring that point to their attention.
“Derek and Manuel picked up; each did the work of two men. Trip’s multi-prong spear did the work of another man, too.”
“Foxy Roxie Rae drove over those poor bastards and smashed the stuffing outta them…sure made our work easy,” Len said, “you all did fine.”
He knew Mark was by far the most supportive of them all and always found a way to bolster morale; he was a good man.
Lance nodded, “Rae’s getting here made a difference; she started an IV, hoping it would work…got him warm…and Rae secured him.”
Len noted the handcuff and the strap. “Rae, you got another strap? Mad Max did this for us and trained us; would you run another strap across his forehead? I’d feel better.”
“Len, we got a mouth strap in here; you want it on him, too?”
Mark nodded, and Len said yes. “We can’t have slip-ups we can prevent. I think Lance did the right thing by far, but I think he’s gonna turn,” Len said.
Lance crawled out of the van after he applied cream and bandages to Robbie’s shoulder and tossed the gloves into a bag he sealed and threw away. “I had to try. I feel sick now.”
“You gave him a chance, and you manned up on a hard task. Well done, Lance. I commend you for quick action, empathy for a fellow soldier, excellent medical care, and extreme bravery.”
Mark added, “I concur. Damned good job in very bad conditions. Lance, you had a shock to your system with this event, so I would like you riding with the patient and watching him. Please have your sidearm available and ready to use if needed. Good job, soldier.”
“Lance, if you feel light headed or dizzy, let the driver know at once, okay? We can’t have you passing out beside a possible infected person. Carry on the missions. We’re within spitting distance.”
Lance climbed in with Robbie, and Len closed the doors.
Chapter 29
Clean Breeze Across The Island
“After trucks were angled across the bridge, cutting off the way onto the island, the teams began to explore.
Facing Sabine Lake, cabins sat unused, and with some heavy cleaning and repair, they would make an excellent camp for everyone planning to move in, and with a little work, the cabins would be water tight. Even a hand pump with plenty of cold well water was close by.
“We’ve also got the cool outhouses.”
There were fenced areas with a barn; fertile soil, the best soil imaginable, waiting to be planted; and a clean breeze that blew across the island.
“There are crab, fish, and shrimp,” Nick told Len.
“And before you ask, there’s no change; he’s hanging on, but he doesn’t look good.”
“Tomorrow we’ll blow the other bridge so the only way on and off will be the main bridge and by boat. We also need to look for any zeds who are here, and then
you can hold the fort and get some things clean before they bring the rest back with us,” Len said, “sound about right, Mark?”
“Sounds good to me. The trip back to Hopetown will be fast, but coming back here is gonna be slow since we’ll be moving cattle and other animals.
Those who stay need to be iron strong while waiting for us and not panic. No matter what, this has to remain our strong hold; we have people depending on this place.”
“You want me to stay?” Big Bill asked Len.
“Knowing you and Jessie and his guys are here would set my mind more at ease. Thank you.”
“Lance’s team is going to stay,” Mark said.
Two days later, as the group began to make their final good-byes and load up for the trip, Mark felt chilled as he looked at the men who were going to stay. They were all seasoned, strong fighters who had level heads, could solve problem, and were calm; they were excellent at what they did.
Yet, Mark had the odd feeling that he was seeing them for the last time.
Chapter 30
Leaving Hoptown: This Place Is Far Too Large
True to plan, those leaving Hopetown were packed and ready to move out when the teams came for them.
Unfortunately, the faces weren’t just hopeful and excited but were also drawn and worried about the approaching travel.
Since the others had gone, there were random attacks on Hopetown that seemed more controlled and orchestrated than before, as Berserkers joined in the fight.
“Almost like they knew we were gone,” Len said thoughtfully.
“Exactly,” Beth agreed, “it was creepy how they waited.”
Beth explained that they had fought back well and killed those who tried to get inside, but she pointed out that Hopetown was so large and spread out, the fences were so much older and damaged, and the risks were greater of the compound falling.
She felt as if the area needed to be reinforced and made more compact for safety.
“I don’t know to what extent they think and plan,“ said Beth.
“Jessie said they do; I mean they can do both,” Len muttered. “The ones we saw out there, some were more alert, and some were just faster than the rest and were only concerned with eating.”
“Just because someone is insane and eats humans doesn’t mean he can’t be a thinker and planner,” Kim said.
“I got the feeling that these were not the brightest bulbs in the pack, yanno,” Beth explained.
“They were the ones directing but not brilliantly. We know there is something between perfectly normal, moral hybrids, and those i
nsane, stupid ones. We just haven’t seen many yet,” Len said, “I started thinking, what if they use tools and wire cutters? Weapons?”
“I thought the same,” Beth said, “I think if they had attacked at that stage and weren’t just goop-brained, they could have been devastating to a camp.
It’d be better to have our backs protected and not so much open area to worry about. This place is far too large.”
“We didn’t expect this threat when we expanded,” Kim said.
Several large groups wanted to go to Zooville because it had stronger fence lines and had already sent news that more would be welcomed there.
Chapter 31
I Am Not A Prion-Controlled Zombie
Hannah and Ponce had reminded everyone that while they were hybrids, against their will, they didn’t show any signs of Berserker behavior and would work hard for the new compound: the house on the hill.
Ponce and Hannah were going to work the land around the house in Jefferson and build up a little settlement but invited any who wanted to join them. Immediately, two dozen wanted to go.
Hannah had said the words, and she meant them, but she also had her own doubts. Right now, she didn’t know why she had done some things. She faintly remembered killing her parents because they were a threat to her, trying to take her out among the infected for a walk, refusing to protect their home or themselves, and not believing the news reports.
She didn’t recall why her brother and sister were a threat and thought it might have been they were infected, but that didn’t feel right either, and sometimes, she rubbed at spots where tiny crescent moon shapes marred her skin.
She knew she had brutally slaughtered the doctor and guard who inoculated her against her will because they were crazed with their talk of a new breed. She had no choice.
As for Carol, Hannah knew the women constantly told her she was crazy, but the time inside the car dealership was a little hazy, and Hannah didn’t think she wanted to remember the details.
Since then, maybe she had done some hard-edged things, but there wasn’t much difference between survivors and those who had done the hard things or cowards and those who had ended up eaten.
Okay, so there was that time Ponce and she ate human flesh after she rescued him from the fanatical religious family, but the other victim was already dead.
Ponce was starving, and he wouldn’t have eaten enough to help himself if Hannah had not encouraged him and if he had not proven time and time again his value to the survivors? It was justified.
Hannah was either a born and raised sociopath, or she was a tough person, capable of doing whatever was necessary to save herself, her family, and her friends.She wasn’t a prion-controlled zombie.
Or so she hoped.
She was a good person, she told herself. She would die gladly for her father and siblings. She would rip herself to shreds with her own teeth for her mother, Beth.
John Ponce smiled at her encouragingly as people offered to go with them and make a new settlement even as they explained it would be hard work and dangerous. It seemed that some were concerned about a large settlement baiting the zombies and were leery of being able to defend such a large place in the future.
Chapter 33
Stupid Never Dies
The cattle were taken out in a herd first and moved to a place of safety until they could all join up and go to Port Arthur. Teeg saluted the rest as he saddled up to ride with the cowboys, instead of in a vehicle.
“ ’Cause you taught me to ride so well,” he told Beth with a wink.
“You be careful, you, too, Carl. I worry about you boys when I’m not there to watch your backs.”
Both men grinned.
“That’s right, Bethy; I can’t count how many times you’ve put me over your back and carried my big ass to safety,” Teeg said as he laughed.
“When did he get so damned cheeky?” Beth asked Carl.
In the evening while everyone said good bye and made last minute plans, Beth wandered the compound, unable to sleep, remembering when she had first thought of settling here and how the group had fought for it, both good and bad times.
It was just too big to keep secure now; too many people were there. Once, she had known everyone by name, and now she knew only one in five she saw.
Her babies were born here. She grew into a strong woman here and watched Hannah do the same. While George, her mentor and her heart lived and died here,
she still could feel him urging her to move on and leave on her own terms, not as food for the monsters.
“Thank you, George, my friend,” she whispered.
Outside the library’s reading room, she paused and would have gone away had she not heard the people inside talking about Andromeda. The speakers were a man
she didn’t know and a woman who worked with Steve and Doc as a nurse. Beth still
had anger in her gut that Andromeda had wanted to kill Hannah in cold blood and she did; she shot Hannah.
“She would have been useful here as a guard,” the man said.
“I didn’t like her and look what she did with that shooting.”
“But she was aiming at damned Berserkers.”
“Hybrids…well…the man might have been a Buzz. Hannah is okay for now or as okay as she’s ever been. That girl was a nut,” the woman admitted,“but that woman, Andromeda, wasn’t a saint, you know.”
“What do you expect after Andromeda was taken by the RA? They tortured her. I heard they did horrible things to her. She just got a bad deal. I can imagine she was a bit off.”
The woman snorted. “She wasn’t such a victim as people say. Did ya know she was pregnant when she got back from being kidnapped?”
“No kidding?”
Beth froze in place. She hadn’t known that.
“Yup…she was.”
“From being raped? Awe man,” the man said,”no wonder….”
“No, timing was off and her period. It wasn’t that. Now, don’t you dare repeat this because I only know since I work in medical bay; the results are sure.
I saw it all myself and heard the details right from her. She aborted, by the way. But she wasn’t pregnant from being raped; this was after being a captive when they were staying there, living with Ivory Joe and his family.”
There had been men of Ivory Joe’s family. And Kim. And Mark. Beth felt a little sick and wished she hadn’t stayed to listen. It couldn’t have been Kim, could it? He was so ill during that time.
“It was our Governor. That’s why I have never quite looked at him with respect, cheating on that sweet girl he’s with…Misty. It was he who got the black chick knocked up and why she aborted the baby.”
Beth slowly backed away. This was something she might ask Kim about, but she didn’t want to know it, not really. Mark and Misty were both her friends, and everything happened long ago; however, if it were she, Beth would be angry and hurt.
She was about to leave when she saw Misty in the shadows. Misty clearly wondered if Beth would have told her about this, but the younger woman’s face was going through a series of emotions. It might have been long-ago history for everyone else, but for Misty it was present time and new to her.
Before Beth could reach her friend or say anything, Misty ran from the room, knocking over a shelf as she ran past. The man and woman who had been gossiping came around the corner to see what was happening.
“Was that Misty?” the woman asked.
“I think she was having some quiet time, and then you came in, and she heard you gossiping about her husband.”
“If we had known….”
Beth held up a hand. “I know for a fact my brother, Steve, has a strict keep your damned mouth shut about what goes on in medical bay and protect patient privacy policy. I am disgusted and furious that you weren’t able to do that.”
The woman blushed.
“I know you are a capable nurse, and I strongly suggest you use those talents to help people at the Zoo. Or here. And
I hope you learn about keeping your mouth closed.”
“I am going with….”
“No. You aren’t now, and let me tell you why you aren’t: you have broken trust by running your mouth about a patient. Misty didn’t need to hear that on the night before we leave, and why you would spread gossip to be repeated is beyond me.
You may be just the messenger, but if you recall, sometimes messengers aren’t very well liked and are not welcome.”
“Is that a threat? You can’t tell me I can’t go.”
“Really? Then ask the Governor if you can go…oh…Mark, isn’t it?”
The woman swung without thinking, landing a solid slap across Beth’s cheek.
“You bitch.”
Beth swung back, only her hand was closed-fisted and hard. She caught the woman in the jaw, and when the woman reeled backwards, Beth aimed for another punch; however, Beth’s target moved backwards quickly. She was out of range for
now. Beth was one for fighting when angry.
“You hit me,” the woman said, shocked.
The man stared, openmouthed.
“Sure did. Wanna go another round?” Beth was furious. “You say you changed your mind and are not going, and then you avoid Misty until we leave. Simple.
If you don’t, then you and I will go a longer round, and you also may find yourself getting an ass kicking from sweet little Misty. She’s not a happy lady right now.” Beth turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
Walking around, Beth couldn’t find Misty and was afraid her friend was already confronting Mark. She went to her room and found Kim scratching last-minute notes
on a piece of paper. She smiled to herself, thinking of how Len did that.
“Hey, Honey. Oh…Shit, Beth, you have a handprint….”
“As they say, you should see the other guy,” she said, sinking into a chair. She told him what happened, and he grimaced.
