“So you thought I would do the same thing?”
“I wasn’t ruling it out.”
“Do you really think the infected are … thinking?”
I shut the folder. “You tell me.”
“I don’t know.”
“Well neither do I. Not for sure. A part of me believes they are retaining something. Whether that stays after the body dies, is a mystery at this point.”
“One that will always be.”
“What? A mystery?” I shook my head. “You know, Bobby told us an awful lot about this virus. We learned about the infection by living it. We learned about the process of the body by observing pool man. We learned about the decay, the death … but we didn’t really test him, did we?”
“Test him? You mean to see if he remembered?”
“That and how long he could survive.”
“We watched him succumb.”
“Under captive circumstances,” I said. “I’ve been thinking about this. You chained pool man and just left him to die. How long does it take a human body to succumb without food and water?”
“These things don’t eat or drink.”
“When they are under medical care. But what about when they’re out there?” I said. “Maybe it didn’t reset, maybe they just found a way to survive longer. After all, Bill was infected. He wasn’t dead yet.”
“Nila, there’s no way Bill was infected for weeks. We have seen what the infection can do. Days maybe ... weeks no.”
“It could have mutated. That’s possible.”
“It is. Again, we will never know.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” I sighed out and opened my project folder. “Just like I never will find out what you were up to and what you saw.”
I heard him laugh softly.
“What?” I asked.
“What do you think I saw?”
“I don’t know. Bad guys.”
He couldn’t contain it, his lips fluttered before he laughed. “Bad guys?”
“Yeah, you know, like Mad Max type of guys with guns, they rape, loot. I thought Bill could be one. In fact … that crossed my mind for a split second, and I got paranoid.”
“That bad guys were in the woods?”
I nodded.
“I assure you Nila, there are no bad guys in the woods. I saw no bad guys on the road. Are there bad guys out there? Sure, I suppose there are. But I’d like to give humanity a little more credit and think that we’re all on the same side here. The infected are bad guys enough.”
“We just switched for a moment there.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Usually I give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I think of humanity first. I got really paranoid yesterday.”
In an arrogant manner, which of course was Lev pretending, he sniffed and tilted his head. “Yes, well, that’s because I wasn’t here. You need me.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.” I looked down at my folder. “Need you? Nah, I can handle this. However, I suppose I like having you around, but don’t let it go to your head.”
“It won’t.”
“So what did you see?”
“Nothing.”
“Did you make it back to The Green?”
“I did and a lot faster since I didn’t have to stop for bathroom breaks all the time. And I … I went to Big Bear and got my bike.”
“You peddled to The Green?”
“Not a bicycle.”
“Aw, Lev …” I whined. “You left the truck and rode a motorcycle?”
“Yes.”
“I hate them. Why would you take such a risk?”
“I’m fine. I knew you would bitch, that was why I didn’t tell you,” he said. “The bike got me to The Green pretty fast.”
“Did you see the Station Wagon?” I asked.
“Gone.”
“That’s a good thing, right? I mean if they were attacked the wagon would be there. What about the infected you saw in the camp?”
A pause.
“Gone.”
“They moved on?” I asked.
Lev nodded. “Then I went to search for gas and really took a look at a few of the towns. Stores were picked through, which tells me there are survivors out there. Then I went north of here, nearly to Erie.”
“Cade tried that.”
“In the thick of things. There were infected and corkers. All roaming and moving. I didn’t see any survivors, but it was clear someone was alive, because some of infected were killed recently. And there is a wall and fence outside the city. People who lived and left wrote notes. I looked for one from Cade.”
“Anything?”
Lev shook his head. “He probably didn’t make it that far. I wanted to go see Pittsburgh.”
“And?”
“I figured it should be something you and I do together.”
“Aren’t you romantic?”
He chuckled. “I try.”
“What are we doing then Lev?” I asked. “You used the argument that we come back here, you made it sound like it was dangerous out there. Not only because of the infected, but also regular people.”
“We’re staying alive here, Nila. Infected are out there and dangerous. People will be, too. Am I optimistic that there are no Mad Max wannabes? Yes, I am, but I won’t take a chance on that. We stay put. We stay alive.”
“They say movement is life,” I said.
“Who says that?” Lev asked.
“I heard it once.”
“Where?”
“In ... in a movie. Brad Pitt, or someone said it I think. Yeah. It sounded solid,” I said.
“You’re taking words of wisdom on survival from Brad Pitt? It was a movie Nila, this is real life. We stay for a little while, start preparing for winter. We have to store food and prepare the well.”
“This place has survived many winters. It will survive this one, too.” I closed my folder. “I’m not getting work done. I’m tired. All this paranoia is wearing me down. Do you mind if I turn in early? I’ll relieve you on watch earlier.”
“That’s fine.”
I started to stand, paused, leaned over and kissed Lev on the cheek. ‘Night, Lev.”
“Night, Nila.”
I stood with my folder and headed to the door.
“Nila.”
I stopped.
“No more thoughts of shooting me in the head.”
“I’ll try. But I make no promises.” I winked and went inside. It was one of those nights that I felt tired, but as soon as I got in bed, I was wide awake. That didn’t last long, somewhere in the middle of writing, I fell asleep. I was surprised I had held on that long, I had barely slept when Lev was gone. I woke up with my hand still holding the pen, the alarm didn’t ring, and the battery had died in the lantern. It was light out and I sprang up. I failed Lev and slept all night. Then I noticed Katie wasn’t in bed, and I figured she had turned off the alarm and lantern.
It was still early, exceptionally early. I looked at the wind up alarm clock; it was twenty minutes passed six. I slept an hour longer than I wanted to. Poor Lev had been up all night.
The smell of coffee filled the air and that told me Edi was up as well.
Then again, she and Katie went to bed awfully early last night.
I got dressed, stumbled from my room and cracked open the front door. “Lev, I’m gonna brush my teeth, grab coffee and I’ll be right out. I’m so sorry I slept in and didn’t relieve you.”
He replied in an almost monotone. “Fine.”
Was he that tired, or was something wrong? No, he was mad. I left him on watch all night.
Hurriedly, I washed my face, brushed my teeth, then after kissing Katie, I grabbed a half cup of coffee and went to the porch.
“I’m sorry. I feel really bad.”
Lev didn’t even look at me. He was still sitting in the same spot I left him. “It’s fine. I shut them off.” He spoke emotionlessly, staring out.
“You looked tired and I wanted to be on watch all night.”
“Well, get some sleep now.”
“I won’t be sleeping. Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Nila,” he snapped my name. “Pay attention to your surroundings.” He then pointed outward toward the fence.
I looked. I understood why Lev was there and knew then what he was staring out at. Parked outside our gate was a Station Wagon.
SEVEN – POST IT
July 31
I expected Lev to tell me that the Station Wagon had just pulled up somewhere between brushing my teeth and coffee. That wasn’t the case.
“Probably just when the sky got light,” Lev said.
“Excuse me?”
“Yeah it wasn’t completely light. I saw the headlights. They stopped.”
“So … they have been out there for like two hours?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
It baffled me. One that they had been there so long and another reason was Lev was just watching them.
“Is there a reason they’re still there?”
Lev nodded. “They haven’t gotten out yet.”
“Is that the same station wagon from Green?”
“I believe so, yes,”
I sat down next to him with my coffee. “What are we waiting for?”
“One of them to get out. I have a case of Nila right now.”
“A case of Nila?”
“Yeah, I’m sitting here thinking whoever drove here, just turned,” Lev said. “Or if I approach they are gonna get out and shoot.”
“Wow, that is my way of thinking.”
“I hate that I even have that feeling,” Lev said and looked at me. “But I have you, Katie, Edi to worry about. You know?”
I nodded. “How about I go get the rifles?”
“Yeah. We’ll both go in and get one, only you go out the back, take a sniper’s position on the top of the old trailer. Don’t let them see you. I’ll head up to the gate. If they are trouble, you can take them out. If they are infected … I will.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I took another swig of my coffee and led the way back into the cabin. I proceeded to latch all the storm shutters.
“What’s going on now?” Edi asked. “Another Lyssa?”
“No. Just stay inside,” I said. I retrieved the rifles, Lev went to the front porch and I went out back.
I wonder how many people are in that wagon. Only one? Maybe more. When I climbed up on the roof of the trailer, I saw they had supplies and gas cans on the roof. I positioned myself belly down and used the scope of the rifle to get a good look.
I could see two people in the front seat.
The second Lev walked near the gate. The driver’s door opened and a man stepped out. The scope gave me a good close up. He had to be around fifty, maybe a few years older. His hair was gray and cut short and his face had a scruffy beard.
He had a gun. I could see that, it was in a holster at his side. The second he stepped out, he lifted his hands.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but whatever it was, the man lowered his hands and Lev lowered his rifle. Then Lev turned, waved to me.
Obviously, Lev concluded the man was safe because he opened the gate.
I climbed down from the trailer, took the back way into the house, told Edi she could open the shutters but informed her to stay put as there were people at the gate and Lev just opened it.
While I trusted Lev’s judgment, a part of me was upset that he just opened the gate after such a short exchange of words.
As I made it from the cabin, the station wagon drew closer and Lev walked behind it.
I waited on the porch for the wagon to stop. Clearly I could see two men in the front seat and heads of people in the back. They looked small.
The man stepped out.
“Thank you,” he said. “We’ve been traveling a while. The big guy said to talk to you? I’m guessing the news isn’t good?”
Admittedly, I was confused. What wasn’t good? Had I missed a part of their conversation? Then I saw Lev’s face. He had a closed mouth smile as he came and stood by me.
The back door of the wagon opened and a boy jumped out.
My eyes widened. “Billy?”
Lev leaned down to me and whispered. “Aren’t you glad we buried his father now?’
The small boy was not who I expected to see. How did he end up with this Station Wagon full of people?
The man pointed backwards. “Billy here, spotted the big guy when we were in Lancaster. Ever try to find a place on the memory of a ten year old?” He smiled. “We were pretty close to here when we found Billy. I should have asked him then.”
“Asked him what?” I questioned.
“About this place. We found Big Bear, but we didn’t find this place. Mainly because it’s not north.”
“I’m sorry,” I held up my hand. “I am really confused right now. Were you looking for us?”
“I was before I found Billy,” he said. “Actually ... to be honest I was looking for my son. He left a note on a survivor board. He was wrong, this place is south of Big Bear.”
“Your son?” Immediately I thought his son was Bill. I was floored to find out it wasn’t.
“My son,” he said. “Brian Cade.”
<><><><>
Once he said the name ‘Cade’, I saw it. The resemblance between father and son was actually remarkable. Ben was a little taller than Cade, but was without a doubt an older seasoned version.
I suppose it was because I was closest to Cade that Lev had left it up to me to break the news to Ben.
I explained to Ben that both of his children had passed. Julie by infection and Cade was attacked. I told him that Cade saved lives and was not only an asset, but a friend. I promised to share the pictures I took as well as stories.
He was saddened of course, broken hearted by the news. Though optimistic, he conveyed that he stayed realistic and somehow felt they were no longer with us.
At first I was baffled on how it as possible. What were the odds that Cade’s father would show up at our camp? Then after thinking about it and hearing his story, it made sense.
Ben and his wife were stranded in Erie when the city erupted into chaos. They couldn’t get through the city barricades or hit the streets with all the infected. So they did what was the next best option they attempted to get to safety via the lake.
Ben’s friend and neighbor, Gary had a boat, a bigger one. They loaded supplies and Ben and his wife, along with Gary and his wife, headed to the boat no more than ten blocks away.
The neighbor’s son, Corbin was already on board with his son waiting.
Ten blocks.
Mayhem was everywhere, but they were confident. They unloaded the supplies and just as they prepared to move farther into the lake they were attacked by infected.
Cade’s mother was bit and so was Gary. Neither was hurt badly, but the infection took over and while on board they turned.
“A lot of people had the same idea,” Ben told me. “There were so many boats out there on the lake, it was insane. We all helped each other. Some went to Canada. A lot went to Canada. They say its infection free.”
“You came back for your son?”
Ben nodded. “I talked to Gary’s family. Sue Ellen, Corbin and Sawyer. They were up for whatever I wanted to do. I heard about The Greens through radio chatter. We waited months before coming ashore. Erie was quiet. Still some straggling infected, but nothing dangerous that we couldn’t outrun. I found a survivor wall, that’s what I called it. People wrote messages. ‘I’m alive. I’m here ...’ that’s when I saw the name Cade. Big and red. Under it was simply that he was at a cabin north of Big Bear.”
“Cade went to find you,” I said. “But couldn’t get into the city. He never mentioned he left word on a wall.”
“Lots of people left word on that wall,” Ben said.
“So there are people
alive?”
“Billy was the only one we saw. We looked for this place, but couldn’t find it. Found Billy on Seventy-Nine, looking for food. At first I thought he was infected. He wasn’t. Said his father was bit and ran off. We took him with us. Went to West Virginia first. There was no Green Area there, then Lancaster. We pulled inside, and saw the infected. We were getting ready to hightail it when Billy recognized Lev.”
“He went back to look for you,” I said.
“Doesn’t matter. We found you.” Ben smiled. “Actually Billy was the one who said you weren’t north of Big Bear. You were south.”
“Cade probably wrote it so fast,” I said, “he wasn’t thinking. He was a good guy. I am so sorry for your loss.”
“Did he suffer?” Ben asked.
At that second Lev approached and my eyes shifted to Lev before looking at Ben.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Ben said.
“It wasn’t for long, “Lev added. “It really wasn’t. He was trying to help when it happened. It broke our hearts.”
I added. “Cade was such an asset to the group. He worked so hard helping people, treating them medically.”
“Yeah, he should have been a doctor. I told him that, follow my footsteps, but he didn’t want to deal with the schooling,” Ben said.
“We’re glad to have you here,” I told him.
“We won’t be in your hair long. I just wanted to find my son.”
“Then what?” Lev asked.
“People wrote down a lot of places they were headed. I made notes. Look there. Try for Canada,” Ben said. “Radio chatter has it infection free or at least they’re beating it. Last place to get it knows how to fight it.”
“But if you are wrong,” Lev said. “You’ll be up there, limited supplies, with winter coming.”
“It’s a search for life my friend,” Ben said. “It’s a goal. It’s better than just sitting around.”
“Is it?” Lev asked then walked off.
I explained to Ben that Lev was pretty adamant that staying at the cabin was the right choice. Why would we gamble and leave where we were safe and self sufficient.
“Is that what you want to do?” Ben asked.
“I want to do what’s best for my daughter, what’s safest for her. I can’t bear to lose another child. I won’t. If staying here for the time being is what is best, then that’s what I’ll do. Sure, I’m curious as to what’s out there. But is my curiosity worth the risk with my daughter?”
My Dead World 2 Page 4
