Age of Z: A Tale of Survival

by T. S. Frost

  “All alive,” Alexa confirmed. “No zoms. Yeah, I know, it's a little weird seeing this many living after dealing with big packs of dead heads.” She gave Casey a gentle nudge on the arm, as if to say it's okay, and noted the tenseness in the clone's muscles when she did. Okay, maybe this wouldn't be as easy as she thought. “C'mon, let's go.”

  She lead the way through the improvised streets, shifting through the crowds of people with Casey in tow. New Avalon was divided into three parts, North, East, and West, and everything Alexa was presently looking for was on the East side. She moved with the ease of somebody who knew precisely where she was going and what she was doing, reveling in the displays of people as she passed.

  Most people spoke English, but she heard smatterings of other languages or strong accents here and there. There were splashes of color and hints of old fashion in some of the clothing, since it was a safer community and not everybody had to be outfitted in survival gear or whatever they could find in their size.

  Most people were willing to smile and nod at a passing stranger too, which Alexa often returned, and only rarely did she get distrustful, watchful looks from vendors when she glanced at displays of merchandise spread out on blankets or in makeshift carts.

  Casey, for the most part, didn't seem to like the looks–or anything else here, for that matter. The press of bodies and constant movement seemed to make him tense, and Alexa suspected the constant barrage of noises from people building things, shouting for trade, or just generally chatting, was probably a bit much for his sensitive hearing.

  Casey stuck as close as he possibly could to Alexa, keeping a wary eye around them at all times as if he was expecting to be attacked at any moment, and his default frowning stare was so deep it was actually scaring a few of the locals.

  Alexa occasionally gave him a pat on the arm or a reassuring smile just to keep reminding him the place was safe. It did seem to put Casey slightly more at ease whenever she did, for a short while, but it never lasted long. Alexa just wished she could tell if her companion's discomfort came from the first stages of paranoia, or if it was because he was just naturally anti-social.

  Casey was paying attention, though, and after pushing their way up the narrow makeshift streets for half an hour he finally slid close enough to mutter in Alexa's ear, “There's so many people our age... way more than adults. Why is that?”

  Alexa winced slightly. It was a bit of a bitter topic.

  “The child-to-adult ratio here is pretty messed up,” she explained slowly, pitching her voice low so the others around her wouldn't hear; nobody really needed reminding of this.

  “When Z-day first hit things went ugly fast. Lots of adults volunteered, either for fighting the zoms or for helping with treatment and behind-the-scenes stuff. We didn't really know how to fight them when they first showed up, so a lot of the original military reserves were overrun pretty fast. So while able-bodied volunteers headed towards the zoms, they started organizing other volunteers to ship kids off to these so-called safer camps to be protected.”

  “Like Operation Pied Piper, in World War Two,” Casey observed. “When thousands of children were moved to outlying areas of England to protect them against potential massive bomb strikes from Germany.”

  “Yeah, might've even been the inspiration for this mess,” Alexa said, voice still low. “Didn't work nearly so well though. All we really got were more dead adults and lots of abandoned kids. I actually got shipped to one of the child camps myself. When the zoms attacked there weren't enough adults to hold them off, and too many kids. Most of us didn't know what to do or how to fight or survive. I was one of the lucky ones, I figured it out–most didn't.” She shrugged tiredly.

  “Anyway, there are plenty others like me that did figure it out, and that's what you're seeing here. Lots of kids from those camps grew up fast and started looking out for others. There are adults here, too, I'm not saying they were all wiped out, but you'll probably see soon enough nobody really cares about age anymore. A sixteen year old that gets a whole group of younger kids to safety is just as much of a veteran as an adult soldier who fought in the early outbreaks, and get just as much respect.”

  Casey looked thoughtful at that last part, but then added, “I'm guessing that's why I'm not really seeing any intact family units, either...”

  “Lot of people got split up,” Alexa said dully. “I'm not the only one. Lots of people started forming surrogate families too. People that lost kids started looking after kids that can't find their parents, stuff like that. There's no real official adoption system right now, I expect it'll be a real nightmare to work out on paper if things ever get better. Can you imagine the networks of new not-really cousins and siblings and aunts and uncles? Confusing!”

  Casey fell silent at that, looking contemplative underneath his frown, as he watched the bustle of people around him with a wariness that was now slightly edged with curiosity. Alexa figured she'd given the clone something to think about, although she couldn't imagine what–the complex community system was just a much larger extension of the sibling-like relationship they had, so it couldn't be that hard to get, right?

  She shrugged to herself and continued navigating the improvised streets, and when they started getting closer to and passing the large buildings on the island, she gave Casey quick visual tours as they passed.

  “Right, so, that there's the old airport. Now it's used mostly as an industrial center for manufacturing supplies and weaponry and stuff, but I think there are some dorms in there for the workers and security staff.”

  She turned to point behind her. “The library over there acts like civilian dorms, mostly for the vendors who have shops nearby. And way back there in Island West there's the clinic, which is probably one of the best places for medical treatment in the country right now. They gave it a major overhaul as one of the first improvements to the island, it's pretty well-stocked with medications and stuff, and they've even got access to some tools you can't find anymore without risking hordes of dead heads.”

  They crossed through a small man-made tunnel with metal doors that were currently open, with a pair of guards standing at ease on either side, acting more like quiet police presence than immediate defense. Alexa waved to them as they went through and then continued the tour when they reached the other side.

  “That huge building taking up that whole side, that's the old hotel. Now it's mostly the mess hall for community meals, but I think some of the leaders also live there and have their offices there too, so it kinda acts like a town hall as well. That building there, that's the main greenhouse. And that space next to it, that's for some smaller livestock and things, y'know, pigs, chickens, sheep, couple of cows. Fresh food, Casey, it's amazing.”

  She paused to let her mouth water at old memories of tacos and grilled chicken and takeout. Did she ever miss real food. A person gets used to dried rations and wild rabbit but nothing could compare to a breakfast burrito or a bacon cheeseburger.

  She could almost smell the delightful aromas... and then she realized she really could smell them, or at least, she could smell something that was almost as heavenly. Grinning, Alexa realized they'd entered the bazaar section of the grounds, where there was a higher concentration of food more than anything else. Perfect timing!

  “Hey, Casey... I know you're anxious to meet my buddy, but how about we stop for dinner first? I don't know about you, but I've starved.”

  Casey scowled, and glanced around distastefully at the crowds. He was still sticking pretty close to Alexa and had clearly not come to adjust to all the people yet.

  “It'll be impossible to forage or scavenge with all this mess,” he said, “and there can't be anything to hunt here with everybody scaring off the game.”

  Alexa laughed. “We're in civilization now, Casey! Or what passes for it, these days. We don't have to hunt or scavenge right now.”

  She took a sharp turn and followed her nose, and then her eyes, to the fire pit one of the civil
ians had set up carefully along one of the makeshift roads. Casey followed her, looking a bit confused at the declaration. Alexa found it a bit sad, that the only thing Casey knew, was able to know, was survivalist life.

  Well, Alexa would give him a taste of something new, for the moment. Literally, even. She approached one of the civilian vendors by the fire pit, and gestured at some of the man's offered goods.

  They bartered fiercely for a few minutes and shortly after Alexa handed over several cigarettes in exchange for two skewers of seasoned beef chunks and fresh vegetables, grilled to perfection over the fire. She handed one over to Casey, who had watched the exchange with interest, and said cheerfully, “Bon appétit!” before digging ravenously into her own meal.

  “This is what we scavenged for?” Casey asked, blinking down at his dinner.

  “Sorta,” Alexa explained through a mouthful of grilled beef and pepper, “it's all for trade, you can use it however you want to. For food or more supplies or whatever. If we were gonna live here and we found some great stuff we could even use it to buy into a dorm or get a space out here.”

  She ripped off another hunk of seasoned meat and nearly cried for joy; it had been way too long since she'd eaten anything this flavorful. “C'mon, eat up, enjoy!”

  Casey eyed the skewer for a moment, but then carefully set into his own meal. His eyes lit up with surprise at the taste, and Alexa watched in amusement as he devoured it rapidly and even licked his fingers afterwards.

  “Good, right?” Alexa said with a laugh, as she finished off her own. “Crazy what a few spices can do. Or, y'know, a someone who actually knows how to cook. Far cry from my burnt venison and burnt rabbit and burnt can of vegetables.”

  “I'm still not sure how you managed to do that.”

  “You know what? Shut up. Just shut up.”

  Casey smirked, but then added more seriously, “But it was good. Is this... how people ate all the time?”

  “More or less. Better even.” Casey frowned a little, and Alexa said apologetically, “I'm sorry. That you had to come back to... this.”

  “Not your fault,” Casey said. But that deep frown was back all the same.

  Alexa hated seeing the poor guy down, especially when she felt a little guilty about causing it, so in an effort to cheer the clone up she hunted through the market place until she found a suitable vendor. The opportunistic and highly clever woman had managed to create a collection of miniature fried fruit pies, sprinkled with sugar which were in high demand and particularly expensive due to their rarity.

  Alexa had to trade an entire pack of cigarettes and the bottle of drinking alcohol just for two little folded pies the size of her palm, which was a scandalous ripoff if she'd ever seen one. But it ended up being worth it, when she handed off one of the treats to Casey, and the clone got his first taste of dessert and actually smiled with real enjoyment at it.

  There you go, Alexa thought to herself, not all bad, right?

  Casey's mood seemed to improve even more as they finished the pies. By then it was starting to get dark, with the sky turning deep reds and purples, and under normal circumstances by now they'd be in severe danger by virtue of not having found a shelter yet.

  But Alexa didn't rush them off to find a place to hole up before they ran out of light, and it became apparent why a few moments later, when several makeshift stadium lights mounted on the nearby roofs snapped on. Between those and the bonfires lit everywhere by the citizens, the lighting remained decent even as the sky began to get dark.

  Casey looked stunned. “There's electricity here!”

  Alexa grinned. “Yup. In the buildings, too.” she added, pointing to the hotel up ahead, where a few dim and flickering but still obvious windows were lit up.

  “See, this is one of the reasons New Avalon does so awesome–they've got access to stuff a lot of communities out there don't. The electricity is rationed pretty carefully but they make sure the grounds are lit up and safe, and every building has emergency lights. Plus it gives them heat in the winter, 'cause winter in New England can really suck otherwise, and they've got the water working too.”

  Casey looked a little more impressed than before. “You weren't kidding, when you said this was civilization, were you?”

  “Nope! They've really thought things through out here,” Alexa said, still grinning. “Look, you can even see–all the buildings have solar panels and things on them, and they've got backup plans to keep it running. And they make sure the place is sanitary too, thanks to the running water and plumbing they've still got working, so illness and disease is way low here compared to other places. They're as on top of things here as you can get in the apocalypse.”

  “No wonder you thought your friend might be able to help me out here...” Casey looked thoughtful.

  “Oh, right.” Alexa felt like face-palming a little. “There was a reason we were heading this way, wasn't there? Now that we've eaten we can go see him. It's kinda late, but he's always been a night owl anyway, I'm sure he won't mind. C'mon, let's go.” And she gave Casey a quick tug, before leading him for the far south of the island. Casey, with a raised eyebrow and a suspicion look, followed.

  Most of New Avalon's open space had long since been claimed by refugees and civilians, and gradually converted into makeshift streets for all manner of workshops and shelters. Towards the end of the island, though, and still a bit of a walk from the hotel, was a small enclosed space that nobody was allowed through without clearance.

  The reason why was fairly clear: there were two buildings, walled off with fencing and plastered with signs warning people to stay clear in a number of languages. The signs also made note of sensitive electrical equipment that could potentially be dangerous, and that it was a severe violation to progress beyond that point.

  If the signs weren't deterrent enough, the guards usually were: they were posted all along the fence, and down the dirt path leading to it, constantly alert. They were polite and non-aggressive whenever they were forced to turn a wandering civilian away, but also unrelentingly firm about doing so: no trespassers, no exceptions. Each one of them was armed with bows and possessed a quiver of arrows over one shoulder, and every single one clearly knew how to use their weapon.

  Casey frowned at the high security and gave Alexa another skeptical look. “Your friend lives out here?”

  “Would you believe me if I said he was a very private person?” Alexa asked hopefully.

  “No.”

  “Alright, well, that's a lie anyway. He really is a people person. He's just gotta be on-hand for the important stuff.”

  “You're not making any sense. And how are we supposed to get past all those guards, anyway? Fight them?”

  “No!” Alexa looked horrified. “Oh no. No fighting people. Bad LS.” Casey scowled at her, as if to say answer the question already, and she flashed a grin, saying, “I've got connections.”

  She did, actually, and it was obvious soon enough. The guards out here were part of a particularly special security rotation, which meant most of them were familiar with Alexa and recognized her right away. They waved her on through, some grinning, and if a few gave Casey suspicious looks, a quick “he's with me” was enough to get the clone past as well.

  Alexa did, however, run into complications at the fence gate, and the last checkpoint before getting into the smaller complex. She didn't recognize the guard here; the girl was clearly new, since Alexa hadn't seen her last time she'd visited.

  She was dressed in army fatigues, had blonde hair that was just getting long enough to tie back, and held her bow like she knew how to use it and would, which was normally a good thing for this particular security force. Unfortunately she also had a pretty nasty temper and point-blank refused to let Alexa through the gate. “No entry.”

  “What!” Alexa gave her an incredulous look. “Look, I don't know what they told you–”

  “Nothing except the rules. You're not mentioned in them. Go away or I'll make you, and don'
t think I won't!”

  “What were you saying, about connections?” Casey growled at Alexa, giving her a look.

  “Not. Helping. Just... shut up a minute.” Turning to the girl, she added, “Alright, look, honey–”

  “Do not honey me, you–”

  “Okay, geez, calm down! Look, whoever you are, I know your manager personally, so if you could just let me through–”

  “Yeah, like I've never heard that before.” The girl put her free hand on her hip and glared at Alexa. Alexa got the distinct impression that she was now on her hit list, and also that the girl was trying way too hard to do her job right. Definitely a newbie.

  “I don't even know how you got down here. What were those others idiots thinking? Listen up, turn around and walk away now, and I won't have you reported to island security for trespassing and have you thrown on the ban-list.”

  “What?” Alexa repeated, angrier this time. She was starting to get ticked now. “That's a ridiculous punishment just for walking up a path!”