by P. S. Power
“Um, Carl and his team.” He spoke softly, trying to keep his voice warm. Carl kind of glared at him, but didn't say anything.
“I... They're the only ones successfully hunting, and I think that they should move into doing that full time. It means more work for the other squads, but food is going to be important too. At least as important, and maybe a lot more come winter. The rest of us should try to go with them and help when we can, but we need someone doing it as a real part of things and they're the best at it.” The words came out roughly, hesitantly. They weren't an insult but who knew how anyone else would take them?
After looking down for a while, no one speaking at all, Carl nodded.
“I have to agree. My group... Great people, but I keep losing them. I know it's my fault. I've been wanting to do something else for a while now, but I didn't want to leave anyone in the lurch. If you think the rest of the crews can handle things?”
Everyone looked at Jake as if he had an answer for that, so he shrugged.
“I don't know. We can try. Things have slowed way down lately and I wasn't attacked in town at all. That doesn't mean things can't change, but food has to be our first or second priority right now. Water, food and warm shelter. Then what... hygiene, weapons and morale?” Everyone stared at him again, as if he'd been cussing at the table. Jake was just trying to get up to speed, not tell these people what to think.
Burt made a soft noise and smiled at him gently.
“That's about the right order. So what ideas do you have toward getting those other things?”
“Um... well, we should see if we can capture some livestock from some of the abandoned farms. Goats or something? And we can build that greenhouse maybe. We have water and are getting firewood. Send out teams to hunt and fish now. Maybe can or dry the meat? I don't know if that's possible, but it seems like a good idea. If we can, we need to get more weapons in too, bullets especially. So far we've done all right, but no new ones are coming. We need to be able to make our own, if that's even possible. So that smithy of Burt's should go up, too.” So much work to be done and so little time before winter came.
He started to eat slowly, taking small bites and enjoying the food as he could while everyone else talked. Carl gave him hard looks, but didn't seem angry with him really, a bit relieved to tell the truth. The others seemed happier with the suggestions, especially Mary and Lois, who apparently had been lobbying for animals for a while. They just didn't have any way to go and get them, or so they said. Jake shook his head at Lois.
“Bull. Sammi and Ken can help in the kitchen while you or Mary come with us to get animals. I won't promise perfect safety, but the zombies like to stay near people, which means in town for the most part, going to a farm, armed, to lead animals back here shouldn't be too much for you. I know it's scary, but now we're starting to get to the point where that fear isn't totally rational anymore. People need to be willing to go and do work out and about. Everyone does. Afraid or not. We can't afford to have half our people hiding still.”
He gave Lois a look.
Not a glare, not a smirk, just a steady thing that made her sigh and shake her head, she started to say that she couldn't do it, but then stopped.
“All right. Once we know where to look, I'll go with you. You're right. My fear shouldn't keep me penned in here.” She looked uneasy, so did Nate and Burt. Mary just kept on not looking at him at all.
They couldn't afford to lose the woman. But then, that's why she needed to go, along with a big chunk of the other homebodies. At least on safe tasks out in the light of day. That and outside for the harvests. People started to look uneasy again and the room had gotten quiet. Everyone stared over at him and most of the faces weren't smiling or happy. Then... who was ever all that happy with him anymore. Ever really? Even Back Before no one had liked him all that much.
A woman he barely knew spoke from the back of the room, her voice tight and scared sounding, “What if we can't? Will you... kill us?”
That made him blink. Kill them for being too afraid? Why would he do that? Did they all think he liked to kill people or something?
“No, not if you really try, and keep working as best you can. Going out during the day to the fields isn't that big of a deal though. We'll have armed people ready and it's out in the open if zombies come. I don't think anyone will attack then, other groups and stuff, since they'll want us to collect the food first anyway. If that comes it will be later in the year and most of us will probably be inside anyway. But the answer is that if you try and do your best, but fail, I won't kill you. If you don't try at all... Well, then we'll see. We don't need dead weight. All right? Maybe we should set a group now to work with Jose in the mornings?” He looked around and about half the people were looking down.
Heather smiled at him and raised her hand, a little tentatively, which looked adorable. Everyone looked at her and Nate spoke just a little louder so everyone could hear him speak.
“Yes Heather?”
“Um, what does Jose do?”
“He's in charge of the crops, we have harvest coming, he doesn't speak much English though.”
“Oh, that's all right. I'll help him, if that's OK? It really is a lot safer here than a lot of places, and Jake's right, food will be important. Heat too. And weapons. We need a lot more of those. The cannibals have to be stopped and they're coming in the winter. There'll be snow then, so we need to be able to eat and protect ourselves. We'll need extra for the others, too. The neighbors that are coming.” Her voice had an airy, singsong quality to it that sounded totally insane, which got Jake to smile grimly.
“Don't worry too much, cannibals die too, we just want to make sure we're ready for them if they come here.” He didn't really doubt that there would be something. Maybe not cannibals, but raiders or even burners that just took exception to them not praising the Lord for their bounty enough or something.
A few other people slowly raised their hands to volunteer to work with their farm boss. A couple of the more timid guys and two of the older women that had been nearly useless so far. They weren't lazy, but had that helpless air that begged to be protected instead of fighting for themselves. Now they were standing up a little, and everyone who didn't seemed a little ashamed. Good.
On both counts.
If shame got people moving Jake would use it without hesitation.
“Great,” Nate said, looking at the volunteers as if they'd just defended the world on their own, pride shining in his eyes that no one who knew the man would doubt as legitimate. No one ate even, for a minute as he looked around.
“We've all known that we couldn't hide inside forever. The world got scary, but we can deal with it, with hard work and perseverance. Inside a month everyone will be needed for the harvest, so get yourselves mentally ready. We can do this.”
People murmured, but no one cheered. Mainly because Jake would have shot them if they did. Just before he tried to move off to the kitchen to help the kids with the dishes Nate touched his arm lightly.
“A word? Outside maybe?” He spoke softly, but then everyone did, so about half the people heard him, their ears attuned to even the softest sounds now. It probably had to do with survival instincts. Jake knew he sure paid a lot more attention to the little things now himself.
They walked without another word to the front porch, and then to the side, the right one, away from the door. Burt followed them, so whatever the conversation was about, it probably wasn't his personal hygiene being called into question. Good, he tried to keep up with that.
Burt spoke first.
“Jake, we think there's a problem. Some of the women have been talking about leaving with Holsom... which is their right, but they want to take their 'share' of what we've got and made. The problem is that they all want an even share, but the seven people talking haven't done that kind of work at all. Holsom... Well, I can see why he'd want to leave. But the others think that just by being here they deserve an equal portion of what we've mana
ged to come up with.” He sounded worried.
The leader nodded and patted the gun on his hip, a small thing, possibly a twenty-five? Good enough to kill a person, but not a zombie. Not fast anyway. Jake didn't think Nate was up to consistent head shots yet. So it was to keep these people in line? That made sense. A horrible thing for Nate to even have to consider, given his peaceful mindset, but that the man had thought about the idea would make it easier when Jake had to kill them. If it came to that.
“The thing is, we can't stop them from leaving and they have done some work, so keeping them from having anything wouldn't be fair either. At the same time, they seem to feel entitled to nearly half of everything, like it's a divorce or something, rather than a few people getting in a snit. Worse, I'm pretty sure that going off with Derrick will get them all killed before the end of winter. We have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow night to talk about it. Derrick asked for it when you didn't come back on time yesterday. I think he's planning to grab things and run tonight. I don't have proof, just a feeling...”
Jake sighed.
“Right, well, I need some sleep, I stayed up last night, but I can do with just a few hours if I have to. If he's smart they'll make their grab just before dawn anyway. If we wait for them just before first light, that should work. We need a guard set. Um, not to be a prick, but we can't trust the women. They all seem to think Holsom's some great guy or something. I mean I get it, he's good looking and all that. Big, which given the situation probably resonates as being safe to them. A kind of caveman complex thing, going with the biggest brute around for protection. The other option is that I just go in and kill him now. That would probably be the easiest way. Though if it ever comes up in the future, or if they don't try something creepy tonight, my vote goes with them getting an even part of things. Not half, that would be stupid, but we got the stuff for them, so they should have it, even if they didn't do the work themselves. But right now I think shooting Derrick is the best option. Even if they still want to leave, their odds are better without him.” That was the one Jake hoped for himself, but the other men shook their heads.
Killjoys.
“No, if we kill people just for talking about leaving then everyone will panic. We need to have rule of law, even if the laws are harsh sometimes. We shouldn't kill if we can avoid it.” Nate's face was lit only by the pale moon above. It was waxing, so it gave more light than a few nights before, but wasn't at that full moon brightness that seemed almost like a cloudy day so far as what could be seen.
Jake nearly laughed. As if killing could be avoided here? The whole world had become death in an eye blink already. Someone was dying in this. It was the new rule, wasn't it?
Turning he went back in to bed, since the dark wouldn't be going away for several hours. Holsom and most likely the women with him, would be too afraid to try and leave in the dark. Jake kind of was, so he didn't blame them, but it meant they got a little time. Nate could watch first. That meant little to no sleep for the other man, but Jake felt like going to sleep already, his eyes heavy and closing nearly on their own. If he didn't go lie down, he'd probably fall asleep right where he stood. He found his way to the room he shared with everyone and fell into bed quickly, dozing almost as soon as his eyes shut. A while later, minutes probably, something shifted on his mattress, at first he thought Nate had come to wake him, but a soft female voice whispered in his ear. Heather.
“I can't... I'm not ready to have sex, not after... You know, I've been raped a few times. It's too hard... Maybe later? Can I just sleep here, with you? I mean, I'll go if you want. I don't... I like you, but... there are things in the way for now. The past and future and...” Her voice sounded tense and ashamed.
Jake murmured, “sure”, a little groggily and went back to sleep.
Having been raped was at least as good of an excuse not to sleep with him as any of the others he'd heard. She might be too young for him anyway. Well, no loss, and he had some mattress space to spare, compared to most of the others, some of whom just curled up on the bare carpet, not having gone to get their own beds yet. They'd need more of those before winter too, just to get people off the floor. That thought carried him to sleep.
Besides, he realized, if she was willing to sleep next to him like this, maybe that meant she liked him a little? She'd said so, but that could have just been a friendly thing right? Or not. Sixteen wasn't that young, and if she could ever feel comfortable with sex again, it might work out. He drifted off happy enough with the thought, since it was nearly like hope, in a way.
Heather shook his shoulder a little, causing him to wake with the forty-five in his hand, suddenly, adrenalin pumping hard. A soft voice came, lips pressed to his ear warmly, softly. Enough to get a reaction from him, even if he couldn't have sex with the girl yet for her own peace of mind. Not that it took much work. They didn't even have porn anymore. A girl's lips on his ear was a huge deal.
“Something's coming.” She whispered, “out front, from the right.”
Ah. Well then. Jake just got up and made sure he had both his weapons. The girl may be insane, or psychic. Or both. It didn't matter. Ignoring a warning could get a person killed. He told her to stay put, and moved off down the stairs quietly. It had to be about time for him to wake up anyway. To the front of the house, off to the right? The armory in the cellar. The little one on that side of the big house. They had two, a much bigger one out back where they planned to store a lot of the fall harvest. He walked carefully and tapped the dozing Carl on the shoulder softly, speaking before the man could shoot him.
“Front. Armory. Maybe. New girl warned me.”
It would probably be nothing, but Carl got his people around anyway. They were supposed to stay up all night, but in the pitch black that could be hard to do. It was generally enough for the guard to just be dressed, armed and dozing anyway. They moved as a unit, but sloppily. Carl and the old vet moved well, their screamer, a woman that held her shotgun nervously and the other hunter, a guy about Jake's age, though bigger and stronger looking, moved like someone had tied water buffalo to his feet. Carl signaled those two to go and cover the perimeter while the remaining three men moved on the armory.
It didn't take long to get the picture.
Two forms stood outside the cellar door, and a lot of noise came from within. Things being loaded into a bag or box probably. If they were in there, then they were armed. Jake already had the nine in his hand and pointed to the two in front. Women probably.
The old vet, whatever his name was, Barry, Jake remembered suddenly, nodded and moved in alongside of them, visible in the pale light, but the women didn't look alongside the house as the man took the first one from behind, a hand over her mouth. The second one got half a scream out, which got the people inside to boil out, weapons ready.
Jake shot them.
There were three of them, he couldn't tell who they were, so he used zombie protocols, taking them in the head. One of them got a single round off, as they came up the stairs. Someone groaned, a sharp sound followed by moaning, the whole thing only took about a half minute, and most of that was figuring out if anyone else was left in the armory. There was; a scarred older woman, one that had never been helpful to Jake at all. It was tempting, the thought of just killing her then and there, taking out another useless eater, but he held off for a moment, knowing that Nate and the others wouldn't like it if he did.
Plus, it would just be wrong. She couldn't fix herself if she was dead, could she?
No one came out of the house or anything, so Jake and the rest waited, just in case there were more bad guys coming. A few minutes later a familiar noise could be heard, a rolling sound. The large work cart. Pulled by a tall form that he couldn't make out in the dark, the raw steel glinting in the moonlight as the wheels squeaked a bit. They needed some grease or oil. Jake would look into that with Burt before they used it to get more wood. Maybe they could use the cooking oil? In the back there was a nearly full load of something.
Jake was willing to guess it wasn't wood.
Carl shot first, but his shotgun, the preferred weapon of night duty, didn't hit the man who was trying to run for the road. Holsom was too far away. He'd heard the shots and was just taking off, leaving his girls behind.
What a creep.
Oh, the women deserved it, but Jake wouldn't have left them if they'd been on an operation with him. Not like that. The shotgun couldn't reach the cart, so Jake tapped Carl on the arm.
“We can't afford to lose the cart. I'm going after him. Don't shoot me.” He said, his voice sounding light. Almost happy. He finally had a chance to kill Holsom and no one could really complain at him for doing it. Yay. It was the best thing that had happened in a long time. His turn to feel like it was Christmas.
Maybe things were looking up?
The chase didn't last long. Unencumbered Jake got to the cart about the time it made the road. Holsom was wheezing a bit, the whole thing being too full for one person to really run with. Jake didn't ask him to stop, just started firing. At first nothing happened, but finally the man slipped out from under the long front pulling bar and fired back at Jake, having gotten a handgun already. Nothing hit, so he shot back as the man ran, firing back at him the whole time. A burning sensation creased his right arm, but that didn't stop him from giving chase for a ways.
When you fought, you got hurt. It was almost a rule. He'd learned the hard way not to pay too much attention to things like that early on. Mainly by example from others, most of who died, clutching themselves instead of attacking.
Finally the man made it to the bushes that lined the far side of the road and vanished. If running noisily through the night counted as disappearing that was. Arm burning or not, he couldn't afford to leave the cart, just in case Holsom came back for it. He worked himself into place under the bar and slowly, far more so than the large man had managed, got it turned around, and going back to the house.
