Even so, Carl would feel better once he organized a defense force. “I saw some of the town citizens carrying guns. Let’s bring the most experienced shooters up to the front. If we do run into trouble, we stand a good chance of taking them out or at least showing them that a fight’s not worth it.”
With nightfall, the survivors made camp on the side of State Road 22. Mercifully, the wind not only had died down but had shifted in the other direction. However, the fire still was raging. Wisps of flame leaped from the horizon in the direction from which they had fled. The fire looked close enough that the inferno plausibly could have jumped into the forest. Time would tell if the blaze would expand in their direction. In any case, the town leadership had no desire to stick around long enough to find out.
The survivors gathered together in large groups. No one was to pitch a tent or sleep too far from the others. Carl offered as much advice as he could from his military training to help the town’s leadership set up everything. For once, he felt useful again, even if it was mostly an advisory role. As the survivors settled in, Chip approached Harold, who was chatting with his two boys. The three of them sat in the dirt with their tent behind them, with Thomas checking Matt’s head wound.
“It’s looking better,” Harold said. “In a few days I don’t think we’ll even notice it anymore.”
“Can I take a watch tonight?” Matt asked.
Harold chuckled softly. “Now, you need sleep. There’s more than enough people around here to handle watch.”
Matt squirmed in his seat. “What’s wrong?” Harold asked.
“I’m afraid to sleep,” Matt said, with shame in his voice. “I’m afraid…I won’t wake up.” He rubbed the back of his head. “I know it’s stupid, but I’m scared there’s still something wrong with me.”
Harold nodded. “I understand. But you’ve been sleeping well the past few days. I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”
Matt sighed. “Maybe not.”
Thomas then looked up. “Dad!” He had spotted Chip.
“It’s okay.” Harold stood up. “Didn’t notice you there.”
“You were busy with your sons,” Chip said with a stammer. “I mean, they are your boys, right?”
“Sure. This is Matt.” Harold gestured to Matt on the ground. “And this is Thomas.” Harold then pointed to his oldest boy, who kept a steady gaze on Chip.
“Are they your only children?” Chip asked.
“Yes. Never had any more.” Harold walked up to Chip. “And you, sir? I never asked if you had any family in the area.”
Chip shook his head. “No kids. No wife. Mother’s dead. Stepdad, too.”
“Then you’re alone,” Harold said. “I guess that makes things easier in all this madness, but I’d give anything to have my wife back with me. Even if I had to protect her against everything this world’s now throwing at us.”
Chip looked over Harold’s shoulder at his two sons. Thomas was looking down at his handgun. “Your boys. They shoot?”
“Sure do. I trained them myself. They’re both very good, Thomas especially. Unfortunately, we’ve had to use our weapons on human beings.” Harold’s face tightened up a little. “It’s not something I ever wanted, but we had no choice. This world isn’t giving us easy options. It sounded like it didn’t give you any good choices, either.”
Chip frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You know, with your friends being attacked and killed,” Harold added.
“Oh.” Chip nodded. “Right. You’re right. It hasn’t. I’m lucky to be alive at all. I don’t know anything about shooting guns or this outdoor stuff.” He leaned against a thin tree while shuffling his right foot. “And I don’t know that I can.”
“I’d like to think that you can teach an old dog new tricks,” Harold said. “If you’re up for it, I can teach you a few pointers about handling the outdoors.”
A squirrel scampered along a branch. Chip quivered. “I would appreciate that.”
Chip soon left to find a place to sleep. As Harold rejoined his boys, he couldn’t help but notice Thomas’s expression. The boy watched Chip leave and hadn’t taken his eyes away from Chip’s direction.
“What’s bothering you, son?” Harold asked.
Thomas straightened up. “I don’t know. Doesn’t he make you feel a little weird?”
“Weird?” Harold chuckled. “Why’s that? He’s just a little shell-shocked by what’s going on.”
“It’s just how he was looking at me,” Thomas said. “He’d look at me a lot. Then quickly turn his head sometimes.”
“Well, he was interested in you two. I guess he feels bad that he doesn’t have a family of his own. We’re going to meet people like that. There’s a lot of folks here that have been torn out of their normal lives and don’t know how to cope. We understand the outdoors a lot better than most, so we have to be helpful to other people.”
Thomas scooted closer to the tent. “Right, Dad.”
Carl pitched his tent near his friends. After he had introduced Chip to Harold, he fell again into melancholy and sat by himself. He barely noticed when Tara, Michael, Shyanne and Preston all joined him on the ground nearby.
“Hey.” Tara leaned her knees closer to her face. “Sorry you didn’t find your mom and dad.”
“Same,” Michael said.
“Sorry,” added Shyanne.
The sentiments were not enough to make Carl smile, but they did warm him up. “Thanks,” he said. “I suppose it was too much to hope for, but at least I know they’re probably alive out there.” Shyanne, however, was always good for lifting Carl’s spirits, so he turned to the girl and said, “So what have you been up to? I guess it was a bit of a surprise when I left.”
“I didn’t know until you came back.” Shyanne looked at Michael. “I was playing with Michael and Grandpa Pete all morning until the fire got bad.”
“Grandpa Pete? Oh, that’s Tara’s dad,” Carl said.
“Yeah, he can’t get enough of her,” Tara said.
Carl had expected Shyanne to be distraught that he had left without telling her. It seemed she was becoming more attached to Tara and her family. While Carl was pleased with that fact, he was a bit wistful about it, as he and Shyanne had grown very close since he had found her on the first day of the disaster. He worried that he was pushing her away.
“I guess Alicia and Lorenzo are out like a light,” Carl said as he realized the Farrells were not present.
Tara’s cheeks reddened. “They are down for the night, but it’s a little more complicated.” She laughed. “Don’t ask.”
Although Tara seemed a little nervous answering Carl’s question, he decided not to press the matter, instead turning his attention to Preston. “How’s it going with you? Feeling better?”
Preston rubbed his throat. “My throat feels like a rusted pipe. At least I’m not spitting up phlegm anymore.”
“I still get worn out more quickly than I used to.” Michael rubbed his chest. “I hope it’s not permanent.”
“I suppose we’re all going to be less than what we were before we hit Ben’s house.” Carl yawned.
Tara brushed a strand of her red hair out of her face. “So, what are you going to do? You said you found out where your parents are headed.”
“Yeah, are you going to go after them?” Preston asked.
Carl hesitated to answer. He had been pushing off the question for a while. “I’d like to. I guess I’d feel better once I know everyone’s safe in East Creek.” He snickered. “Safe. I should boot that word from my vocabulary.”
“Well, so far we haven’t been attacked by gun-toting psychos.” Preston looked around the forest. “That’s a plus.”
“I had to bring this up, but how do we know there aren’t any in East Creek?” Michael asked, “Are we just going to walk in there?”
Carl looked at the campers behind his friends. He couldn’t view them all from here, but there were close to a hundred people in t
his party. “We’re going to have to work out how we’re going to introduce ourselves,” he said.
Chapter Thirteen
East Creek looked nice.
At least Alicia thought so as she lowered her binoculars. The community was nestled in a small valley away from the forest. It was made up of neighborhoods that stretched off to the west. New housing projects dotted the east and the north sections of the community, most of them still wooden frames. The EMP likely had shut down all of the construction equipment and halted these projects in their tracks.
Lorenzo raised his own binoculars to take another look. “It’s hard to see the people from here.”
“I spotted a couple outside. They were on the street, they had some kids who were running around.” Alicia smiled. “It looks like a nice place to settle down.”
“I’d feel better if I could get a better look at everyone. Maybe the other spotters will have better luck.”
“But it’s not on fire. I mean not on literal fire, but it’s also not going to pieces. You don’t see rioting or looting going on.”
Lorenzo let his binoculars hang off his neck. “Not yet, anyway.”
The pair had been surveying the town from this spot among a few tall trees that lay close to the town limits. Carl and the town leadership had stopped their party short of the town and kept to the outermost part of the forest. They would not enter the suburban community now or all at once. Instead, they dispersed several scouting parties to get a look at what the community was like.
As much as Carl hated to say it, they had no idea if East Creek would be their salvation or their doom. Any community could be a hotbed of anarchy or tyranny. It wouldn’t take more than a band of men with guns to conquer a confused and frightened small suburb or town. The Farrells also guessed that Carl was very gun shy after being disappointed so many times along this journey.
Lorenzo sighed. “Well, we can’t do any more good here. Let’s see what the others have dug up.”
“So, what do you think?” Harold asked as Chip looked through the binoculars he had been given. The pair had taken this position between two trees, where Harold had set up Chip to survey East Creek.
“It’s…clean,” Chip said.
Harold chuckled. “Clean, huh? You mean it’s not going to hell in a handbasket like so many other places? No shootings, no riots?”
“No. I mean it’s clean. The grass is cut. The fences are fresh. They look painted,” Chip replied.
“That’s a sign of a community that’s on its feet.” Harold crouched down by Chip. “Those are good details to take in. It means they may have their own food source. If they can keep their lawns maintained, they must be confident they can take care of sustenance.”
Chip’s eyes widened as if he had not considered that fact. “That’s very interesting.”
“What about the people? How did they look to you? Did you see anybody?” Harold asked.
“I did. Four men. Probably two women. The men seemed okay. Two of them carried guns, rifles.” Chip raised his hand past his head to emphasize the length.
“Open carry is essential now, but it doesn’t sound like the place is too militarized,” Harold said. “Again, that’s pretty good.”
Chip handed the binoculars back to Harold. “I’m a little dizzy. Thanks for the lesson. I just need to sit down for a moment.”
“That’s fine.” Harold took back the binoculars. “You did good. Noticing details like that is a good way to develop your visual senses. Soon you’ll be able to spot signs of trouble.”
Chip smiled a little. “Thanks.”
Harold looked down at Chip’s right leg. “So, how’s the leg feeling?”
“It hurts.” Chip ground his teeth a little. “Always does, but it’s feeling better now.”
“There may be a doctor or two in town who can take a look at it. We’ll make sure to ask when we get there,” Harold said.
Chip nodded. “Thank you.” Then he turned and limped away from Harold, passing Thomas.
Thomas kept an eye on Chip as he walked off. Chip continued limping as he set down his right leg. It wasn’t very noticeable, but as Thomas studied Chip, it was easy to catch the bent movement of Chip’s leg.
Curiosity drew Thomas to follow Chip a few steps, though the boy walked quietly so as to not to attract attention. As Chip made a turn, his right leg stabilized. The limp had vanished.
Thomas blinked his eyes. Perhaps Chip just put his foot down in a way that disguised the limp. Or maybe Chip was stronger than he was letting on.
The puzzled boy quickly raced to the bend where Chip had turned. But Chip had vanished. Now Thomas was deeply suspicious. Chip never had picked up his pace that quickly before. How could he have disappeared into the woods?
“Thomas?” Harold called.
Thomas turned around. “Coming!” His suspicions would have to wait.
Tara gently parted the bushes to allow Michael to peer through the gap. Unlike the other scouting parties, their search did not allow them to gaze into East Creek. Instead they surveyed a dirt road that snaked along the boundary of the town before turning into it. Carl wanted them to check for possible sentries the town may have posted.
However, their search had turned up nothing except for a green tent set up on the side of the road. A lone man with a graying beard sat crossed-legged in the shadow of the tent, reading a book.
“He doesn’t look dangerous,” Michael said. “I don’t see any weapons with him.”
“He still could be hiding a weapon on his back,” Tara replied. “He could reach behind and snatch one.”
“I don’t get it.” Michael turned to Tara. “If there’s a whole town just behind him, why’s he camping out here?”
“Well, we could ask him,” Tara said with a smile.
“You sure we should do that?” Michael asked.
Tara slapped both of her hands on Michael’s cheeks. “C’mon. We got to take some initiative. We can’t keep running back to Carl for orders.”
Michael chuckled. “I almost forgot that we weren’t in the army.”
“Marines. Carl’s a Marine,” Tara said with a laugh.
“Right,” Michael replied, “So how do we approach him?”
The trees rustled. Tara and Michael slid out from between the trees, with Tara holding up a red rag she had fished out of her pocket. She waved it at the man in the tent, who raised his head.
“Hey,” Tara said, “we’re friendly.” She spun the rag around. “I know it’s not a white flag but we had to make do.”
“Stay over there!” the man suddenly barked.
“Easy, we won’t hurt you!” Michael said, holding up his hand.
“It’s not you I’m worried about.” The man set down his book. “I have the flu. I could be contagious. So, you can’t come over here.”
“The flu?” Tara tucked her rag back in her pocket. “My God. Look, we have supplies, not much, but we can come back and help you.”
“No need.” The man smiled. “I’m actually on the upswing. Two days ago, I was so dizzy I couldn’t even stand up. My name’s Jed. At the rate I’m going, in a few days I’ll be as good as new. So, where did you two come from? You’re not wearing any packs. That’s strange if you’ve come a long way.”
“We’re with a large caravan of survivors,” Tara said. “I’m Tara, and this is Michael. We’re looking to become a part of East Creek. But why are you out here and not in there?”
“I have to be isolated from them. I showed up a few days ago but I was sick as a dog. They provided medicine for me but insisted I stay out here until I got better. I was a little cranky about it but I came to understand why. Get a bad bug spreading and pretty soon a lot of people are dead.” Jed looked down at his book. “You never know what can kill you nowadays. Of course, it wasn’t perfect back when the lights were on…” He sighed. “It’s just that things are so much worse nowadays.”
“Sir, we need to know everything we can about East Creek,” Mi
chael said. “Are they good people? Will they take us in?”
“I don’t know.” Jed shook his head. “They seemed like pleasant folk when I first chatted with them, but they are a little cagey. Don’t expect instant help. You may have to do a little convincing.”
The scouts all had returned well before noon, to Carl’s delight. They had ample time to plot their next move. The news he received was encouraging, if not a slam dunk. They had found a suburban community that was intact and seemingly free of strife, but the spotters had not been able to observe a lot of activity within the community’s borders. Tara and Michael’s story of Jed did shed some more light on what they could expect in East Creek.
“If they’re cautious, then it’s not a good idea for all of us to show up at their doorstep,” Carl said. “They see about eighty people approaching and they could panic.” He scratched his arm. “I give them points for isolating the sick. That tells us somebody in there understands how to handle disaster situations like this.”
“So, who’s going to be the ambassadors?” Alicia asked.
“Are we going to send ten people? Five?” Lorenzo chimed in.
Carl shook his head. “No. I say we go with a trio. We won’t draw too much attention and we won’t look like a threat.”
“I take it you want to volunteer,” Tara said with a smile.
“It’s scary how well you know me,” Carl said, smiling back. “I would like to take one of the city leaders with me, if possible.”
Sheriff Arnold stepped forward. “I’d like to volunteer for that. I’m sure these people have their own lawmen protecting the town. Maybe if I show my own badge, it’ll help convince them there’s law-abiding men out there, not a bunch of marauders waiting to ransack them.”
“Fine. I’m in, too,” Tara said. Michael looked at her with concern, but Tara quickly added, “I can handle myself. Plus, I’m one of the quickest around here.” She held up her leg and patted it. “Besides, my wound’s all healed up.” She flexed her leg. She had referred to an injury she had sustained back in the city where she had run into trouble with Michael. “Tara’s back in the game.” Returning her attention to Carl, she added, “Plus, someone’s got to have your back.”
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