We waited until Mike came off the boat and joined us. He helped me limp up to the gate.
“That was good thinking, Mr. Knight. Putting a man on our flank like that. I didn’t know he was there.”
“As I said, Captain, we’ve had to defend ourselves. And I’ve seen enough movies to know that flanking an enemy can win battles.”
“How’d you tweak your, what is it, your ankle?’
“Yeah, ankle. Door broke open at Lowes, zombies were on the other side. I fell and twisted it. Tom’s nephew, Keith helped me get away but got bit for his trouble. We’ve seen too much death, Captain.”
“We have, too, Mr. Knight.”
Breakfast was cold cereal over milk reconstituted from evaporated milk. But we all had hot coffee and that put smiles on our visitors faces. They hadn’t enjoyed hot coffee in a while.
We told an abbreviated version of our story. I tried to embellish a little and make us seem more formidable than we were. I doubt that Captain Rendina bought it. He could see everyone in our group. He was studying us but hid it well.
“Mr. Knight, I want you and your people to feel as comfortable with us as possible. I’m sure we all understand that every living human is one less zombie that we have to exterminate. But, I also understand that we are invading your living space, your home. So, let me start by saying that it was my people who saw you the other day at Patriot’s Point.”
“I was wondering…”
“Their orders were to observe and report and that’s what they did. We were going to watch you for a bit longer to see if you were friendly but we spotted a large group of zombies outside our fences and decided we couldn’t stay put.”
“Where were you situated?”
“The National Guard compound on Mathis Ferry Rd.”
“Huh, I forgot about that.”
“It seemed safe until the zombies showed up in those numbers. We counted over 100.”
“We saw them too. We were headed towards the Walmart and had to backtrack because they filled Hwy 17. Where do you think they came from?”
“I don’t know. Initially we thought your group led them to us. But, now that I’ve met you I know that isn’t true.”
“That’s how we lost Mike’s father actually. A group of looters lured a large group of zombies to where we were at the Costco. We got trapped inside. It was dumb luck that Mike and I made it out. All of this had just started and we didn’t know what we were doing.”
“The Air Force base got overrun early. We aren’t allowed to carry arms on base and by the time anyone knew what was going on there were too many zombies to deal with. I don’t know how many survived. Our group was bigger when we got out but we had some disagreements in leadership.”
“I don’t always want the job but these people trust me to lead them. How’s that going to sit with you?”
“You’ve done well to keep these people alive, Mr. Knight. I’m sure you rely on certain people because you know their stragnths and weaknesses.”
I nodded. Thor came over to sniff the new people. He didn’t seem concerned but Captain Rendina didn’t pet him.
“Then you’ll come to know our strengths and weaknesses and know when to accept our counsel.”
“How are you fixed for supplies, Captain?”
“Could be worse. We have about a months worth. Everybody has a clothes and a sleeping bag. Not much firewood though.”
I looked over at Tom then Mike and Tony. I didn’t see any alarm on their faces. But I didn’t think I could tell what they were thinking.
“All right Captain, is there anything else we can tell you?” He answered no without asking the other men.
“Then I will ask you to retire to your boat and give us time to talk.”
“Of course.”
We all stood, even me with some help and shook hands with the newcomers. Then we let them out and waited for Tabby to say they were on their boat. It felt wrong somehow to talk about them while they were still on the island fort.
“Tony, gut feeling. Don’t think about it.”
“Seems genuine enough. He’s either a good guy or a damned good liar. He is in total control, though. They are not having this conversation over there right now.”
“Tom?’
“We need the help and the expertise in logistics. Everything will go better with more people.”
“Mike?”
“I guess I’m the only one who got a bad vibe huh?” He looked around then looked down and kicked the dirt.
“Spit it out.”
“It’s not something in particular. I just don’t like him. His group and our group are not going to blend. They’ll be them and we’ll be us. And if we do let them in, he will take over and things will be very different.”
“We need the help,” countered Tom.
“Yeah, we do. I just wish we had been approached by a smaller group. They get integrated and we get stronger. Another group our size? Or, stronger, cause they are, you realize? I don’t know…”
“Okay, let’s break and think about it for a bit. We’ll get back together right before lunch. That’ll give us time to think.”
I waited while everyone got up and went their separate ways.
Tom was angry, obviously. But I wondered how much of that was me. Mike was upset, too. I couldn’t read Tony and wanted to hear his thoughts some more.
I also wanted to move to my bed. I’d been sitting in one spot for too long and was really needing to get my foot elevated. The cane helped but it was a struggle.
“Let me help.” It was Tracie. She grabbed my arm and helped me over to my camp. I felt bad that she was the one helping in her condition so I worked a little more than I should have. I was in some pain by the time I got situated with my foot in the air.
“So, what do you really think of the new people?” she asked.
“Before I answer, tell me what you think.”
“I think that we need the help. We could have multiple scavenging groups out. And we could get the work at the fort done quickly,” she said.
“So, there’s no down side to you?”
“I didn’t say that. I don’t want to live under a military occupation and if he ever got in charge that’s what would happen to us.”
“I agree with that. Okay, I need to rest. Thank you Tracie. For your help and your counsel.” She smiled touched my shoulder gently before leaving.
So, the question is… How do we integrate the groups into one group without losing control? I had no idea. These are not problems that a tour guide normally has to deal with. I was pondering this problem when sleep took me.
“Boss Man, hey Boss Man.”
“I’m up.” I wasn’t.
“It’s chilly under the casemates. Let’s get you out in the sun.
It looked like the gang was all here around the fire beginning lunch. Mike put a Coke in my hand and I took my time popping it open and drinking deeply. Everyone was looking at me when I finished. You could taste the anxiety. I distinctly felt like if I said the wrong thing here, well, then God help me.
“I think we need the help that Captain Rendina’s group represents. But, I don’t want two groups living under the same roof. So, I need ideas on how we can integrate the two groups.”
The discussion was spirited at times but some good ideas came out of it.
When we were done. I put my snipers back on the top of the casemates, popped a painkiller and started out towards the boats with Tony, Mike, Tom and John. Captain Rendina met us on the dock with the same men as before.
“Captain, we agree on principle that your group move onto the fort. But, we have some concerns.”
“Go on.”
“The biggest concern is how to integrate the two groups once inside the fort. We do not want two groups in there, we want one. We can’t afford to get into an ‘Us vs Them’ type scenario.”
“I agree, Mr. Knight. You’ll be in charge. I just need a spot on your counsel to look after the interests of my people.”
“But that’s just what I’m talking about. They won’t be ‘your’ people, they’ll be ‘our’ people. We will all be one big group with the one common interest of survival.”
“I see your point. I just do not want these people on the boat to feel like second class citizens.”
“As we speak, the other members of the group are re arranging the sleeping sites so there’s room for everyone. And they’re all mixed together so there’s a feeling of family. One group. Everyone welcome.”
“Thank you, Mr. Knight. That makes it sound like you’ve put some thought into this. How should we proceed?”
“For starters, I’m Ryan.” I stuck my hand out like we were meeting for the first time. He took it.
“I’m Ron.”
“Nice to meet you, Ron. Permission to come aboard so we can meet the rest of our group?”
“Sure, I’ll help you.”
We spent the rest of the day unloading the boat and getting the newcomers situated and shown around. With the new supplies and new people a lot of organizing was needed. A proper inventory was scheduled for the next day. A new watch schedule incorporated everyone.
Ron had some good suggestions. The decision was made to make a list of everyone at the fort. A census of sorts. It would include their occupation before the zombie apocalypse to make it easier to put the most qualified person on a task. And medical info would ensure we always knew what prescription medications to be on the lookout for.
Other suggestions weren’t received as well.
“We are not going to start locking everything up,” Mike yelled as he stood. “This is not a military base.”
I raised my hand to appeal for calm.
“Ron, make your case.”
“With limited resources and the difficulty in reaching them, the prudent thing is to make sure that what we have is secure. We don’t want anyone hoarding to the detrement of the group. We appoint a quartermaster to be in charge and they distribute supplies as needed.”
“What you’re saying makes sense, we just haven’t seen that as a problem. Everyone is doing a good job of only taking what they need and using everything they take. Why don’t we all agree to be on the lookout for signs of hoarding or waste and we will revisit this again if it becomes necessary.”
Ron started to speak again but I cut him off. I shouldn’t have done it so abruptly. I’m sure he’s not used to that.
“Ron, I respect that you are the logistics expert. But none of these people want to live under any kind of military rule. We will take your advice if and when it becomes necessary.”
He nodded.
“Please take a look at our defences with Tom and Mike and see if there’s anything we need to change and improve.” I thought that might appease him by giving him something he can influence and change.
He nodded and called for two for two of his men before starting off with Tom and Mike. As he walked away Mike gave me that look. I thought I knew what that look meant until Tabby walked up a heartbeat later with another teenage boy.
“Dad, this is Justin. He was with the group on the boat.”
I must’ve had a blank look on my face as I shook his hand.
“We spoke on the phone, Mr Knight, just as this was all just beginning,” he said.
It all came back now. The first night this all got bad, Tabby attempted to sneak out of the house to be with Justin. They were sort of boyfriend – girlfreiend in the days before zombies. Back when Tabby was still just a child. Justin’s father didn’t come home from work and his mother didn’t know what to do.
“I remember now, Justin. Did you find your father?”
“No sir,” the boy said to his feet. “My mother and I got trapped in his office building downtown for a few days and we eventually met up with these people.”
“How is your mother?’
“She’s okay. She’s setting up our stuff over there.” He indicated a spot close to mine.
“Good. Well, I’m sorry about your father.”
“Thank you, sir. I’m glad I found Tabby though.”
I smiled, nodded and looked at Tabby. She had a ‘deer in the headlights’ look about her. Good luck with that, I said to myself. But, I hoped that this new love triangle didn’t have much of an effect on Mike. He was unhappy about Captain Rendina to begin with. And, I needed him now more than ever.
Shortly after, Karen brought Mal and Willie by and I got to spend some time with my son. I hadn’t really spent much time with him or Tabby. We saw each other a little each morning and again before bed. But the time was too short. Mal wanted to show me a truck that he and Willie had been playing with. In no time, the boys were off on another adventure. I suppose I should be happy that he had a distraction in this difficult time. But I missed my family.
Captain Rendina came back after a while and seemed genuinely impressed.
“The fort, as you know, offers a lot of natural protection. But, it looks like you have identified the problem areas and covered them well. I do not recommend any changes.”
“Good, thanks for looking. Before dinner I want to go over the schedule for the next few days. I want to double our scavenging efforts by integrating teams. And if you know of some folks who have construction experience I want to get started on chicken coops and maybe a pen for hogs.”
“I’ll find some personnel to do that.” He headed off. Tom, Mike stayed behind and joined Tony who came over to listen.
“How’d that go?”
“He was very businesslike as you would expect. He made some good comments about how to better organize,” said Tom.
“I still don’t like him,” said Mike. “he looks at everything and everyone too closely. Like he’s looking for something.”
“You don’t like him,” said Tom. “Because of who came along with him.”
Mike glared at Tom then looked over to where Tabby and Justin were talking. Their conversation was animated and lively. Mike just stared. Tom chuckled and walked off. There was definitely something that changed in him when Keith died. Hell, I don’t know. We’ve all changed.
“Mike, talk to me.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. They were together before all this and now he’s back.”
“They weren’t ‘together’, Mike. They were just kids. Tabby has grown up a lot since all this happened.”
“We’ve all had to grow up,” Mike said.
“Yeah, but you’re still 16 and seeing them together has to hurt.”
He nodded.
“I’m sorry about that, I really am. But I’m asking you to deal with it. Cause you’re my best fighter and I value your opinion and insight more than anyone’s except Tony.”
He looked up at me surprised.
“No shit?”
“No shit. But I think you knew that. I need your head on straight. Especially now, you’re the only one who seems to be worried about the Captain and I need that point of view.”
“Ok,” he said after a pause. “I’ll try to stay focused.”
I nodded and he walked off. By now my ankle was throbbing pretty good so I maneuvered myself into postion with my foot up and popped another pain pill. Lois came by to check on me.
“It’s only been, what, 24 hours? It’s not going to heal with you on it all the time.” She twists and turns, pulls and pushes the foot as she talks. “I wish we had some ice. See if you, or whoever, can get some chemical cold packs from a drugstaore on the next run. Sorry I didn’t think of that before.”
“We’ve done pretty well Lois. Can’t think of everything. Since you’re here, what’s your impression of the newcomers?”
“They seem nervous, anxious somehow. They’re friendly but not, at the same time. Remember our relief at getting out here? They don’t have that.”
“Any thoughts on why?”
“Who knows? Could be because of what they’ve been through. I wonder what we seem like to them? They could also just be nervous about being around new people they don’t know, n
ew leadership, that kind of thing.”
“Makes sense, I guess.”
“I’ve talked to most of them just to introduce myself and see if anyone needs medical attention. Only the military people have been truly standoffish.”
“Okay, I’m trying to get everyone’s opinion.”
“My opinion is stay off your ankle.”
I had just let the painkillers sink in when Captain Rendina showed up with his two lieutenants. These two functioned like his shadows.
“I have some suggestions about the next few days.”
“Okay, send these two out to get Tom, Mike and Tony.”
It only took a few minutes.
“Guys, Ron had some thoughts about the next few days.”
I thought I saw a change in his face when I called him Ron and not Captain. If it was there, he recovered quickly.
“I’m not familiar with everyone out who was here on the fort when our boat arrived. And you’re not familiar with the newcomers. Rather than organize two teams with the absence of good information, why don’t we spend the day with everyone training together? If we throw people together on a mission there could be consequences.”
“We did pretty well when we first got together,” countered Mike. I think he might disagree with Rendina if the Captain claimed the sky was blue.
“Out of necessity, yes. But based on our inventory levels we can afford a training day. It would make operations together go more smoothly.”
Tony and Tom nodded.
“Yeah, Ron, that makes sense. But, I want to point something out. These people are not in the military. Make sure we remember that as we go through the training.”
He nodded.
“Tony was a training officer at the Sherriff’s department. The two of you should work together. I think it’ll make things run more smoothly. I want to be a part of this but my mobility issues will limit my involvement.”
We talked through dinner about the specifics of the next day. Then I had the chance to play with Mal and Thor for a bit before sleep took me.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
The training day for the combined groups went a lot like the training day we had when we arrived at the fort. We started with the AR’s. Everyone showed that they could handle the weapon safely and then did some dry firing. When Ron and Tony were happy, we set up targets on the sandbar towards James Island and fired off ten rounds from the top of the Battery. With only one or two exceptions everyone did really well. Even Tabby, who had obviously received some coaching from Mike. We did the same with our handguns and then took a break for lunch.
Knight Terrors: A Zombie Apocalypse Survival Tale Page 8
