Viral Misery (Book 1)

by Watson, Thomas A

  Nicole’s hair was so blonde it was white and her eyes were so blue they seemed fake. “You are still a tiny thing,” Arthur smiled at Nicole.

  Moving back to the kitchen, he looked in the formula can scooping up the formula around and making calculations. “Six, maybe seven bottles,” he huffed, then looked at his watch. “We need to find you some formula.”

  Putting the top on the can of formula, he grabbed a plastic bag and set it inside. Then he moved over and put six bottles from the dishrack in. Grabbing the bag, he headed to the living room and saw there were only four diapers. “And diapers,” he said, grabbing the diaper bag and putting the plastic bag inside.

  Walking around, he gathered stuff up until the bottle was empty. He put Nicole on his shoulder and patted her back and she let out burp that Arthur felt in his chest. “All right, that’s what I’m talking about,” Arthur cheered, grabbing an infant carrier and the diaper bag.

  Stepping outside, Kit and Kat jumped around him like: “What do you have? What do you have? Can we play with it?” Don and Daisy were sitting side by side in the yard just watching. “Kit, Kat, stop it,” Arthur snapped in a whisper, hearing Nicole breathing steady.

  Putting the stuff in the back of the buggy, he went back inside and brought more stuff out. On his last trip, he stopped and looked down at Tammy. Her blonde hair was matted as her vacant eyes stared at the ceiling. “I’ll take care of her, Tammy,” he said softly. “I’ll come back and take care of you and Ted. I should’ve been checking on you kids.”

  Holding Nicole to his chest with his left arm and his right arm full of the last of the baby supplies, Arthur used his foot to close the door. Walking over to the buggy, he tossed the stuff in and climbed behind the steering wheel. Realizing Nicole was in a diaper only, he reached back to grab a baby blanket and draped it over her.

  With his right hand, he steered the buggy back to the house and noticed the sky had gotten very dark. When he pulled up to the back patio, he looked over at the lifeless Rudy. “Hey, thanks for coming, I got to save Nicole, thanks to you,” Arthur said, getting out of the buggy.

  Opening the back door, he ferried the supplies inside and heard Nicole coo. He moved her off his shoulder and cradled her with two hands so she was looking at him, chewing on her fist. “Hey, sweetheart,” he smiled and then leaned down to kiss her, but his beard stuck her and Nicole started crying.

  “Oh, you don’t like the beard?” Arthur asked, grabbing the diaper bag and pulling out the stuff for another bottle. Again, when the bottle hit her lips Nicole sucked hard, forgiving him about the beard.

  It was two p.m. when Nicole finished the second bottle and Arthur grabbed the carrier and set her inside it. Sound asleep in the carrier, Arthur carried Nicole into the master bathroom and set her on the counter over Wendy’s sink.

  He pulled out his clippers and found his straight razor. In a few seconds, there was only stubble left of his beard as Arthur looked at his reflection in the mirror. Finding the shaving cream, he lathered up and opened the straight razor and cleaned the stubble off. Rinsing his face off when he was done, Arthur looked in the carrier to see Nicole staring at him.

  “Stickers are gone,” he smiled and Nicole squealed with a toothless grin. Picking the carrier up, Arthur headed back to the living room and dug out a little onesie and put it on Nicole.

  “Let’s go find you some food at the store and then you are getting a bath,” Arthur said, getting up and heard thunder rumbling.

  “Fuck!” he snapped and Nicole squealed with a grin. He looked down at her smiling. “Yeah, I can’t get you out in the rain, your body has been stressed enough.”

  Nicole just cooed and then chewed on her fist as Arthur nuzzled into her neck, making her squeal again. Pulling his head back, he found a wide toothless grin of approval of the ‘no beard’. “Let’s see how much food you have, then make the call.”

  Putting Nicole back in the carrier, he set her on the kitchen island and grabbed a glass from the cabinet. It looked like Arthur was measuring cocaine as he carefully measured each scoop. When he was done, he looked down at Nicole. “Seven bottles. I think we should leave in the morning.”

  Nicole just chewed on her fist so Arthur took that as her agreement. Picking the carrier up, he talked to her as he moved through the house, gathering towels and rags. Thinking the rags were too tough for Nicole’s skin, Arthur opened his dresser and pulled out a t-shirt. Everywhere he moved a line of dogs followed, wondering when they could play with what he was carrying around.

  Grabbing the baby shampoo and soap he’d taken from Nicole’s house, Arthur moved back to the kitchen and spread a towel out on the island beside the baby carrier. “You stinkie,” Arthur said, making a face and turning on the sink, getting the water lukewarm.

  As he talked to Nicole, he grabbed some scissors and cut his shirt into small squares for baby washcloths. When he was done, he laid Nicole on the towel and stripped her down. Putting her in the sink, Nicole looked around not really sure of this.

  Arthur talked to her as he washed her and the skies opened up outside. Looking out the window over the sink, he could barely see Rudy’s body out back with the rain coming down so hard. Nicole kicked her feet and splashed the water, really loving this sensation.

  “Yeah, if Wendy was here, we would be closing all the shutters,” Arthur smiled down at Nicole. “She really hates storms.”

  Giving a squeal when Arthur wet her head, Nicole looked up at him smiling, feeling the warm water on her body. When he was done, Arthur lifted her up and laid her on the towel, then wrapped her up. “You smell brand new,” Arthur laughed as Nicole chewed on her fist as her head lay on his shoulder while he dried her off. Putting her down, Arthur pulled the baby lotion out of the water, hoping it was warmer. After lathering Nicole down, he swaddled her back up in the towel.

  With his free hand, he dumped powder in three bottles and then poured water into one. When he started shaking the bottle up, Nicole tried to lift her head up. She knew that sound and liked it. Carrying her to the living room, Arthur sat down in his recliner.

  “I know you don’t have a diaper on, but we need to let your bottom breathe,” he told Nicole, moving her to the crook of his arm. As the bottle headed for her, Nicole’s mouth gaped open. When she’d latched on, Arthur started rocking the recliner.

  Not able to help it, Arthur chuckled, seeing Nicole’s eyes getting very heavy. He looked in front of him and saw all four dogs sitting, staring at the small form in his arms. “Yes, we have a new member,” Arthur smiled.

  Even asleep, Nicole never stopped sucking hard. When the bottle was finished, Arthur burped her and just let her sleep on his chest as he rocked. As he sat there, Arthur started making a mental list of what he was going to need, and calculated how much he would need as rain pounded the house.

  At seven, Arthur made another bottle and tossed the towel away because Nicole had peed in it. Putting a diaper on her, Arthur carried her into his bedroom and laid her on the bed. As he got ready for bed, Mickey and Minnie jumped up on the bed and moved over to Nicole.

  Hearing a growl, Arthur turned and saw Don growling at the cats. “Mickey, Minnie, get down!” Arthur snapped, moving over and picking up Nicole. “I should let Don use you for a chew toy.”

  The cats sat down and looked up at Arthur cradling Nicole to his chest as she cooed. “Back off, cats or I’ll let Kong inside,” Arthur warned and the cats just laid down.

  Moving pillows around, Arthur climbed in bed. After Nicole had eaten, Arthur did something he hadn’t done in over twenty years. Fell asleep with a baby on his chest.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lives are saved

  May 8

  Not moving all night and still on his back, Arthur looked down on his chest watching Nicole sleeping peacefully. He’d woken every four hours and had fed her a bottle. The only time Nicole woke up was when she’d taken a dump and her butt had started burning from the rash. Arthur had cleaned her up with the s
peed of a NASCAR pit crew and Nicole had drifted back to sleep.

  “Hey stinker, you hungry?” Arthur asked, kissing her head. Reaching to the nightstand, he grabbed the bottle as he sat up. Nicole gave a startle, then saw the bottle coming and opened her mouth. She looked up at Arthur as she latched on the bottle and he just grinned at her.

  He walked into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. Walking into the living room, Arthur almost started bellowing but took a deep breath, seeing the cats in the baby carrier, sleeping. Moving over, he kicked the carrier on its side and the cats jumped out and looked at him like he was insane.

  “Oh, you’re so lucky Wendy loved you two,” Arthur announced in a quivering voice. Hearing whining, he turned to see the dogs at the back door. “All right,” he sighed and moved over to let them out. Nicole gave a jump from the cool air and Arthur started to close the door until he saw the dogs heading for Rudy.

  “No!” he snapped and the dogs changed directions. Leaving the door cracked, he went back for the baby carrier and set it on the island. Spotting cat hair, he placed a towel in first and then put Nicole in the carrier. Arthur made some breakfast and turned when the dogs pushed the door open.

  “You guys are going to have to learn to shut the door,” Arthur said, shaking his head and walking over to close the door. When his breakfast was done, Arthur moved the carrier over to the table. Grabbing a cup of coffee and a notepad, he made a list of what he thought he would need.

  Glancing over at the baby carrier, he saw Nicole asleep. Getting up, he carried her to the bathroom and sat her on the floor, then stripped and jumped in the shower. He got out grinning to see that Nicole was still asleep. Moving her into the bedroom, he dressed and then carried her into the office.

  Setting her on the desk, Arthur moved over to the ham radios and turned one on. He gave a sigh, hearing voices talking. “Well, we aren’t alone, blue eyes,” Arthur said, listening. The more he listened, the more he wished they were alone.

  Reaching up, he changed the frequency and listened again. Like before, they were talking about masses dying but also violence everywhere directed at anyone. “Yep, need to make some changes,” he mumbled.

  Rubbing his smooth face, he turned and saw Nicole looking at him. “What are you doing up?” he grinned and she squealed with a grin. Picking her up, Arthur moved to the linen closet and pulled out a silk sheet.

  Putting Nicole back down in the carrier, he shook the sheet out, spreading it out over the bed and folded it lengthwise. Grabbing some string, he tied it around the rolled-up sheet while leaving a two-foot area unfolded. After he was done, he tied the two ends together and slung them over his head and right shoulder and the unfolded area was at his chest, forming a hammock or a baby sling.

  “We have some work to do” Arthur said, taking Nicole out of the baby carrier. He dressed her and poured her a bottle, leaving two more to go. Wrapping Nicole up in a blanket, he tucked her into the sling across his chest and then moved the blanket away until it framed her face. She looked up at him with a toothless grin.

  “We have to find you some boots,” Arthur chuckled, grabbing his pistol off the dresser and clipping it to his hip. After grabbing the magazine carrier, he picked up his AR and the bottle. “Dogs,” he said, heading to the back door.

  As he drove the buggy to the barn, Arthur covered Nicole’s face up so the cool air wouldn’t hit it. It was a challenge to do the chores with Nicole on his chest. But Arthur even managed to feed Nicole a bottle as he hooked the milking machines up to the cows.

  When the rooster crowed as the sun broke the horizon, Nicole gave a startle and started crying. If the gunshot wouldn’t have scared her so bad, Arthur would’ve shot the rooster. As he fed the sheep, he looked at the thick wool on them and shook his head. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you sheared in a few days,” Arthur promised and then headed back to the buggy when he was done.

  Reaching the back patio, Arthur headed over to the shop and climbed in the track steer, starting it up and Nicole looked around with wide eyes at hearing the diesel engine rumbling. When the track steer moved, she gave a startle and looked up at Arthur with an unsure expression. Seeing him smile down, Nicole moved her eyes to see the world move as Arthur drove.

  Lowering the bucket, Arthur moved along Rudy’s truck, scraping the side as he scooped up the stiff body. “I’ll get the gun later, but I have to move you,” Arthur told the body, raising the bucket up. He drove into the woods and dumped Rudy out, then drove back and parked the track steer.

  “Dogs,” he snapped and they ran out of the woods, falling in around him as he headed for the back door.

  “You did so good doing chores,” Arthur praised, taking Nicole out of her baby sling. She gave a squeal as he put her in the carrier. “We have to get you some food and more diapers, then figure how we are going to do some stuff around here to make it safe.” Nicole just looked at him as she chewed on her fist.

  He carried her with him to his office and set her on the desk as he went to the gun safe. Opening it up, he grabbed a suppressor off the top shelf. Arthur had three suppressors the government knew about, but over a dozen that they didn’t. The one in his hand was one of those. It was his own design and worked better than the ones he’d bought.

  At one time, he’d considered patenting it and leasing the rights, but hadn’t wanted the thugs in DC breathing down his neck. Next, he grabbed a dual mag pouch for the AR. Clipping it on his left hip in front of the 1911 magazines, he shoved two magazines in the Kydex holster.

  Stepping into the living room, he grabbed his AR and took the suppressor that was mounted off; it was one the government knew about. Putting the better one on, Arthur put the other in the gun safe and then checked his AR over. When he was done, he turned and saw Nicole staring at him in wonder.

  “Yep, anyone messes with you and I’ll skin them alive,” Arthur sang out and Nicole giggled. Seeing his digital camera sitting in its cradle on his desk, Arthur picked it up and snapped two pictures of Nicole. “Gotcha,” he grinned at her.

  Shoving the camera in his thigh cargo pocket, Arthur turned around and closed the safe. Reaching up, Arthur took a black felt fedora hat with a three inch brim off the top of the safe and put it on. “You like my hat?” Arthur asked Nicole and she just gave him a toothless grin which Arthur took as yes and picked her up.

  As he carried Nicole back to the kitchen, he noticed the living room looked like chaos with all the stuff he had brought over for Nicole. “Uh oh, we will have to clean the house when we get back,” Arthur said, walking into the kitchen.

  Pulling bottles out of the dishwasher, he fixed the last two and then made sure the last diapers and wipes were in the diaper bag. Holding up the pink diaper bag and looking at it, he turned to Nicole. “We are so getting another diaper bag,” he said in a serious voice that tickled Nicole.

  Turning away from Nicole to the diaper bag, “I can’t walk around with a pink bag, Nicole,” Arthur told her with a fake scowl that amused her even more. Putting the baby sling on, Arthur slung the AR over his head to let it hang under his arm.

  “Kit, Kat, stay,” he said, grabbing his keys off the key rack. “Donald and Daisy, come,” he commanded, heading to the front door. He armed the pad he had just put up and then walked out, locking the door. Walking to the garage, he patted the baby sling as he looked around. Where he lived he rarely heard signs of civilization, but knowing what was going on in the world made the sounds of nature more distinct. What he did notice was there were very few birds chirping.

  Opening the back of his Blazer, “In,” he commanded. Donald and Daisy jumped in the back with ease. Closing the door, he moved into the garage and climbed behind the driver’s seat. He looked down as he started the engine to see Nicole looking up at him, completely content. Backing out he gave a sigh, looking at Wendy’s BMW.

  “I found us a baby,” he said softly and then put the Blazer in drive. Pulling down the driveway, he saw he’d left the gate open yesterday.<
br />
  “Nicole, why didn’t you tell me to close the gate?” he asked, driving through the gate and then pushed the remote clipped to his visor.

  When he passed Nicole’s house, Arthur tilted his head to the house as his left arm cradled Nicole. “We are doing good, guys,” he whispered.

  Driving north on small dirt roads that only locals would know, it took over twenty minutes for Arthur to reach a cabin rental area south of the hamlet of Murray. The area was only ten miles in a straight line but twenty by road, and Arthur had not taken the straightest route.

  Passing houses of people he knew, Arthur would slow and look at their houses for any signs of life but didn’t stop. At one house, he thought he saw someone but didn’t know who lived there, so he didn’t slow. Never going over forty, Arthur was sure if anyone saw him it might make them nervous, since he was going so slow. But he was worried about rounding a blind curve and finding it blocked. Needless to say, Nicole was making him overcautious.

  He stopped half a mile from the small store that served the cabins but stayed open all year. You just had to honk your horn if the owner wasn’t inside; Old man Turner lived behind the store. After listening to the ham, he really didn’t want to risk taking Nicole into a populated area. Opening the glove box, he pulled out some binoculars and scanned the store.

  “What the hell?” he mumbled, seeing three kids playing with something in a mud puddle in front of the store. “Those cabins aren’t open for another month.”

  Zooming in, he saw it was three boys and none of them could be over ten. The way they were grinning as they played in the mud puddle, Arthur knew they were having fun.

  Watching the three for half an hour, Arthur heard Nicole getting fussy. Without lowering the binoculars, he reached his other hand over to grab a bottle off the seat and put it to her mouth. Taking his eyes from the binoculars for a second, Arthur glanced down to see Nicole happily drinking.