by Kirk Allmond
“By the time the boys returned the sun had almost set, we were ready for dinner and the wait for them to return was almost agonizing.
“I didn’t like being left out of the action; it would have helped if we had some sort of communication system so we could at least keep in touch, and put my mind at ease you know. It was very risky leaving the mansion at such a delicate time, but it was necessary, still, it didn’t fail to annoy me.”
“To my relief they acquired some pretty nifty gadgets amongst them a few radios. John was describing in detail the guns he had gathered but his voice drifted off when Marshall handed me a pair of blades, I was delighted.”
“It was too late for me to train up my skills, so we ate instead and took turns during the night circling the mansion. The eerie silence made all of us uneasy, we knew the smart zombies where planning something big and it was the calm before the storm.”
“As soon as the sun was up, I headed outside to stretch my limbs and watched as Marshall shot a few arrows at a makeshift target. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to put my speed to the test.”
Victor interrupted, “Oh? How fast are you?”
“Check this out, Marshall stepped about a hundred yards away from the target and raised his compound bow, aiming through the sight. I ran alongside the arrow as soon as he let go of the string, my aim was to reach the target before the arrow did. It was easy as pie; I was there with seconds to spare.”
“I returned the arrow to Marshall who had now mounted another one to his bow; he shot again, this time I ran past it catching it before it hit the target.”
“You outran an arrow? Holy crap Leo!” I exclaimed.
“Yea! Can you believe it? There’s more. John decided this was not challenging enough for me and suggested to join in the fun, this time going against one of his bullets. It wasn’t as if we had enough to spare but he insisted that two bullets in the name of training where not a big deal.”
“No, you didn’t outrun a bullet. Maybe we should call you super-girl?” I asked.
“To add extra difficulty to the challenge John placed the target about four hundred yards away, there was no doubt in my mind that he would hit the bull’s-eye.”
John looked up at me with his mouth full of rice, grinning as he winked. We all laughed.
“So anyway, John aimed with the rifle and I watched as he pulled the trigger, running with all my might towards the target and coming to a halt a few seconds later to find the bullet wedged in the piece of wood already. I looked at the hole in the inner circle and looked over at John turning my thumb upside down disappointed.”
“I made my way back positioning myself next to John once again.”
“Marshall watched from his binoculars as John shot another round at the target.”
“The adrenaline kicked in, and my sight slowed down, making the bullet seem no faster than a bird flying past, I ran alongside the bullet watching it from the corner of my eye as we both sped towards the target. The bullet hit bull’s-eye once again as I simultaneously came to a stop.”
“I looked back at Marshall who was giving me the thumbs up from four hundred yards away, I was getting close; I just had to figure out how to trigger my senses to repeat the same action.”
“We decided not to spend any more rounds and I spent the rest of the afternoon challenging myself against wildlife instead, in between adding the last touch of our defenses and eating dinner.”
“When John came running to the kitchen the next day to tell us that you were awake, I felt a jolt of relief. I wanted to knock you out for another nine days for your stupidity back at the shooting club but I didn’t think the rest of you would appreciate it.”
“You looked pale and weak and I couldn’t imagine the amount of pain your broken collarbone was causing you.”
“Once you were up and walking there was nothing that was going to stop you, and there was no point arguing with you. I led you to Max and turned towards the window, the air felt dense, it smelled different.”
“I ran outside to meet John who was already standing near the gate.”
“We got trouble, he had said looking straight ahead, and then he called for Marshall.”
“After a quick briefing we took our positions and watched as a line of trucks approached the entrance-
“Marshall’s voice chirped through the radio. ‘Shit John, there is a shitload of them’.”
“Just stand by our plan Marshall. Leo are you ready?” John responded.
“I called back, ‘Ready,’ tightening my hand around the handle of my blade.
Just as Leo finished telling her story, the radio crackled.
“Company, front gate. They look military,” came a voice over the radio.
“Who is that on the radio?” I asked as we all stood up from the table.
“That’s Charlie Bookbinder, he’s a marine, and he’s helping me with security.” Said Marshall.
We were strapping on our weapons, John shrugged into his new rig, a black leather vest that held magazines facing outward from his spine, his pearl handled revolver above his hip, and two 9mm glock 17's under each armpit. Leo donned her new sword holsters, the handles sticking up in an X above her head, with her collapsed batons across the small of her back.
“When did we start a leather tailoring company?” I asked, “And where’s mine?”
“Leo’s been busy!” said Marshall, holding his side.
“Marshall. You should stay back, you’re still wounded.”
“No, I’m fine,” he said. It just itches.” Marshall raised his shirt to show his bite marks completely healed.
“Whoa!” I said. “I want that ability!”
“That’s not all. I think I’m strong.” said Marshall.
“Let’s go find out, brother.”
We walked down to the gate to meet visitors for the second time in forty-eight hours.
“I hope this goes better than last time,” I said as we walked.
28. Colonel Frye
At my signal, John and Leo peeled off about one hundred fifty yards from the gate and stopped in cover behind a couple of large trees. We’d been in full view walking down the driveway; I just wanted to make a show. There were six ‘desert sand’ colored humvees parked at angles to the big iron gates. Each had a .50 caliber on the roof and a gunner manning each one. There were twelve soldiers standing at the gate next to our guard. They were talking in a fairly friendly manner, but the soldiers snapped to attention as we approached.
“Victor Tookes?” Said an older man in desert digital camo fatigues. He had a mostly blue aura. Blue was the color mine was when I felt calm. I was still figuring out if there was some rhyme or reason to these auras, so I wanted to pay close attention to them during this conversation, maybe I could figure something out. Once I had a little down time I would play with it some.
“I’m Victor Tookes.” I said. “How can I help you Colonel Frye?” The bird on his collar, and his name printed on his chest gave me the information. I addressed him as such on purpose, both to be respectful of his position and to let him wonder if I was military. With my current buzz cut hair and lean frame, I could certainly pass as former military.
“Tookes, we have a lot to talk about, would you be willing to open this gate?” Frye asked.
He’s been monitoring communications, I thought to myself. It’s very unlikely that he would call me Tookes unless he’d heard Leo and John. I wasn’t going to outright call him on it, but I filed it away to figure out how I felt about it later.
“You know, it’s almost impossible to tell the smart zombies from humans.” I said calmly. “You’re well covered where you are; I’m not quite ready to give up my advantage.”
“We’re on the same side here. We both want to restore order to this world. We both want to help people.” he said. I hadn’t seen this before; red slashes appeared in the color surrounding him.
“I hear you talking, but, your men have very large guns pointed at me. Y
ou’re not being very convincing,” I said.
I watched all six men in the humvees consider options, but it was fleeting. They were well disciplined. I watched the Colonel weigh his options, but they all involved standing still, so I couldn’t make much out. His aura was blue, not threatening, but self assured. At least that’s how I felt when my aura was blue.
“You have John and Leo poised to kill all of us. I believe John could kill every one of us before we could fire a shot.”
“Colonel, I’m not sure I like having been under your surveillance. We’ve had some pretty close calls and haven’t seen any help from you. If you’re trying to help people, you haven’t been doing a very good job of it. I appreciate your stopping by, but we’re pretty tired. You’ve interrupted our dinner. If you would like I’d be happy to make an appointment to continue this conversation the day after tomorrow at noon?”
Frye looked angry at being dismissed. I was angry at the notion that he’d been watching me get my ass kicked and did nothing to help. This was not a particularly positive way to start off an alliance. I definitely needed time to consider him, his approach, and what his motivations were, but I also didn’t want to leave him thinking that I was some wack-job.
“Colonel, walk along the fence with me.” I said.
I pressed the mic on my throat “Alpha team, Bravo team, stand down.” I said. He didn’t have to know that I was inventing names, or that each of those teams was made of one person. Leo and John stepped out from behind their trees.
“Marshall, Bookbinder, stay here.”
Frye and I walked along the fence, away from all of the people. I turned my radio off.
“Colonel, we have a large population of survivors here. Almost every one of them can fire a weapon. We have fortifications up, and they’re expanding every day. We have food, water on the property, fuel, and enough wood stoves and fireplaces to stay warm on the coldest nights.”
“Sounds like you’re pretty well covered here then. What about medical staff? Supplies?”
“Are you offering me a team of doctors and a hospital, Colonel?”
“No, well, not exactly. I’m offering to move all of your people to Mount Pony. We have security, medical professionals, supplies, and what remains of the US Government.” More red slashes throughout. These nearly half colored the blue.
“Colonel, there is no US Government anymore. Technically, there is no US army.” I said. “I will tell these people that they have the option to leave and go to Mount Pony. You may have some takers, just so they can finally see the inside of that place.”
Mount Pony was a nuclear shelter built in the late 1960's. Through the 90's it belonged to the Federal Reserve, with rumors of over $1 billion in US currency being stored there to jump start the US economy after a nuclear attack. Up until 1992, 100% of electronic banking funds transfers went through the servers there. There was also rampant rumor that in times of national crisis, the vice president and speaker of the house were evacuated to that facility. Apparently that was also true.
“I feel pretty abandoned by the US Government. Where were they during this outbreak? We’re the most advanced nation in the history of the planet, pushed back to medieval times by some parasite? There was nothing on television; the entire country fell in one day? One day I was at my office, the morning was like any other. By the very next day, almost the entire population was wiped out. How does that happen?”
“How do you know they’re parasites?” he asked. “That information was kept off all media outlets.” His aura turned purple.
“Frye, we need to get one thing very clear here. You are standing on my land. You came to me with a show of force, and it’s a pretty pitiful show. You want something from me, I think you need something from me, and it’s not those people,” I gestured up towards the house. “You need to start being plain. You will not intimidate me, and every minute we’ve talked I’ve grown to trust you less. Drop the bullshit.” I told him as I turned around and started walking back to the gate. “When we get back to the gate, this conversation is over. If you’d like to continue it at that point, you and no more than two others will be back here at noon on Thursday.”
“Tookes, tell me how you can tell which of them are infected.” his aura shifted back to its blue color, and added in some red slashes.
“Finally. I appreciate your candor Colonel. But I’m afraid I can’t tell you the answer to that.”
“It's vital. How are we supposed to fight an enemy if we can’t tell who the enemy is?” When he asked, his aura turned purple with red stripes.
“Colonel, I don’t know the answer you want. They just look different to me.” I said. That was a true statement. Red stripes disappeared and purple settled in to Colonel Frye’s aura. “I will talk to my people. Any who want to come with you are welcome to do so. Any who do not are welcome to stay with me. I’ll see you here day after tomorrow at noon. Good day sir.”
“Marshall, who else do we have that can watch the gate? I’d like to talk with Bookbinder here a little bit. Can you get someone to cover his shift?”
“Oh, Colonel. Before you go, what’s your first name? If we’re going to be allies, I’d like to know your first name.”
“Colonel Joshua Frye, United States Army.” he said walking away.
“Sure Vic.” Marshall spoke into his radio quietly as Frye and his men mounted their vehicles and drove off.
“Vic, Daily’s coming to take his place.”
“Charlie, right?”
“Yes sir.” said Bookbinder.
“Charlie, no calling me sir. Tookes is fine. Let’s take a walk. Marshall, how’s your side?”
Marshall did a couple of deep side bends, and a couple of jumping jacks. “Seems fine. I feel good, just hungry.”
“Leo, would you bring Marshall something to eat, and catch up with us, please?”
“Sure, Tookes. But just because I’m fast doesn’t mean it’s not a pain in the ass to run up that hill.”
“I know, and I’m grateful for your help.” I said.
“Charlie, let’s go.”
We walked a few steps up the hill. “Charlie, do you have family here?”
“I do sir, err... Tookes. You saved my wife and two daughters from that school.”
“What are their names?”
“My wife is Myla, my older daughter Ariel is 12, and Sara is my ten year old.”
“Charlie, I’m so happy they’re okay. My son Max and I went through some pretty tough spots getting here; I know a little of what you must have been feeling. I lost my wife Candi on the way from Pennsylvania to the farm here. I couldn’t let that happen to anyone else.”
“Charlie, do you trust me? I want your honest opinion.”
“Tookes, there’s some talk around that you’re a zombie, just like Watley was, but that you’re from a different faction. Personally, I have no opinion. You saved my family. Watley was feeding all those people to his caged zombies. You could be a zombie, or you could be superman, I’d follow you to the end of the world. I watched you playing with your son in the side yard this morning. I’ve seen that kind of love; I’ve seen it in my own heart when I’m playing with my daughters.”
“Charlie, I’m not a zombie. You can take my pulse.” I held my arm out. “I’ve never been bitten. I’m just a man.”
“You’re more than that sir. You’re hope. You’ve brought all of us together. We’ve seen your team fight. If anyone can beat these things, you can. And I pledge my life to that cause. You’ll find every man in the camp will do the same.”
“Charlie, I’m going to do that. I’m going to kill every one of them, if it’s the last thing I do. But I’m going to need some help. That’s where you come in. Who else in our group has military training, or potential?”
“Well, Daily sir. He’s not a marine, but he’s military. Jimmy Koller is pretty young, I think he’s only 17, but he’s a good kid, and he’s fast and quiet.”
“Tookes, Charlie... Call me Too
kes.”
“Sir. If you order me to call you Tookes, I’ll do so. But you really ought to think about that. You’re the leader here. The men respect you. You should carry that respect, because when the time comes, they need to jump when you say jump. They need to know that you’re the authority, and when it gets hot they need to be in the habit of not questioning your orders. Seeing a couple of former military following you in that manner will inspire them to do the same.”
“Charlie, what was your rank and job when you were in?”
“Lance Corporal, sir. I led a fire team of five men.”
“Lance Corporal Bookbinder, I’m promoting you. I need you to create five five-man teams. I need you to oversee training them. I also want you to lead a team of the best of the men. I want your teams to be in charge of searching Orange for useful items. Anything we’re going to need, food, supplies, ammunition, medical supplies, and personal hygiene. I’d like to have two teams off the farm every day, and three teams here, building defenses and manning them.”
“Last thing,” I said “Frye wants me to pass on his offer to let every one of you go live in Mount Pony. Do you think any of them will go?”
“I think there are a few; not many, but that’s a few mouths we don’t have to feed, sir.”
“Thanks Bookbinder. Let’s have everyone out in front of the barn in four hours.” I said as Leo walked up. “I’ll expect your team assignments then.”
“Hi Leo,” I said. “Perfect timing. We were just finishing up, and you and I are up for after dinner patrol, before I have to go put Max to bed.”
Leo and I walked off, Bookbinder practically ran up to the barn office.
29. Surveillance
Leo and I walked down the hill behind the barn, to the path that borders the river. When we got down to the river bank, we turned upstream towards the gun club and started to walk the perimeter of the property. About halfway down the river trail, I felt her hand slide into mine. I reached down and turned my radio off. We walked the rest of the way up towards the old swimming hole hand in hand, walking along in silence. Neither of us felt the need to say anything.
