“We drove around looking for them. No luck.” I added.
“Oh shit.” Julie said. “But, there were no bodies, right?” She asked. Macie and I both shook our heads.
“Well, the only good news I have is the new radio antenna is working. I made contact with Howard and Macie’s boyfriend.” I looked at her questioningly. “The old dude who lives on the Cumberland Plateau. He seemed really excited to know there was another live woman on the planet.” Macie laughed.
“Anyway, we chatted for almost an hour. He’s had a cold winter as well, but he had plenty of food stocked up. He said he’s only seen one other live person in the last three months, and to tell you he can’t wait to meet you.”
“What’s his name?” I asked.
Macie laughed. “He only calls himself Hillbilly.”
Julie grinned briefly, but then looked downcast. “I tried raising Fred.” She said and then shook her head slowly. We understood.
Later, we had dinner by candle light and discussed tomorrow’s meeting.
“I’m thinking the two of you meet with Andie in the morning instead of me.” I said while we ate. “We’ll head out early and you two drop me off. I’ll find a good sniper position and watch out for you. We’ll use the standard hand and radio signals. Afterward, we’ll pay Bernie a visit and check on him. Then, if there’s enough daylight left, we’ll do some scavenging. What do you girls think?” They nodded in agreement.
“We always like it when you do the planning. Will you be wearing a diaper?” Macie said with a coy smile.
We went to bed early and got up well before daylight. We worked up a plan where the girls would meet with Andie and I’d be their security.
The girls dropped me off a couple of miles from the store.
“I’m going to walk my way in and find a spot to set up a decent distance from the store but I’ll stay close to the road.” I said. “If you hear gunshots, it means I’ve encountered zombies or those assholes who tried to ambush me.” They nodded. “I can’t risk leaving the radio on. We really need to find some ear pieces for these things. But anyway, if you girls have any problems while we wait, fire some shots or use the hand signals.” They agreed.
I made my way toward the store and finally chose an abandoned car to hide in. It was approximately three hundred yards from the store. I positioned myself so I could sit in the back seat and aim the rifle out of the passenger side. Adorned in my newly fashioned Ghillie suit, a casual passerby would only see a clump of rags in the back seat.
Looking at my watch, I was satisfied to see I was in place two hours early. It seemed futile to go through this precaution at this point, either they had no cause to try to set us up, or whoever their guy was, George maybe, was really good. If he was out there, he was better than me because I never saw him.
The girls drove by me promptly at sunrise. I watched as Andie arrived from the opposite direction.
*****
“There she is.” Julie said as she pointed at Andie driving up in her jeep. Macie nodded and parked. All of the girls got out. Andie was startled and flinched when they hugged her.
“How’ve you been, Andie?” Julie asked.
She shrugged. “It could be worse I guess.”
“We’ve brought some food. Are you hungry?” Andie nodded. The three of them ate cold hard boiled eggs dipped in honey while they talked.
“Where’s Zach?” Andie asked.
“Oh,” Julie said between mouthfuls. “He’s around. He left out early this morning and said he’d catch up with us later.”
Macie spoke up before Andie could respond. “Your note said it was urgent to meet with us. What’s up?”
Andie fidgeted, pulled out a joint, and lit it. “I wanted to talk with Zach privately.”
“Andie, we’re your friends.” Macie said quietly. Julie burst out in sudden laughter.
“Hell, we have to be friends, all of our names are the same. Andie, Macie, Julie. Get it?” Julie laughed again. “Do you not like us?” She asked. Andie stammered and puffed on her joint.
“Well, we like you.” Macie said. “We worry about you tremendously.”
“Why?” Andie asked.
“Because, the three of us are kindred spirits.” Macie said. Andie scoffed.
“So says Miss Cheerleader with the blue eyes and big perky tits. You were probably the most popular girl in school. Most of the boys in my school were assholes toward me. Girls like you turned their nose up at me.” She scoffed again and smoked her joint. Macie grabbed it and took a puff.
“You’re right. Well, mostly. My eyes are hazel, but you’re right. There was a time when the three of us would have probably never been friends. But it’s different now. You know that.” Macie puffed the joint again, coughed, and handed it back. “We’re now more alike than ever.” Andie thought about Macie’s statement a long minute before she slowly nodded.
“Can I come live with you guys?” She suddenly blurted out. “I promise I won’t be a burden.” There were sudden tears in her eyes and her voice cracked. “I can’t take it anymore.” Macie and Julie looked at each other. Zach had told them this might happen.
“Sweetie, if you leave and come live with us, will your uncle come looking for you?” Macie asked. Andie nodded reluctantly, and then looked up.
“What if we fake my death or something?” She asked.
“I think that’s cool!” Julie said and giggled again. Macie and Andie smiled.
“I think it’s cool too.” A man’s voice said from inside the abandoned store. The girls looked in shock as Barry emerged from the front door. He was armed with an assault rifle.
*****
I saw the girls startled expressions and knew something was wrong. They turned toward the front door of the abandoned store. There was someone standing there. Unfortunately, the vehicles were partially obstructing my line of sight. I watched helplessly through my scope wondering what was going on.
*****
The three girls were stunned when they saw Barry. Julie started to reach for her handgun, which was holstered in her tactical vest. Barry stopped her with a gesture of his rifle.
“No, no, no. You go for that gun and I’ll shoot.” He grinned, showing a fresh gap between his discolored teeth. “Remember Eli? He’s on the other side of that window with a rifle aimed at you two bitches. Now you may be able to get a shot off at me, but he’ll surely kill you.”
Julie stopped, and realized what needed to be done. “Please don’t hurt us.” She said and slowly raised her hands. Macie did the same.
*****
I saw the signal, but I had no shot. Macie and Julie stood there with their hands raised, and probably waiting for me to start shooting. I moved my scope quickly to Andie. She was frozen in place. I moved it back toward the front door when my eye caught something in one of the windows. I could see the outline of a figure, but not much else. I knew I only had a scintilla of a second to decide. I aimed center mass at the shadowy figure in the window and squeezed off a shot.
*****
“You two bitches thought you were funny when you left us a canteen of piss to drink. Before I’m through with you, you’ll be begging to drink my piss you…” His diatribe was cut off by the crackle of window glass breaking, followed quickly by the sound of a gunshot. Barry looked at the window stupidly, and heard his companion fall. When he turned his attention back to Julie, she saw her opportunity grabbed her handgun and shot Barry at the moment he turned back toward her. His expression was of surprise and pain. As he fell, he squeezed the trigger on his rifle. The fully automatic weapon fired off ten rounds in rapid succession as he hit the ground.
Julie instinctively crouched, shot Barry again, and ran to the rear of Andie’s jeep.
“Macie!” She yelled. Macie drew her handgun and held it on Andie as she backed toward Julie. “Are you hit?” Julie asked.
“We need to get out of here.” Macie said quietly. “Where’s Zach?” The two of them walked backwards toward the
ir truck. As they got in, Andie yelled out.
“Wait!” She said and ran toward them. She stopped short when Julie pointed her gun squarely at her head. Andie held up her hands. “Please take me with you!” Andie pleaded.
“Let’s take her.” Macie said. “Zach will know what to do with her.” Julie looked over at Macie. She seemed pale and out of breath. Macie looked across the seat to Andie, who was standing near the driver’s side door.
“Get over here.” She said gruffly. Andie complied and ran around to the passenger side. Macie opened the door.
“Get down on the floorboard. If you try to look up I’ll shoot you.” Andie hesitated only a moment and crouched down on the floor. Julie started the truck. As she sped away, she turned her radio on.
*****
I watched them through my scope as Julie did a quick draw and shot whoever it was confronting them in the doorway of the store. I could see the barrel of a rifle and the telltale smoke coming out of it. Whoever it was, they had fired on full auto before they fell. I smiled in pride knowing Julie had hit her target. I refocused on the window in case there was another target or I had missed my first target. The girls got themselves back into the truck, and much to my surprise, Andie got in the truck with them.
I covered them as they drove away and then turned on my walkie-talkie. Julie was calling me.
“We’re coming!” She said breathlessly. I clicked the microphone and waited quietly until they were close.
“Stop the truck.” I said. Julie slammed on the brakes and came to a screeching stop. I crawled out of the car and jumped in the backseat of the truck. Julie took off as soon as I got in.
“She set us up!” Julie said in angrily. I looked around and then realized Andie was crouched down in the floor at Macie’s feet. When she looked up at me, she looked like a frightened little girl.
“I didn’t Zach, I swear!” Andie said.
“I said, keep your head down.” Macie said. She looked back at me. She didn’t look good, and she looked frightened as well.
“Macie?” I asked questioningly.
“I’m cold, Zach. Can you hold me?” She said feebly. The blood drained from my face.
“Julie, find a good spot to pull over.” I said. Julie stopped beside the on ramp to I-840. I got out and opened the passenger door.
“What’s wrong, Macie?” I began looking her over. It was then I noticed a distinctive hole in the front of her jacket. I hurriedly unbuttoned it. Julie and I saw the blood at the same time. Her front was covered and it was spreading. It looked like she was hit in the liver. I vaguely heard Julie screaming.
I grabbed Andie by the collar and dragged her out. I slung her against the truck like she was a rag doll, frisked her, and found a revolver secured in a holster on her hip. I took it from her and tossed her to the ground.
“You stay right there.” I said coldly and turned my attention to Macie. As gently as we could, Julie and I got her out of the truck and laid her on the ground. Macie looked up at us.
“Do you know how much I love you two?” She said softly. I retrieved the first aid kit out of the truck and hurriedly began trying to staunch the flow of blood. I knew it would not be enough, but tried anyway. I kept glancing in her eyes and saw the life slowly drain away. She gurgled once and her head listed to one side. Julie screamed in anguish.
Julie cried uncontrollably as she held Macie’s head in her lap. I realized I still had the Ghillie suit on. Standing up, I began disrobing until I was down to my shorts and a tee shirt. There was a change of clothes in the back seat. I put them on, laced up my boots, and then directed my attention to Andie. She had pulled her knees up to her chin and was rocking herself. I pulled my knife out and locked the blade open. Her eyes widened with abject fear.
“Macie was my first love. Did you know that, Andie?” She was shaking uncontrollably and stammered out an illegible response.
I gestured at Julie. “We both loved her very much. And you killed her.”
“Zach, I swear, I had no idea they were there. I wanted to meet with you so I could ask you if I could come live with you guys.”
“No, I don’t think so. I think you were in on the ambush a while back and you were a willing co-conspirator today.” I grabbed her by the hair and yanked her up. She was crying freely now.
“Please, don’t hurt me, Zach.” She pleaded.
“Why shouldn’t he?” Julie said. She still held Macie’s head in her lap. Her face was red and her eyes were swollen from crying.
I turned to face Andie. She was crying as well.
“Zach, please! Just let me show you something.” She said shakily. Her voice was on the edge of panic. I let go of her hair, but I was about ready to slit her throat. Andie stepped back and took her coat off. She then pulled her shirt off and the tee shirt underneath. My eyes widened and Julie gasped at what she saw.
There were bite marks on her shoulders and breasts. Andie instinctively folded her arms over them. I stepped toward her. She flinched as I turned her around. There were several additional bite marks on her back. Some appeared to be days old, some were fresh.
“Did you get attacked by zombies?” I asked.
“No.” She sobbed. It took me a moment to understand.
“Did the Captain do this to you?” I asked quietly. Andie nodded and continued sobbing. I put my knife away. “Put your clothes back on.”
We carefully put Macie in the backseat, and I directed Andie back down on the floor. We rode home in silence. Mostly. An occasional sob was heard.
Chapter 29 - Fred
The side streets were fairly clear of traffic. Sarah occasionally scraped the fenders when she drove in between cars or hopped sidewalks as Fred directed her with the map in his lap. There were zombies aimlessly standing or sitting everywhere, but most of them did not seem to have the energy to follow us.
“If I’m reading the map correctly, it is the next street. Turn right and the apartments should be on the right hand side.” Fred said.
There was a traffic jam in the middle of the intersection. She hopped the curb and went around them. Fred pointed at the apartments. The sign on the front identified them as Valley Grove. Fred eyed them. They weren’t in the best shape. He was struck with worry about his daughter. What had she gotten herself into where she had to live in a seedy apartment?
He shook it off. “Her apartment is numbered 201, which I assume is on the second floor. I’ll go take a look.” He said.
“Make it quick cowboy, I have a feeling we’re pressing our luck.” Sarah said.
Fred nodded curtly, grabbed an M4, and walked through the courtyard. The grass was overgrown, and it looked like at one time somebody had tried growing roses around the arbor leading into the courtyard. He carefully made his way toward the interior stairway and made his way up.
Sarah watched Fred as he made his way into the apartment. She noticed even though he had a slight awkwardness to his gait, he moved fluidly. She began scanning the neighborhood, silently urging Fred to hurry.
The apartment was at the top of the stairs. This was one of those old apartments, the kind where all of the entry doors were in a common hallway. He looked up and down. There were no signs of life, no noises. He quietly tapped on the door numbered 201. After a moment, he heard something inside, or maybe it was his hopeful imagination. He tried the doorknob.
Major Sarah Fowkes, who prided herself on her stamina, was tired. Flying a C130 by oneself was no simple matter. She caught herself yawning, and wished desperately for a Redbull, or even a cup of the General’s awful coffee. And then, she saw them. It looked like approximately a hundred of them. They were about eight blocks away and slowly making their way toward her. She grabbed a pair of binoculars, looked them over, and gasped. They seemed to know she was looking at them. It appeared they were actually staring at her with those dark eyes, all the while ambling toward her.
She started to get out and run get Fred, when she heard two gunshots. Fred appeared a minute lat
er, paused in the doorway to reload his revolver, and slowly started walking toward her. She also noticed a waft of smoke coming from the breezeway and wondered what was causing it.
“Hurry up!” She whispered loudly and pointed at the closing horde. Fred looked up and saw the horde of zombies. He casually walked into the roadway, and then, instead of getting into the Humvee, he unslung his M4. Sarah watched in disbelief.
Fred stopped a few feet away from the Humvee, shouldered the M4, and started firing, rapidly, accurately. He went through all four magazines quickly. Fred knew they were loaded with twenty-eight rounds each, and silently told himself he had killed one hundred and twelve of them, not counting the two he had dispatched in the apartment. When he was out of ammunition, he gently placed the M4 on the asphalt and squared off. There were perhaps thirty left.
They were close now, less than fifty feet. It was time for some quick draw practice.
Sarah watched with incredulity at the speed in which Fred would take turns drawing one of his revolvers, shoot a zombie, and then return it to his holster in the blink of an eye. She looked around anxiously, wondering when, not if, the sound of gunfire was going to attract more zombies and possible hostile humans.
She paused a moment in her own shooting and shouted at him. “Fred! What the hell is wrong with you? Let’s get going!” Fred ignored her. Did he have a death wish? She grabbed Fred’s M4, got in the Humvee and started it. “Fred! Get in damn it! We need to get out of here!” Fred acted as if he didn’t hear her and calmly reloaded.
In exasperation, Sarah jumped back out of the Humvee and began shooting the remaining zombies. When they were all lying in the roadway, some of which were at Fred’s feet, Sarah ran over beside him, grabbed his shoulder, and shook him roughly.
“I’m leaving! You better get your ass in my Humvee right fucking now if you don’t want to be left behind!” She shouted. She ran and jumped in. Fred seemed to be broken out of his daze and looked her in the eyes. He knew she was serious. He followed her as she jogged back to the Humvee and got into the passenger side.
Z14 (Zombie Rules) Page 17
