Earth's Survivors Box Set [Books 1-7]

by Wendell G. Sweet

  “She's a nice lady,” she told Katie. Her eyes were bloodshot and shiny.

  “You okay?” Katie asked.

  “Yeah,” Cindy said, “Better than I have been in a long time. It was like talking to my mother... Someone that loves you that much, you know?”

  Katie did know. She had that in Amy and Conner. She nodded

  They sat quietly and watched the stars come out in the sky. They were so sharp, so close, so beautiful. They both took the last posts and waited for dawn to come over the mountains and color the sky.

  May 5th

  The trucks were rolling just after sunrise. All three Jeeps were needed to herd the errant cows and horses into a loose herd as they continued across the valley, following the occasional flutters of red.

  They stopped for lunch in the early afternoon, turned the calves and the foals loose and made a quick lunch of smoked meat, peanuts and chocolate bars. The gap between the range was in sight, so after a short rest, water and feed for the chickens and piglets, an extra ration of Cow Chow and oats for the other animals, they pushed on. The moose and several deer were still following along.

  ~

  The foothills slowed them down. The larger trucks fell behind, moving slower and slower as they worked their way up the steeper grades. The heavy loads were probably all, Conner decided later, that got those trucks up to the top of the last rise. In low gear the tires kept them moving up, but without the load, they would have spun on the slick rock and loose gravel.

  Cindy was the first to see them. They had all been looking, knowing they were near the top of the pass somewhere, when Cindy spotted a small crowd on top of a rocky outcrop at the top of what looked like a nearly sheer cliff face that rose up into the mountain itself.

  “There they are! There they are,” she yelled excitedly. “That's them, right?”

  She waved, and the people silhouetted against the sky waved back.

  ~

  Everybody stood on the wide ledge outside the cave, watching as the three big trucks battled their way upward in low gear; made the top and drove across the flat ledge to where the Suburbans were sitting.

  The Jeeps and the pickup finished the short distance, the cows and horses following easily. When the trucks stopped, the animals kept going, smelling the water in the valley down below.

  James and Aaron set the calves and foals loose, and their mothers herded them over the rock and down into the valley below, moose, deer and all following along.

  Then everything was cheers and yelling, hugs and kisses and tears. Cindy stood a little apart feeling overwhelmed, unsure of her place. A heavyset older woman approached her, her eyes puffy, but a smile on her face.

  “I'm Sharon,” she said.

  “I'm Cindy,” Cindy told her. She looked around at all the people. Two dogs were running around barking, wagging their tails crazily, sniffing the cow and horse dung.

  Sharon laughed and swiped at her eyes. Cindy's own eyes were running freely. She came closer to the young woman, put her arms around her and hugged her to her bosom.

  “Come on, Honey, let's go up and meet every one. They're gonna like you, I can tell.”

  On the road from Watertown

  Mike, Candace, Pearl and Ronnie

  Mike sat across the fire and listened as Dale Johnson talked. They had met up with his party earlier in the day. Six total, they had been heavily armed, and the meeting had been tense, a standoff in the shattered doorway of a grocery store on the outskirts of Syracuse. Pearl had broken the tension by lowering her rifle and offering her hand. Sink or swim, she had said later, and they had all managed a laugh about it. She had a way with words, or at least a humor in her words.

  Dale, Bonny, Sammy, Ariel, Liv and max. Max and Liv looked like characters straight out of an end of the world sci-fi novel. Leather pants, ribbed sleeveless t-shirts, crossed holsters slung low, hair cut short on the sides, spiked on top, and they had a way of looking through the person they were talking to, as if they really didn't matter at all. Max rolled a never ending supply of wooden toothpicks from one corner of his mouth to the other. They were both restless, watching the sky, the roads in and out of the parking lot they had camped out in.

  The others were more laid back. Followers, but they followed Dale rather than the other two, and that made Mike wonder at the strangeness of that. Two type A personalities that no one was following, and Dale, a take it as it comes sort of guy, that everyone including the type A's were following.

  “This place is over in Kentucky, maybe Tennessee. We overheard others talking about the place a few times now, guiding others in. It's small now, but it'll grow. It will have to grow, I mean, they have got a set up there they say... Plans, you know.”

  Ronnie cleared his throat. “But you haven't talked to them at all, right?”

  “Well, no. But we have talked to people that have talked to them,” Bonny said. Dale nodded.

  “They have a place that has existed for as long as this country has existed. They just had someone who knew how to get to it.” Max this time.

  Mike nodded. “But it's still a maybe... I can't go on a maybe... We're headed to the city... A large group there we've talked to. Probably south from there.”

  “How do you know that is real? I mean, couldn't that be as much of a pipe dream as what we're following?” Dale asked.

  Candace nodded. “Well, you're welcome to stay here tonight, but in the morning we're heading down along the thruway and following that into Manhattan... You're welcome to come with us... Strength in numbers, “ she smiled.

  “Can't do it,” Dale said. He turned to Pearl. “You're welcome... Plenty of room.”

  Pearl had been quiet, listening to the conversation go back and forth. She was not interested in New York. Her personal belief was that Manhattan would be nothing but death and destruction on a larger scale. The people that Mike and Ronnie had talked to had pretty much confirmed that. And there was sickness there, something strange, something new. She got the idea they were heading there because there was a group of survivors there, nothing more. And she didn't feel they would stay there long, Mike had talked about heading south as soon as they got they chance, Manhattan was not going to be his final destination. She sighed.” I don't know.” She looked at Candace. They had become close over the last few days, but she would go wherever Mike went. Mike might not realize that yet, but he would. As far as herself, she just wanted to be out of the fight. She wanted somewhere to start over. Someplace safe.

  “You have to do what you have to do for you,” Candace said. “Who knows, maybe we'll all end up in the same place. I mean, if it turns out to really be a large gathering place, we probably will all be there eventually.”

  Dale rose from the fire. “Actually we can make a few miles before full dark,” He frowned. “I don't want you to think we're refusing your hospitality, but I want to get there. It sounds good, not too good to be true, but really good. They'll need people to run it... Set things up. I guess I'd want to see that, have a hand in it,” he sighed. “It would be so nice to put this behind us. Turn a corner, start over,” he shrugged.

  “I get you,” Mike said. He rose from the fire and took the hand Dale offered. Ronnie and Candace both offered hands. Pearl said nothing at first, but then turned to Candace and hugged her fiercely. She offered her hand to Mike and Ronnie, both of whom hugged her instead.

  A few minutes later Dale and his small group, plus one, pulled out of the parking lot back onto the feeder road. Mike and the others sat quietly by the fire for a few moments until the sound of the motors died away.

  “I wouldn't have thought that,” Ronnie said at last.

  “Surprised me,“ Candace agreed. “But, she went through something back there in Watertown. She didn't talk about it, but whatever it was haunted her.”

  “We're going to stop hooking up with people. We can't afford it. We'll be down to nothing at all soon,” Mike joked.

  Candace and Ronnie both laughed, but it was a short
lived laugh, silence settled back in.

  “Hope it is real,” Candace said at last.”

  Ronnie nodded.

  “Who knows,” Mike said after a brief pause. “Maybe we will all end up there: If it's there: If it's all they say it is... Maybe.”

  The silence held for a short while. Candace cleared her throat.

  “Talked to Billy today. About forty people there now,” she said.

  “Yeah?” Ronnie asked.

  “Yeah. They have a nice little place there, but they're thinking about heading south soon.”

  “South is the place, I think,” Mike agreed.

  The conversation went back and forth as they talked about the camp outside of Manhattan and leaving the outskirts of Syracuse in the morning to start for the east coast.

  TWELVE

  The Camp: Billy and Beth

  Early June

  Billy sat sipping coffee by the fire, talking over traveling plans with Beth, when Winston and Rogers walked over. Jamie sat nearby. Rogers settled into a conversation with Jamie. Winston raised his eyebrows at Billy and Beth. They both got up and walked away from the fire.

  “What's on your mind, Winston?” Billy asked.

  “Probably nothing. I had the overnight... kept hearing something, I don't know, out of place. That dog that's been running around kept looking over at the woods, growling real low. The fires were going: Who knows what's out there.” His old man's voice rose and fell unevenly betraying his nervousness.

  Billy nodded.

  Beth looked concerned. “What did you see?” She stuffed her hands down into her pockets as she rose from her crouch.

  “That's it, noises. No big deal. I wasn't about to walk away from here and go check it out in the middle of the night.” He sipped at his coffee. “Went over first thing, right after daybreak. It was bugging the hell out of me.”

  “What was it?” Beth asked.

  “Walk over there with me?” He asked.

  “Sure,” Billy agreed.

  “Absolutely,” Beth said tightly.

  Billy sat his own empty cup down, smiled down at Jamie's questioning look. “No big deal,” he told her. Jamie had remained angry with him for two weeks and then let it go, it seemed. Billy had taken his things and left. He had not gone back to the tent he had shared with Jamie, although she had asked. He had set up a tent of his own closer to the other end of the field and it had become a hang out place for most of the people for a few hours each evening and he and Beth nearly all the rest of the time. But he and Beth had not slept in it together once or walked beyond the firelight again. He thought about that night, but he left it there, afraid he would manage to fuck it all up somehow.

  He turned away as he and Beth followed Winston across the road toward the small woods on the other side. Halfway there, Jamie caught up. She slipped one arm through Billy's own. “What is it?” She asked.

  “Don't know,” Billy told her. “It's Winston’s show.” The arm bothered him, but he said nothing, hating himself for the weakness he showed her.

  They stepped through a small screen of trees directly across from their camp and into a small clearing. Billy raised his eyes and took in the gloom, his eyes searching the area.

  Jamie stepped back into the small clearing. “Why does it look as though this was cleared,” Jamie said.

  “Someone has been living here,” Winston said quietly.

  No one spoke.

  Billy turned back to the clearing from his examination of the surrounding woods. “Trails,” Billy said. He pointed. “There... and there.”

  “Might have been here last night,” said Beth. She looked at Winston.

  He nodded. “I thought that too. It's maybe not a problem because we're leaving soon, but it looks like someone has been here watching us... Stalking us.”

  “Today,” Billy said. His eyes swept the clearing again. “This morning. Maybe last night” He looked around at the clutter. Empty cans, a small fire. He squatted and placed his hand on the rocks that bound the fire. Cold. “Maybe last night,” he said aloud. “It's cold... Maybe they heard Winston, or the dog bothered them and they took off, but they have been watching us.” He looked around once more. “Quite awhile... Days.”

  “Yeah,” Beth agreed.

  “Probably should keep this to ourselves,” Billy added.

  Winston nodded. “My thoughts.”

  “Yeah,” Billy said. “Yeah... Probably crouched here, hidden, and watched us... Who knows how long... How many days. And why watch unless you're up to bad shit. I mean, all they had to do was come over and join.” He thought a second. “Remember that girl that wandered in a few days back and then left yesterday?”

  “Sure,” Beth said.

  “What if she didn't leave? What if whoever this was got her?” Billy said.

  “Like we need that,” Beth said quietly. “In other words she didn't leave after all. Great.”

  “Please,” Jamie said.

  “Please? If it's bullshit, where is she? You don't think that it could be related?” Beth asked.

  “Sorry,” Jamie looked embarrassed. “Sorry. But you don't really think that.”

  “I didn't say I did, I said what if.” The fire bled out of her eyes. “It looks like someone was living here though... I think Billy is right. I think it would be stupid to ignore it.”

  Billy cleared his throat. “Going at each other won't help. We have to take this seriously. I mean we know this shit can happen. Some of us have already seen it. What's bad is that we didn't know this guy, or these people, whatever it was, were right under our noses. Does anyone here know how to track?.”

  “And?” Dave asked.

  “And, I don't know. What the fuck kind of question is that? Does anyone know how to track. I would like to get that girl back... If they or whoever this was took her. Someone who can track can do that... Follow them.”

  “I... I don't know... I can see,” Dave said. “I'll go see.” He started away and then turned back. “But, hey, I'll have to tell them about this.”

  “Dave,” Beth said in a soothing, quiet voice. Billy had sent Dave into a near panic state. The relationship between the two men was strained because of Jamie. Dave was a timid man in the best of times and this was not the best of times. “Listen... You know John West?” She waited until Dave nodded. “Good. Tell John I need him. Tell it's on the QT. Tell him where we're at, okay?”

  “Dave... I jumped... I am sorry,” Billy said.

  Silence held for a few minutes. The gloom began to get to them. It seemed twenty degrees cooler out of the sunlight.

  “It was my fault. I shouldn't have made that crack,” Dave said. “I got spooked, I guess,”

  “Doesn't matter,” Billy said. “Get John... We'll wait... Look around too.”

  “Should I stay too?” Jamie asked.

  Billy stopped. “Beth and I will take care of this.”

  “They'll probably come back,” Jamie said. She looked around nervously.

  “Jamie... Jamie they won't come back. They have been watching us so they know how many of us there are. Go on back. Keep it low key. Don't mention this to anyone else,” he sighed. “We're going to have to leave. A few days more at the most, and we'll have to decide and go,” he looked at Jamie. She turned her eyes to him. “Okay?” he asked.

  Jamie nodded. “Just scared me,” she said. She looked away. It only took the mention of Beth's name to piss her off lately, Billy knew. He nodded. “Beth, you and me... let's go. Later on, if we have to, we'll have to sit down and talk to the others.”

  “Maybe,” Beth agreed. “Might be better to ignore it. The pretend it didn't happen thing. I know you hate that,” she frowned and shrugged.

  Billy nodded. “Hate it or not this is a good time for the pretend it didn't happen scenario. All we need is a bunch of worried people heading out.”

  “Yeah... No choice now, we'll have to go soon, Billy,” Beth agreed.

  Adam and Cammy

  Madison had fo
und them later that afternoon as Adam drove aimlessly through the streets that were cleared, following the routes they often took for supplies. He had seen a shadow by the mouth of an alleyway and slowed the truck a block away, unwilling to get ambushed. He sent Cammy around the city block so she could come up on the other side of the alleyway on foot, leaving the truck somewhere out of site.

  He had made the slow walk to the alleyway alone, both pistols drawn, ready. He had nearly shot her when she leapt out of the alleyway. Torn, bloodied, desperation in her eyes. Cammy had screamed from somewhere behind her and they had both avoided the mistake their nerves could have cost them. Cammy ran to her and they both collapsed to the ground in tears. Rob was in the alleyway dying. Madison told the story once Cammy had got some liquid into her and they had all calmed down for a few moments.

  She spoke with a voice heavy with emotion, her eyes leaking slowly. “They came in the late afternoon. I had built a fire by the entrance, we had two deer, flesh blood, I wanted to make sure everyone stayed away, but it didn't stop them, Madison said. “They came from the bushes, leapt the fire and were inside, we were completely unprepared. The only reason Rob and I made it out was we were outside when they hit us, cleaning the blood from the back of the truck. We just dropped to the ground right there.” She took a deep breath and tears began to spill faster from her eyes.

  “We went for the entrance, but both of us had left our rifles inside,” She shook her head, “We had...” She shook her head again as if to negate what had happened. “It was only seconds, we thought, maybe minutes, so we left them. We had our pistols, we thought, what else did we need?” She stopped talking and took a few moments to get herself under control.

  “It was too late. We shot it out for a minute, but there was no way we could sustain it, just a few rounds between us, and we couldn't be sure who we were shooting inside. We killed a half dozen that came out the front after us, but it didn't slow them down, except they were now also thinking of us. Had to go, so we lit out on the run. They chased us for a few blocks... Some did, at least, and then they gave up,” she shrugged. “We spent last night hiding in the old school where you found us,” She laughed nervously, “Still standing, what a wonder. No ammunition, nothing. I got a piece of pipe, Rob found a fence stake, you know, one of those metal fence stakes you see all over the city on construction sites? Sharp, heavy. We huddled together.” She shook her head.