The leader rode forward to address Sal. “You don’t have permission to travel through this area,” he said. His voice was young, confident, ready to dispatch his captives as quickly as look at them.
“I need to speak to Huffo,” Sal said.
“Do not say that name. He is dead with all his followers. It is now Vaca. Vaca kills anyone who speaks that name.” The young man pointed at Sal in warning.
“I won’t speak that name, don’t worry. Vaca is the man I want to speak to, then,” Sal corrected.
“You cannot speak with Vaca,” the young man said.
“You know who I am, right?” Sal raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, you are the government man. You still can’t speak with Vaca.”
“What’s your name?” Sal asked.
“I would tell you, but I don’t want to hear it on your lips,.”
“I think you will let me speak with him, ‘You who doesn’t want my name on your lips,’ because you did not kill us. Vaca is expecting me.”
The young man laughed. “How can he be expecting you? You didn’t even know his name.”
“Because he knows what is coming. Vaca can sense the coming horde that will destroy everything.”
“We can handle any horde.”
“Let Vaca decide that. Tell him I have been speaking with Dav.”
“Dav?”
“Yes, Dav. You know Dav?” Sal asked.
“Yes, I know of Dav. If you speak with Dav, then I will let you speak with Vaca,” the young man said.
“Thank you. Now what is your name?” Sal asked, extending his arm to shake hands.
“Still, no.”
Sal, Ellie and Chambers were brought on horseback to the island stronghold of the Tower Tribe. They rode in the center of the surly tribesman. The ride took a couple days and was dusty, tense, and filled with a sense of dread for Ellie. Sal repeatedly tried to engage in conversation with their escorts, but with no success.
The Tower Tribe occupied what had been the university in Corpus Christi, Texas. It had since been turned into a veritable fortress surrounded by water. The bridge to the east was gone, leaving only one way on and off the campus. Protecting this single entrance from the west was a six-foot tall wall built from concrete and metal rubble. It was three feet thick and well-manned with guards, all of whom looked at the three newcomers with open hostility. Ellie wasn’t paying attention to them, as she was mesmerized by all the water.
“Everyone knows everyone here. They don’t know you, so they don’t like you,” their young escort explained. “Maybe they will grow to like you for what you can offer,” he said.
“That’s good enough for me,” Chambers laughed.
Well-maintained buildings covered the campus, and each was used to its maximum capacity. The food buildings were marked with the large word “FOOD” on the side, and residences were marked “HOME.” Another was marked “GUNS” and a neighboring one marked “WIFE.” Sal marveled at the simplicity of the system. He pointed and laughed giddily at a palm tree, as he so rarely got to see them. He also loved the simplicity of the road layout. Maybe someday he would settle down here. The fact they’d labelled everything made it an easy place to invade, though.
Ellie avoided eye contact with the young man. During any interaction with the travelers, he paid her noticeable attention. His voice was amiable enough for a desert tribal warrior, if that was worth anything, but something about him bothered her. She got the feeling he was evaluating her for some purpose…one she was sure would not be to her liking.
Ellie turned away from his attention and saw something that gave her a start. A man was proudly walking along the rugged road with three women in a single file line behind him. All the women had multiple scars across their faces, as if cut by razor blades. The one in the rear of the line looked like she was fighting off tears. Ellie saw another similar group, the women all with the same scars across their faces.
“Those are protected women,” the young man said, noticing Ellie’s curiosity. “I suppose they don’t have those in your world.”
“W-w-why are they scarred?” Ellie asked.
“No one steals an ugly thing—so no man will steal a damaged woman. It protects them. The heart of a man is not to be trusted. They lie, cheat, steal…To protect what you have you must make it unattractive to the thief. You…” He paused, his eyes moving slowly, slowly over her. “…you are attractive to the thief.” he said.
Ellie shivered. She did not want to be attractive to the thief or disfigured.
She tried to wrap her mind around this practice, defacing the women, but there was really no comprehending it. The only parallel she could draw was pre-outbreak when married men and women put rings on their fingers to indicate they weren’t available. These rings made them instantly unattractive to any others. It wasn’t really a good comparison, though.
“I have heard outsiders call us barbarians for doing this, but I assure you it is for the safety of the woman.”
“Well, as long as you have the interest of the woman at heart,” Chambers conceded, not wanting to make any waves about foreign social mores. Ellie wondered if the women had any say in the matter.
They were escorted on horseback to the meeting place. This was where they would see Vaca, and where Sal would deliver his pitch. Ellie wondered at the logic of the whole thing, but was hardly invested enough to care in Sal’s success one way or the other. She just hoped he didn’t get them killed. She’d always heard he was a keen negotiator, but lately he seemed reckless.
The meeting place was an oddly ornate building, in that there were pieces of scrap wood “artistically” attached to the outside of the building to simulate Grecian architecture. They had carved logs to look like marble pillars and attached them to create a façade. It didn’t really work, though, as the logs weren’t all the same size, and the paint was peeling. It was a strange sight to Ellie, and she wondered what book they had gotten ahold of to inspire this.
They went inside a dark, smoky room with a tall ceiling. The air made Ellie itch. The décor on the walls consisted of dozens of heads from various animals, to include some human heads. Enemies? A table as long as five men stretched across the middle of the room. A skylight above cast light down upon the table and illuminated the smoke lingering in the air. A thick man with light brown skin sat at the head of the table. Vaca. He was slouched in his seat, holding his chin up in his hand. A shock of wispy black hair was pulled back in a ponytail held together with hollowed-out pieces of bone. His face was covered in scars identical to the ones the women wore. Had he been desirable for stealing?
Sal went right up to the table and sat himself while Chambers and Ellie watched from the shadows.
“Yes, yes, sit, make yourself comfortable. Government agent is always happy to make himself comfortable wherever he goes,” Vaca said, waving his hand. He did not look up nor shift from his slouched position. Four guards stood on either side of Vaca, each armed with a small arsenal of assault weapons and frightening chopping tools.
“My reputation precedes me, I see,” Sal laughed. “Congratulations on your new…administration.”
“Yes, jokes,” Vaca said, not smiling. He still hadn’t looked directly at Sal.
“I suppose you’re wondering why we’re here,” Sal began.
“Oh yes, very much so. We always wonder why you’re here. Your predecessor left a mark when he visited. He kidnapped three girls. You people, you look at our scars with disgust, but then you steal that which we have not protected.”
“I can assure you I am nothing like my predecessor.”
“And what of those three girls?” Vaca asked.
“I’m not exactly sure who or what incident you are talking about. A lot happened before my time. I will definitely look into it.”
“Sure, sure. Water under the bridge,” Vaca said flatly. “One of them, I know, happens to be a wife of yours. You see, I have my spies, too, Sal.” Vaca looked at Sal. His lips curled in a d
istorted smile.
“My wife?! Er…which one?” Sal said, taken off guard.
“The pretty one,” Vaca replied.
“Well, all my wives are pretty in their own way,” Sal chortled.
“Of course, my apologies,” Vaca muttered. He gave a big stretch and folded his hands in front of him. “Anyway. You did not come here to talk about the past, you have come to talk about the future!” Vaca said, his eyes growing large and his hands opening as if to invite the wonder.
“Yes, Vaca. The future.” Sal spoke low and serious. He leaned in. “I have seen something that will destroy all of us. Perhaps you have heard before of the massive herd, millions of zombies, trapped up against the Panama Canal, a body of water far south from here. Well, those walkers exist, and they have crossed the canal and are coming north. They are coming here.”
Vaca’s face was unchanged. “That sounds grave, friend, very grave. And how do you know about this?”
“We have seen it. Here, we have a report on it.” Sal extracted some yellow paper from his sack and stood to hand it to the nearest guard.
“A report? What is a report?” Vaca asked.
“It describes the size, direction, and speed of the herd. There is a map showing its approximate path and heading. It will be in our territory in a few months, by my estimates,” Sal explained.
“How do you come to such estimates, for your ‘report,’” Vaca asked.
“This is Ellie. She made the calculations. Very smart girl,” Sal said.
Vaca leaned back in his chair and eyed Ellie. “She is no girl, friend. That is a woman.” He paused, squinting his eyes. “It is very dangerous to be here with your face looking like that, you know.”
“Y-y-y-yes,” Ellie stammered.
Vaca raised his eyebrows. “I see they have taken your tongue, so that you don’t sweet talk a man into taking you.”
Sal directed the conversation back to business. “Those estimates are current, so there isn’t much time. My proposal is a coalition. We join forces. It is the only way to protect our lands from this herd.”
“Forces? What are your forces? I hear a rumor of a large army, 50,000 walkers and humans. All the walkers are freshly turned and the men march without tiring. Is this your force?”
“Yes. At least it will be,” Sal said.
Vaca pointed at Sal. “Will be is different than Is.”
“You let me worry about getting that army,” Sal said.
“I will let you worry about that. I have heard enough to be afraid of it, not your fairy tales of an enormous herd that will swallow us all up.”
“It is no fairy tale. I would have brought pictures but we can’t get them off the computer…” Sal trailed off in this personal frustration.
Vaca waved a hand dismissively. “There are no more herds that size. They have all passed on or been worn out, worked to pieces by your cartels. The age of the zombie is coming to an end, Sal. You are living in the past. Once most of the undead are gone, it will be the human’s turn to rule again.” He took a sip of water. “That won’t mean you, though.” Vaca stood to get a better view of Ellie. He hummed to himself softly and then suddenly turned. “Tell me about Dav, Sal. That is why I let you come here. They say he can speak across the world and knows what will happen before it happens. He can also strike out with guns from a great distance, and yet no one has seen him or knows where he lives.”
Sal saw the meeting was not going as planned. He might have to pull out some other cards in order to bring Vaca in. “Dav is not a man,” Sal said.
“Is he a ghost? A demon?” Vaca asked seriously.
“Dav is a woman,” Sal corrected.
“A woman?” Vaca was incredulous.
“Yes, an honest to goodness red-blooded woman. And you don’t screw with her, Vaca. This herd is her doing. She lives north, far, far north. Further north than either of us have ever been. I think she is on an island. She commands a great army. She is also crazy.”
“Crazy? I know a lot of crazy people, Sal. Crazy is a relative term.”
“Her ‘tribe’ believes certain people have immunity against the biters. She has tried breeding immune humans to create a society incapable of infection. She is angry that mankind continues to breed babies who are susceptible to the bites. To punish the world, she unleashes the undead from where they’ve been trapped, like the canal. She wants the zombies to discipline the world.” Sal finished.
“Hmm. Like you said, crazy.” Vaca said thoughtfully. “Well, no matter. I decide nothing today. Please be my guest while we talk about this further.” Vaca stood and motioned for his guards to show the visitors out. “Tomorrow morning I will show you something I am extremely proud of. In the afternoon, we will talk more business.”
“Sounds good, Vaca,” Sal stood with Chambers and Ellie.
The guards took them to their quarters, which were humble but comfortable. Ellie slept poorly. She kept thinking of the women with their faces cut. She also kept imagining she was hearing someone coming into her room. Every time she sat up, though, there was nothing. She wondered where Obevens was as she fell into a fitful sleep.
The next morning, Vaca’s guards arrived early to escort them to breakfast. They ate simply, some dried meat and fruit, but it was good. Ellie looked at the women who served their food. They seemed relatively happy, but she couldn’t be sure. They might be compelled to put on a smile for guests.
Vaca came and greeted them before sitting down. He ate some cactus and made light chit-chat. He seemed downright civilized to Ellie. When he finished, he abruptly stood up, gathered his guests and took them to the stables.
Vaca had his men outfit the three with horses. “I want to show you why a giant herd is no concern to us.”
They went east along the bay until they came to a long, collapsed bridge. The water was still, and birds flittered about. A gentle breeze passed over them, and Ellie marveled at the pleasant smell of so much water. A boat waited for them. They got onboard, and the oarsmen rowed them the three or four miles across the shallow body of water to a long barrier island offshore. The narrow piece of land extended north and south as far as they could see and was totally disconnected from the mainland. On it were rudimentary shelters and guard towers, some still being built. Sal counted a few dozen in the immediate area, but they extended far off into the distance. There were rafts, canoes and other small craft ready on the shore in case they needed to flee into the water.
“This is where we go if your herd comes. There is food, fishing, sanitation, everything. I am not even showing you everything. The only vulnerability out here is a hurricane. If this herd you talk of is real, then we have no reason to fight or try and stop it. We will come out here and weather the zombie storm. Our people are fighters and resourceful. But there is no reason to try and stop a huge wave. You must simply get out of its reach. That is why I will not join you.”
“What if your enemies join me? That won’t bode well for your future,” Sal asked pointedly.
Vaca bristled. “If my enemies join you then you have bigger problems than my future, Sal. They are bloodthirsty savages who will betray anyone if given the chance. That is why they are my enemies. We don’t deal with such people.” Vaca spat on the ground.
“I think you’re making a mistake, Vaca. This herd will crush you.” Sal said.
“I look out for my people. I do not follow the agenda of one man from the outside. I will do this, though. You say there is a way to see this herd. Perhaps you are telling the truth. May I send a man with you to see and report back?” Vaca asked.
Sal could tell by the look on Vaca’s face he wouldn’t join. To continue insisting would make Sal appear weak. Sal relented. “You either trust me or you don’t.”
“Trust but verify,” Vaca replied.
“Fine, if you want to send a man then we will accommodate,” Sal said, forcing a smile. He was bitterly disappointed but tried to conceal it.
“Good. His name is Paco. He’s speci
al. He has the gift of seeing into the future.”
Sal snorted. “If he can tell the future then why verify what I’m saying?”
“It doesn’t work like that.”
Chapter 22
The Martyrs were now heroes. Tenochtitlan’s citizens were enamored with them. Songs about them filled the streets.
This was in spite of the fact that none of them were ethnically akin to the city’s people. Tock was the descendant of Pentecostal missionaries and Carla the employees of the Korean embassy. Jamed came from a long line of foreign accountants, and Cecil’s family at the time of the outbreak were a couple of Swedes on vacation in Mexico. Yet this group came to embody Tenochtitlan’s spirit of fierce perseverance in the face of insurmountable odds.
This jubilation over the Martyrs was overshadowed once word spread through the city that the king had been captured and was being held on the shore of Lake Texcoco. The zombie queen, as she was being called, had taken him. The herd was now dispersing. It was a sign that a new order was coming. Many people welcomed the change. They believed—and now could say – that the king was merely a self-interested charlatan. Others had heard vague stories of Sara’s methods and were rightfully scared. Superstition mixed with politics and sent the imagination of the city into a tailspin.
John assured the Martyrs that rulers from the north were brutal. If they wanted to live, they needed to flee Tenochtitlan—especially with all the attention they were receiving. As a symbol of resistance and perseverance, they would be crushed by any incoming invader. Tock agreed that they should cash in this status and power to escape from the very city that had given it to them.
They made up their minds. A few days later, a man named Hugo led the Martyrs from the city. He used two small canoes, and he and his son piloted them through the lake of the dead. He assured them he had done it hundreds of times, but even he seemed on edge that night. No one was really sure how the undead would behave now that the walking corpses had a new spiritual overseer in this queen.
“They’re a bunch of fools. No one controls the undead. Not unless you’re luring them or something,” Tock said.
100 A.Z. (Book 2): Tenochtitlan Page 15
