Walkers (Book 1): The Beginning (2 page)

     When we got to the roof, I led him to the roof hatch, bent down and knocked three times. Metal on metal indicated it was being unlocked and then it opened and a small figure appeared

    “Hurry" they said. "The Stupid Squad is coming"

    We hurried down the ladder and just before I closed the hatch I heard the unmistakable sound of motorcycles. Shaking my head I locked the hatch and followed Mason as he was led back to the library reading room. He stopped in the doorway so I quietly said "Excuse me”, and gently pushed past him into the room. The library’s reading room was at the center of the building. Stacks of books filled rooms on three sides with the checkout desk and reference room in front. Each of the doors were locked for safety but the librarian's office was to the rear of the reading room with an attached bath on one side and a door closed on a stairway leading upstairs. It was our way in and out of the building unseen. The reading room itself boasted three large sofas, and fireplace. We slept on the sofas and could use lanterns with the doors closed. I had a stack of plastic tubs filled with books on Medicine, gardening, sewing, raising livestock, first aid, computer science etc.

     I went out every day and collected every arrow or shaft and tip I could find along with cases of MRE's (meals ready to eat) from the local Army/Navy store. I had tried the local Wal-Mart store but as usual it was crowded but not with the living. I ended up at the mom and pop stores and convenience stores. Bottle water, medical supplies and drugs and antibiotics were also on the list. The survival books told me what to do and I had been very busy.

     Once I figured I knew as much as I needed (or wanted) to about walkers, I spent most of my time closeted in the library reading survival books and magazines. There was even a "Zombie Survival Guide" printed before the walkers appeared. I bet reality was a shock for him. I made lists and checked them twice.

     I shared the library with my sister, Lacy. She's 16 and fulfilling every horror story I had ever heard about teenagers. She's was pretty, doe eyed, cheerleader back home. Our mom, dad and Lacy were living in Florida when the virus hit. I was keeping Lacy company for them while they were on vacation in Italy. On the return trip the pilot died in flight. We'd made it to East Texas on our way to Montana when our pickup truck died. I had plans to get a new truck from the local dealership on the other side of town but then thought a RV would be a better way to go. I mean, I don't have to be picky anymore right? Might as well go for it, she was having a hard time of it with mom and dad dying and zombies trying to eat her. Tall and gangly like most girls her age she somehow made it work for her. She has a high forehead and square chin, thanks to dad, but the button nose, supple lips and big brown eyes were all mom. It worked well for her although there wasn't anyone for her to flirt with it anymore. We were coping and trying to remain upright in the process. So far, so good.

     "Everyone this is Mason. He' a cool head in an emergency, doesn't argue and has a weird sense of humor. Mason, the gang. I need to change clothes. Lacy, I need to talk to you.”

     Leaving the room I walked into the office then into the bathroom. Turning on the battery powered lantern, I started disrobing and reached for the baby wipes. Cleaning off the Scent Be Gone and a lot of the sweat, I changed into new clothes (we didn't have a washer and dryer) and smiled at the cute teenage in the mirror.

     "Man, that is one fine piece of man-flesh if I've ever seen one" she sighed, then put down the toilet lid and sat on it. "Where did you find him and can I have him?

     "You have never seen "a fine piece of man flesh" in your life and no you can't have him. He isn't a toy no matter how badly you want to play with him."

     "Wow, big surprise there." she started playing with the fringe of her shirt. "Before you ask, Duke is monitoring the Leathernecks and he said they went on by. What did you bring back other than the god of all gods?"

     After running a brush through my short hair, I turned toward the sink and fished out two bottles of water and started back to the office with Lacy following closely.

     "I found two more flashlights, D cell batteries, and a huge box of candy bars. It is hotter than Hades out there and getting hotter so I don't know what kind of condition they're in."

     Walking into the reading room, I handed a bottle of water to Mason who was sitting comfortably on the couch with one leg crossed at the knee and his arms slung across the back. He smiled, opened the bottle and took a deep drink. Saluting me with the bottle he glanced around the room and then examined Lacy a little too closely.

     "This is Lacey. She's 16 years old and my sister. Any questions?" The room was quiet as everyone watched the stranger.

     "They all related to you or just her?"

     "Just her.   Duke over there is our tech officer. The pretty lady next to him is Sarah, his wife. She was a corporate lawyer in Atlanta before the walkers and a damned fine cook. Hiding behind her is Mandy. She doesn't have much to say. We found her hiding in a storage shed. Howard, our mechanic and truck driver is getting things ready so we can leave in the morning. He should be back soon."

     Mandy peeked from around Sarah, smiled at Mason and quickly hid again. She was a dirty little thing when we found her. How she managed to survive as long as she had surprised all of us. Skinny and smelling to high heaven, we were delighted to find a blond haired, blue eyed little girl under all that grime. She slept for two days after we finally filled her belly. She had attached herself to Sarah and Duke and they seemed fine with it.  Duke and Sarah was a happy encounter, although he nearly scared the crap out of me. He was hiding inside a dryer at an appliance store. Since he's a little person he couldn't see over the appliances when he heard me coming so he hid. When I walked by he knocked on the glass till he got my attention, then grinned like a Cheshire cat when I bent to look inside. He is also crazy about Hawaiian shirts. He brought Sarah back to the library to meet us and we've been together ever since.

     Mason nodded to the ladies, got up and shook Duke's hand, smiled at Mandy then turned to me as we walked to the other side of the room.  "You say you're leaving in the morning. Mind my asking where you're going. Not that it matters, I've been doing ok on my own, but I recognize the fact that there is safety in numbers and where ever you're going is fine with me. I'm tired and tired of being tired, the company of others is a welcome relief.  So, if you'll have me, I'm a pretty good carpenter, scavenger, and all around handy man. I'm not afraid work either.”

     "It's a democratic society here, Mason. We'll talk about it together and decide. They may have a few questions, and you can't blame em. I know I do. So if you're willing to do your share, we'll talk after we eat."

     "What about this Howard, won't he have something to say about it?"

     "Of course, we'll ask when we see him. But he may not get back until morning. If it gets too crowded out there he’ll just spend the night where he is."

     "Soups on everybody" called Sarah from a corner of the room where a makeshift kitchen had been erected. A small outdoor grill had a large pot of stew bubbling away. Next to that was plastic silverware, some more bottles of water and several containers of Crystal Light. A box of crackers rounded out the meal, and the newly acquired box of soft, warm candy bars would be the dessert. Everyone helped themselves.

     After the meal, Mason took himself off to the bathroom while the group discussed him. They all knew I was telepathic and wanted my opinion. I told them that he was ok and they were ok with it. When he returned, they all smiled at him and welcomed him into the group.

      "What about Howard", he asked.

      "What about him?” asked Howard.

     Mason turned and saw a tall man of about 50 walking in the door, wiping his hands on a dirty towel. He had a white mustache and goatee and was of medium build. Howard looked at him and smiled as he walked to the kitchen and accepted a bowl of stew from Sarah after removing a black, ratty, old cowboy hat with snakeskin band and eagle feather stuck in one side over the lampshade. Then he turned and raised his eyebrows at Mason, looked at me and winked.

      "Well, it seems the group has decided I can stay and you're the only one who hasn't had a say in it."

      "So it matters what I have to say?" Howard said then drank half a bottle of water.  Mason looked at everyone then at Howard.

      "Yea, it matters. I won't stay if you don't want me here. It causes friction and I don't like friction. You want me to leave; I'll leave, right now if you want."

     I shook my head and started to say something when Howard grinned and sat on the couch, balancing the bowl of stew and placing the bottle of water on the floor between his feet.

      “Naw, I don't much like friction myself, rubs raw spots don't ya know. If it's ok with the rest of these fine folks, then it's fine with me. But she knew that", nodding towards me, "or she wouldn't have brung ya back with her. She's smart, has a good sense of people and ain’t got no one kilt so far. I trust her, we all do. Now let me finish this fine meal".

     Lacy helped Sarah with the cleanup as Duke and I checked out the supplies I'd brought back with me. Howard finished his meal, thanked Sarah and went into the restroom. Bubba, his part weenie and part Chihuahua dog followed him inside, since where one went the other was sure to follow. When we're are in a hurry, Howard sticks Bubba into a duffle bag and hangs him over his shoulder. He'd taught Bubba not to bark but if there is trouble nearby, that little dog sure could growl. They were one gutsy pair. When they emerged from the restroom; Howard was cleaned up and in a new pair of bib overalls. I hated the things but I have never seen him in anything else. He lay down on the pallet in one corner of the room and began to snore. Everyone just smiled. Mandy got two bowls and put water in one, dog kibbles in the other for Bubba. He ate, drank some water then curled up beside Howard after turning in three small circles. Soon he was snoring to.

     "You got a ride, Mason?" I asked,  while I took off my Nikes.  Lacy found a few blankets and a pillow and made a pallet for Mason. Mason watched Lacy for a minute, nodded his thanks and started removing his boots.

      "Yea, I have a motorcycle and trailer locked up in a storage shed down the block. It's fueled up and ready to go."

     At that moment the sound of motorcycles could be heard in the distance and the faint sound of a car alarm made me realize how much I missed the quiet.

     "We'll pick it up on our way out of town in the morning."

     He nodded, then lay down on his pallet. I lay back on the sofa and turned the lantern off. I thought sleep would be hard to find, but I was out before I could finish my prayers.

                                                              CHAPTER 2

    
The morning started off with a lot of moaning and groaning and the wonderful smell of coffee. Looking bedraggled and almost cute, Mason managed to stumble off to the restroom. Breakfast consisted of pop tarts with orange juice for those who didn't drink coffee. I wasn't one of those. Give me coffee or I give you death. Everyone deserves to have a vice that was mine. If I had to eat another pop tart, though, I'd shoot myself in the head with my own cross bow.When Mason came out, he was handed a cup of coffee and a pop tart. Sipping the coffee he watched with interest the comings and goings of the group.                                    

     Things were packed into plastic totes and taken downstairs. Mason downed his coffee and helped, picking up a tote of books. The grunt he made when he lifted the heavy tote made Howard smile but he never said anything. When everything was gone, I left, pulling the door closed and thanking the gods for the sanctuary. Howard and Duke had taken two pieces of plywood and painted what the alley looked like from each end making a false wall. They were propped up about five feet apart allowing us to move from one building to the other unseen. After we'd transferred everything, the door was padlocked from the inside. There was a collective sigh of relief heard in the cavernous building.

      Standing in the dark we could just make out the shapes of our outfits. It was a very large warehouse filled to capacity with one RV, one school bus and the largest wrecker I have ever seen. Of course it belonged to Howard. When Mason gave me a questioning look I shook my head. I was still amazed when I saw it. It was painted Desert camouflage, so was the RV and school bus. He had gotten very excited with the spray paint. We couldn't go near the place for two days until the paint dried. Mason took it in and shook his head. The RV was mine, brand new of course with two pull outs. Duke claimed the school bus which he had added two solar panels to run the air conditioner which was badly needed in the Texas heat.  He and Howard was loading the bus with the totes. The seats had been removed and a bed built behind the driver’s seat. The opposite wall had a table full of computer monitors with computers anchored to the floor underneath. At the end of that was Sarah's treadle sewing machine and dozens of bolts of Hawaiian material. He had some trouble finding shirts in his size. He'd fashioned an air conditioner on the roof and inside a plastic curtain divided the bus at the storage area. 

     The wrecker was Howards and Bubba's. It was a sickening green color when he got it; the camouflage was a vast improvement. It sported a sleeper and a small refrigerator, fancy CB and TV. Mason looked around and said "Why hasn’t the motorcycle gooks found this?" I smiled "Because Lacy made a new sign for the building. It reads 'Lacey's Diaper Service'."

     He laughed and looked at Lacy, giving her a big smile and two thumbs up.

     "Now what?"

     "Now the fun begins".

     Howard and Bubba got into the wrecker and settled in. Duke, Sarah and Mandy settled down in the school bus, with Duke at the wheel. Lacy and I belted ourselves in and rolled the windows down. Mason stood there uncertainly, trying to figure out where to go.