The Last Days (16 page)

Mike siphoned enough gas out of the RV’s big tank to fill the Prius’ small tank and one spare can of gas which Mike stowed in the back of the car.

When he was done, he joined Kelly and Kimmy in the car. “Let’s try this again.”

“What about the rest of our things?” Kelly asked.

“We’ll send someone back to get it later.” Mike replied as he pulled out on the road that headed towards Graham. He was more worried about his family than the things they were leaving behind.

“Daddy?” Kimmy called out.

“Yes Kimmy.” Mike answered.

“Where are we going to sleep?” She asked.

Chapter 15

Captain Bolten sat in the tower and watched the deck below. Hundreds of his men, or what was left of his men staggered across the deck.

He had been watching patiently for the last hour. Watching the staggering figures wander around. They didn’t seem to have any idea where they were or where they were going.

The dead’s only point of interest was the tower where the Captain and three men were staying for safety and for lack of anywhere else to go.

The Captain watched a dozen seagulls land on the edge of the flight deck.

“XO.” The Captain said. The XO was staring off into the distance from across the room. He slowly turned.

“Yes Captain?” The XO replied quietly.

“Come here and watch this.” The Captain said.

“What do you have Captain?” The XO said as he moved across the control room to join the Captain at the window.

“See that flock of seagulls.” The Captain pointed.

“Seagulls?” The XO asked. “They look harmless to me.”

The Captain laughed then his smile faded. ”Now see that group of sailors.”

The Captain pointed at a group of six creatures that began to stagger towards the seagulls.

The XO watched. “That seems to be the infected MO, Sir! They go after anything living.”

“I’ve been watching this happen over and over the last hour. Keep watching.” The Captain added.

The Captain and his XO watched. The group moved slowly closer to the gulls.

When they moved to within six feet of the seagulls, the birds all started to fly off the deck out over the waves.

“They’re not fast enough to catch the birds.” The XO said.

“Keep watching.” The Captain said. “Watch what that group of sailors will do next.”

They watched as the group continued to the edge of the deck. Their hands outstretched still reaching for the seagulls as they flew away.

A moment later the dead staggered off the end of the deck and disappeared as they were swallowed up by the waves.

“What do you make of that?” The Captain asked.

“It tells me the infected are not too smart.” The XO replied.

“It tells me XO, that the infected are focused on anything living and nothing else. Us being up here is probably the only reason the rest of the infected haven’t already walked off the deck.” The Captain said.

“I agree with you Captain.” The XO replied. “I know you have a point you are trying to make Sir! Might I ask what that is?”

“I’ve been thinking about the ship.” The Captain said. “If we can make it to San Diego before we starve, we are still going to have a problem as to how we are going to get off this ship. I was also thinking our chances would be a hell of a lot better if we could at least retake control of the deck.”

“I’m listening Sir!” The XO perked up.

“The infected would all just walk off the deck if there was something out there that they wanted.” The Captain smiled. “What if I were to hang off the tower? Out a few feet from the deck over the water. I think they would all try to get at me and end up walking off the deck.”

“I think that would work.” The XO said as he smiled. “If we could get down to the deck, I know where Tomlinson has his stash of snacks.”

Petty Office Clawson spoke up. “Sir if I might make a suggestion.”

“Go ahead Petty Officer.” The Captain replied. “I’m open to anything that can help us.”

“No disrespect Sir.” The Petty Officer started. “But it might work out better if the person hanging off the tower was maybe twenty-five years younger.”

The Captain laughed. “You mean like you Clawson?”

“Yes Sir!”

“So you are volunteering?” The Captain asked.

“Yes Sir, but with one request.” The Petty Officer said.

“Go ahead Petty Officer.” The Captain said.

“That is that you don’t drop me, Sir.”

The XO laughed. “I think we can manage that.”

“OK then Petty Officer.” The Captain said. “Does anyone know where we can get some rope?”

“I don’t know about rope, but the engineers were installing some new computer equipment next door. I saw a roll of cable that should work just as well as rope.” Petty Officer Clawson said.

Petty Officer McClain spoke. “Permission to leave the bridge Sir? I’ll go get the cable. I also saw a tool belt over there. We could use the belt as a harness.”

“Good thinking McClain.” The XO said. “Go!”

McClain darted out of the control room.

The XO double checked where they had tied the knots to the heavy nylon tool belt.

“You ready Clawson?” The XO asked.

Clawson looked down at the growing group of the dead below, attracted by the activity and the four men at the railings on the tower.

“As we lower you, wave your arms and make some noise to get their attention.” The XO instructed. “And try to look appetizing.”

“Just be yourself, Clawson.” McClain smiled. “All that screaming like a little girl should do the trick.”

“Kiss my ass McClain!” Clawson shot back before he looked at the Captain. “Sorry Sir!”

Captain Bolten smiled to himself. He remembered the good natured banter between the men under his command. He had done his fair share over the years. It had been one of the things he missed as he rose up the ranks. Command required that he be more reserved and dignified.

Clawson crawled over the railing and looked at the gruesome faces staring up at him, their arms reaching up towards him. This had seemed a better idea when the Captain first mentioned his plan. He reminded himself to think before he opened his mouth in the future.

“Let’s do this before I change my mind!” Clawson said.

“Captain, do you think we should tie off the cable to the rails in case we accidentally drop him?” The XO asked.

McClain laughed. “Yea, this is all the cable we have. I’d hate to lose it in case we have to try this again.”

The XO smiled as he measured thirty feet and tied the cable to the railing.

The Captain, XO and McClain all griped the cable. “You can let go of the railing now Clawson. Or do we have to pry your fingers loose for you?” McClain said.

Clawson shook his head and let go of the railing as the tension in the cable tightened.

Clawson began to descend closer to the flight deck. The dead below watched with anticipation. The sounds of their anticipation loudly increased.

The cable began to sway as the carrier rose and fell in the ocean swells. Finally the cable jerked tight as it tugged against where the XO had tied it around the railing.

Clawson looked at the dead who were now ten feet below him. They were pushing to get directly below him. The oncoming creatures pushed against the ones in front of them. Soon the momentum began to push the ones at the front of the group off the deck.

“It’s working Sir!” Clawson shouted and he began to yell at the dead, trying to work them up into a frenzy to make sure they kept pushing to get at him.

The scene below reminded him of the story he read as a kid about the pied piper. The picture in his book showed hundreds of rats jumping off a cliff into the water below.

Clawson remembered feeling bad for the rats as a kid, but as he got older he knew they were just rats. The sad feeling quickly faded as he got older.

He watched the dead falling overboard. He knew what he saw helped his chances of surviving, but he couldn’t help feeling bad. The creatures falling and disappearing into the waves had been human. More than that, most of them had been his friends and comrades in arms.

He knew they were no longer who they had once been. Honestly he didn’t know what they were anymore. All he knew was he was doing what had to be done to survive.

He tried to push what he was watching out of his mind. He was just doing his duty.

The Captain and the XO watched as their former crew fell from the ship and disappeared.

The Captain bowed his head and watched quietly.

He took no joy from the sight below.

He cursed the people that had created the virus. To him this was more than retaking control of part of his ship. The creatures below were now ruthless savage killers. They wouldn’t hesitate for a second to brutally take his life if they had the opportunity to do so.

But this was not their fault. They hadn’t chosen this. They were doing their duty when this ungodly condition was thrust on them against their will.

To him, these men had all given their lives honorably in the line of duty. They were all heroes to him.

What he was watching was more than regaining control of the flight deck. He was watching the closest thing he could do to commit the bodies of his crew to the deep.

To give his men an honorable burial at sea.

He wished he knew how he could deal with the thousands of men below deck to give them peace with the dignity they deserved. The dignity that in his mind they had all earned.

Tom Bolten took no pride in his plan to eliminate the infected from his flight deck. He did what he had to do and nothing more.

He accepted the events for what they were. A solemn occasion that required respect and dignity from the Captain.

The XO watched the Captain. The effect of the event on the Captain had not escaped the XO. He also felt regret at what had to be done. Not as much at what had to be done, but why it had to be done.

“Sir!” The XO said. “The deck is now clear.”

“Thank You XO.” The Captain said quietly. “Let’s get Clawson off that cable before he falls or something.”

“Yes Sir!” The XO replied. “McClain, go down a couple levels and pull Clawson back in the tower.”

“Yes Sir!” McClain replied and left the XO.

“Captain. Now that we can move around the flight deck, maybe we can find some larger weapons. If we could fight our way to the armory, maybe we could start to clear other parts of the ship, maybe even find some other survivors.” The XO said.

“I agree.” The Captain said. “But first things first.”

The XO looked confused. “What would that be Sir?”

“Where is Tomlinson’s stash?” The Captain grinned. “I’m starving.”

Chapter 16

John carried Cindy over the uneven rocky terrain as they climbed the hill. Barb limped along behind John.

The sound of the dead faded as they climbed the hill. They grabbed on to the trees as they climbed to help pull themselves up the steep hillside. The trees also helped shield them from the dead below who were trying to climb the hillside to follow them, but kept falling and rolling back into the others that also tried to follow.

If it wouldn’t have been such a horrible experience, the sight at the bottom of the hill would have been funny. As it was, they just considered the sight a fortunate break.

“How’s your ankle?” John asked Barb as he watched her struggle.

“It’s killing me.” Barb replied. “Do you think we can stop and take a break?”

“I think we can spare a minute.” John answered. “Come here and let me take a look at it.”

John sat Cindy down. She leaned back against a large tree trunk. She watched Barb and John closely as she listened for the dead nervously, jumping at the least movement of the leaves. As little as John knew about what was going on, Cindy knew even less. What she did know was that these things scared her to death.

She had no intention in letting her parents out of her sight and eyed them closely.

John moved back to where Barb had dropped to the ground. She was lying on her back, breathing heavily.

“I’m going to check your ankle.” John said not wanting to startle her by grabbing her foot without a warning.

They were all jumpy and Barb looked to be in enough discomfort without hitting her head on a tree branch because he had scared her.

John took her foot and began running his hand over her ankle and lower leg. “It doesn’t feel like its broken or anything.”
“I’m glad you think so.” Barb winced at the pain as he gently squeezed her foot and ankle.

“You should have waited for me to come back and help you get down of the roof.” John said.

“I was going to wait, but when I didn’t hear you shouting anymore I didn’t know what to do.” Barb said. “I thought something might have happened to you when I only heard the dead. Then when I heard the dead coming back our way, I thought I better take Cindy and run while we could.”

“I yelled at the dead to get them to follow me. When I thought I was far enough away that I could beat them back to the house to get you and Cindy I stopped yelling at them. I tried to hide behind the trees and run back to you as fast as I could, but they saw me and followed.” John smiled. “Luckily I made it back just in time.”

“Lucky for Cindy too.” Barb tried to smile. “I wasn’t sure how me trying to catch her after she jumped off the roof was going to end well.”

“I might have ended up carrying both of you.” John smiled. “I’m just happy the two of you are OK.”

Barb sat up and looked around. “Where will this hillside take us?”

“I’m not sure where it would take us if we went straight up over the hill. But I think if we stay on the hillside and keep going towards Ligonier we should be able to get into town.” John said. “Maybe we can find some help or at least a place to hold up for a while until all these things leave and go somewhere else.”

“Do you think they will go away?” Barb asked hopefully.

“I hope so. When I was up on the peak of the roof I saw them out on Route 711 across the creek. There were thousands of them. Except for the ones that decided to cross the creek and come see what all the fuss was about at our house, the others seemed intent on going somewhere.” John replied. “They were all bunched up, bumping into each other, but they were definitely moving down the road.”

Barb looked stunned to hear that there had been so many of the dead by their house.

“I hope they go bother someone else.” John said but he looked worried. “What bothers me though is where are they coming from? They must have been regular people that lived somewhere. What happened to them and why are they here?”

“I can’t believe they look like they do. How can someone lose their arms or half their face and still be moving around?” Barb asked.

“In the movies it’s always an asteroid crashing in a cemetery that regenerated the dead bodies and brought them back to life. But even for a movie that idea is farfetched. If I had to guess, I would put my money on someone working for the government screwing up at a research lab or something. I’ve always felt if mankind ever became extinct it would because of our own damn stupidity. When it comes to screw-ups and stupidity, no one does it better than the government.” John shook his head. “Between the government and the attitude of half the people in this country, I’m surprised we have lasted as long as we have.”

“Do you think that all the emergency alerts we saw about those cities means this is happening in the cities too and just not here?” Barb asked.

“It makes sense. It would certainly explain where all these things were coming from.” John sighed and looked worried. “But it would also mean we have more problems than we think.”

“More problems than we have now?” Barb laughed cynically. “How could we have more problems than we have now? Our house has been destroyed and zombies are chasing us wanting to eat us!”

“It would mean this is everywhere. There wouldn’t be anywhere we could go to get away from it.” John replied quietly. “It would be endless.”

“I wasn’t thinking about it that way.” Barb said not enjoying the reality of their situation.

Beep Beep.

“There’s that damn phone again. I’m going to delete that text message before this phone drives me crazy.” John said. “This is the third time today it has beeped. If it would have beeped when I was hanging off the roof and those dead things would have heard it, I would have been in trouble. Maybe if I buy another hundred minutes Trac-Fone will leave me alone.” John scoffed.

John stopped massaging Barb’s ankle and gently set her foot on the ground.

He reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone and flipped it open.

John looked at the screen. “It’s from Mike!” He said sounding surprised.

“Mike.” Barb said. “That’s strange. Mike never texts. I think he said something about texting being for morons.”

John laughed at Barb’s impression of Mike.

“That’s Mike.” John laughed.

“What did he say?” Barb asked curiously.

John pushed the text icon on his screen and let out a sigh. “Give me a minute to interpret this. It’s in Mike-eze shorthand.”

John stared at the screen. Barb could see John’s lip moving, sounding out the letters in an attempt to make sense out of his brother’s message.

“Here goes.” John said. “Long story short or short story shorter but now legible. He says his cell signal is too weak to call, so he is trying to text. Get back to him as soon as I can. All hell is breaking loose. He wrote ‘All hell is breaking loose’ in full words. I guess he wanted to be sure I got that part.”

“All hell is breaking loose? What do you think he meant by that?” Barb asked.

“I hope it doesn’t mean what I think it means?” John replied.

John started tapping on his phone.

“What are you going to tell him?” Barb asked.

John read what he had typed. “Zombies attacked and destroyed our house. I am not crazy. I’m serious. Trying to get to Ligonier for help. We are OK so far. Where are you? Get back to me ASAP. John.” John looked at Barb. “Anything you want to add?”

“No, I think you have it covered.” She grinned.

John pushed the send button and waited for the “Message sent” to flash across the screen before putting away his phone.

John looked at Barb’s ankle. “I think we should keep moving before your ankle stiffens up. Besides we don’t know what we are going to run into, we might need all the time we can get.”

John took Barb’s hand and helped her to her feet. She moved around gingerly to test her ankle.

She nodded to John that she thought she could continue.

John knelt down to help Cindy get up, but as soon as he knelt down, Cindy got up and climbed on his back.

That’s not what he had intended, but he was happy to carry her for a while. He didn’t have the heart to make his scared little girl walk, at least not yet.

He took Barb’s hand and they started to walk along the hillside.

They had walked through the trees on the steep hillside for half an hour. Walking on the steep grade was difficult and John took his time to make things easier for Barb.

The sound of the mob that was trying to follow them up the hill had faded and they could no longer hear anything from that direction.

John hoped the zombies had lost track of them because all the trees on the hillside had kept them from the dead’s line of sight as they made their escape. He hoped the dead were still back at the house playing leapfrog at the bottom of the hill. As persistent as the dead were, they could be at it for the rest of the day before something else came along to get their attention. That was fine with John. It would give them more time to get into Ligonier.

What bothered John now was the sounds he heard off in the distance. The creek and Route 711 paralleled the hillside on its way towards Ligonier.

The sounds of the dead could be heard as they moved along Route 711.

Unless the dead turned off somewhere between here and Ligonier, going into town to find help and food could be a problem. A big problem.

He would go somewhere else, if there were somewhere else to go. There wasn’t anywhere else to go that wouldn’t take days to reach on foot. Before walking for days he would try going into Ligonier.

He kept his concerns to himself. He didn’t want to worry Barb and Cindy about something he didn’t know for sure would be a problem. There were enough things that they knew were definitely a problem to worry about.

The hillside gradually leveled out as they came closer to town.

Losing the security of the steep hillside made them begin to feel uncomfortable. Without anything more than a stick as a weapon, losing the protection of the steep grade left them feeling exposed and vulnerable.

They were finally walking on level ground, but at least they still had the trees for cover. The sound of the dead felt uncomfortably close here off to their right.

As they walked the next problem they noticed was the woods that they were using to hide their presence was getting brighter. The trees had begun to thin out and the sun’s rays were shining through the branches, making the air get warmer.

Sweat was now running down John’s face. Cindy’s skin against his neck was feeling sticky as the sweat ran down his neck between them. Barb had raised her hand and held it over her eyes to keep the sun from blinding her.

Next they started to hear the sound of rushing water.

John sat down in the shade of one of the last large trees. The trees ahead appeared smaller, being replaced by thick brush.

Barb sat down next to him.

“I think we need a break.” John whispered.

Barb nodded, wiping the sweat from her eyes. It was now late afternoon. The angle of the sun, with the direction they were going, shined directly in their faces.

“I think we are near the bridge on the edge of town. You and Cindy wait here. I’m going to go up ahead to confirm where we are. If it is the bridge I want to see if we will be able to cross the bridge or if we have to wade across the creek.” John said. “It should only take me a few minutes.”

John looked at Cindy. “You stay here with your Mom, OK?”

Cindy shook her head.

John looked at Barb. “Keep an eye on short stuff here. You know how she has a tendency to wander off.”

Barb smiled. “Be careful.”

“I will.” He smiled. “And you stay here too this time until I come back.”

John stood and walked cautiously towards the sound of the water. He hadn’t gone more than fifty feet before he came to the last tree, ahead of him was thick brush that stood about three feet high. Another thirty feet was the start of the creek. The creek was about fifty feet wide here.

He knelt down behind the tree and looked off to the right, following the creek as it went under the bridge that entered the outskirts of Ligonier.

The tree line and the thick brush followed the creek to the corner of the bridge.

He would have enough cover to make it to the bridge, but the problem he saw in crossing the bridge was the hundreds of the dead that were pushing each other across the bridge.

John turned and went back to Barb and Cindy.

Barb looked up John when he returned.

“Did you see the bridge?”

“Yea and all the dead walking across it.” John replied.

“What are we going to do?” Barb asked.

“I thought about wading across up ahead here, but I think we would be too out in the open and they would see us before we could get across.”  John said as he thought.