walkers the survivors (3 page)

    
Sometimes you get so wrapped up in the bad things you don't see the good.  The scenery was some of the good stuff.  I always wondered how a towering pine tree could live on the side of a rock cliff, but they do.  Early in the mornings the temps sat around 60 degrees and the smell of pine thick in the air.  Since we have no pollution, the air is crisp and clear and wraps around you like a good friend.  The birds dance on the wind currents created by the canyons and valleys, playing like kids in the clouds.  Sometimes you can't see much farther than several feet because of the mountains then you come around a curve and can see for miles, the land spread out before you like a gift.  Yea, that's the good stuff.

    
It didn't take as long as I thought it would to reach Bozeman.  A rest area near town gave us a place to park while the guys went shopping.  As soon as the bus stopped, Alice jumped out and made a bee line for the rest room.  Frank grabbed her before she opened the door and when she whirled around to sock him, she caught sight of me.

    
"You don't listen too well, do you, Alice?"  I said, as I walked up to the couple.

    
"I have to go."  She said, pulling against Frank's hold on her arm.

    
"Dumb bitch, you don't know how many walkers are in there.  You was told to wait till everything was cleared."  Frank said, not letting up on his grip.

    
"Yes, and not to go anywhere alone.  You just broke two of the rules.  I don't know how you managed before, but you get anyone killed by your stupidity and you're on your own."  I watched as Mason cleared the restrooms.  He nodded at Frank who released Alice's' arm.  Her face had turned a not so flattering purple as she did the pee pee dance and rubbed her arm at the same time.

    
"Come on, it's clear now.  Once we get a RV you can use the bathroom in it, but until then, it's this way or the highway.  That's just all there is too it.  We aren't doing things this way to make you life uncomfortable, we do it because we have no choice."

    
We finished up and when we left, I made sure the door was firmly closed.  I walked around to the other side and found a huge map of the area with "you are here" clearly marked.  As I approached the group, I saw Duke on top of the cargo van keeping watch as the men below were quietly discussing who would go where.  I motioned them over to the map and after several minutes of talking they finally decided the ones who were splintering off would go with the more experienced, to make sure they knew what they were doing.  I thought that was an excellent idea.  There was a method to it.

    
They needed weapons first, then night vision goggles and food.  I had a feeling Mason would have a new change of clothes when he returned and couldn't blame him.  As the day warmed, these sweats were going to be very uncomfortable.  I found a shady spot but I was already hot.  I didn't think it was even 80 yet so it was probably just me.  As I sat and watched the men, the women milling about and the kids and dog running around, I hoped we could make it to where we needed to be in one piece.  I just wanted to survive.  That word has taken on a new meaning for me.  The lodge was security to me and although one part of my brain told me it was gone, my heart wouldn't hear of it.  I could still see it sitting in that valley, looking welcoming and proud.  I would always see it that way, not a large, charred hole in the ground surrounded by debris and bodies.

    
The men took the vans and when they had what they needed they'd go back and shop for RV's.  I thought the ladies should take part in that little shopping experience.  Before the virus, I would never have been able to buy a RV so the fact that you can just walk around until you found the one you liked and then drive it away was exhilarating.  I had a checkbook I used to carried and loved to write a check for a couple hundred thousand dollars and leave it behind with a nice thank you note.  The fact you didn't have a salesman dogging your every step was almost funny.  Although, one dealership I went to had a salesman who was a walker and they still dogged you.  Not funny I know.

    
I sat on a rock and kept watch of the highway leading east out of town.  I could see a real traffic jam in the narrow part of the road between two mountains that looked like it might be a problem but I needed a set of binoculars before I could be sure.

    
Sarah wandered over to sit beside me.  She didn't say anything for quite a while, then sighed.  "I can't believe it's only been 48 hours since we went berry picking.  It's like a horrible nightmare I can't seem to wake up from.  What's so weird is I  keep wondering what happened to all those berries.  With everything else that's going on I'm worried about berries.  Now we have to be on the road again, heading God knows where and watching our backs again I can't seem to get my priorities straight."

    
"I know, kiddo, believe me I'm having the same problems you are.  I saw the lodge or what was left of it but in my mind it's still like it was before.  I won't ever see it any other way.  But even with losing the lodge, I have to remember it  gave us refuge and we made it into a home. But when it comes to berries, I don't know how long it will be before I even 'want' to pick them"

    
"I agree, JD, I guess I just needed to know you thought the same way.  I expect we'll be here a day or so.  It'll take that long to secure the RV's and get Duke's bus just the way he wants it."

    
I gave her a look and she laughed.  "Believe me he WILL get another school bus and outfit it just the way the other one was.  I look forward to my sewing machine and the sound it made as I worked the treadle.  Something restful in that sound."

    
We heard the motors and turned as a large school bus pulled into the rest area.  Me and Sarah broke into laughter when we saw it.  Randy was driving it and when Duke saw it he pumped his fist into the air and yelled.  It looked to be a 56 passenger bus, bright yellow of course and Duke was in seventh heaven. Don climbed atop the cargo van to keep watch while Duke drooled over his new toy. There was even a tool box in the back, so Duke started right then and there removing seats.  The back area of the bus would be for supplies while the middle part a place for two beds and Sarah's sewing machine.  A place behind the drivers seat would be made for a table to put all his computers and monitors on.  He had a method that seemed to work for him so we left him to mumble and fuss. 

    
The men started removing boxes from the back of the van, and the women were opening them to find weapons and night vision goggles.  Since there was no electricity in the buildings they were needed to be able to see the walkers.  I'd had a pair that I hung around my neck, as it seemed most of the time I was hurrying into a building and didn't have time to stop, dig it out of my backpack and put it on.  Nearly had my head taken off once and that's when I got inventive.  I noticed Mason hanging his around his neck and he must of felt me looking cause he paused long enough to look at me and wink.   I smiled back then went back to opening boxes.

    
By the time we had things ready for the men to go RV shopping it was nearly noon so we stopped to fix something to eat.  It consisted of spam which I managed to gag down after drowning it in mustard.  It filled the stomach but I was having visions of Sara's fried chicken that kept me hungry the rest of the afternoon.

    
Melody and a couple of the other women got to go shopping for their RV's.  We figured they might as well learn the way to do it now rather than later. You never know when you might find yourself on your own and some things aren't common sense.  It's so easy to walk up to a door and just open it not thinking about whether there is someone on the other side ready to make a meal of you.  These women had had things done for them for so long they still expected it.  It was time to teach them how to take care of themselves.

    
I wasn't going to worry about a RV this time, since I planned to ride with Mason in the semi that was pulling the tanker.  That would give us two semis.  One to pull the supply trailer and one for the tanker.  Randy and Lacy will have a RV while Riley and George will pull the supply trailer.  There would be two buses because we decided to make one into a clinic so Sandy and Joe would take charge of it.  The other team that was staying would make a bus into a clinic/computer station, plus have a semi to pull a tanker and a RV for the rest of them. 

    
By the time the sun set the rest area was full of semis, buses and RV's.  The Montana team had lucked out and found a band tour bus that had several bunks in it and a large kitchen.  We all took turns filling up the water tanks, then we started blacking out the windows and reinforcing the doors, while some of the guys helped with removing seats from the buses and getting things ready to leave the next day.  We still had no security in the area except for people on roof tops but at least they had night vision and infra red cameras with the back up of motion sensors.   The next day, we'd start looking for food, medicine, clothes and personal items.  We worked till almost midnight and then collapsed into our beds.  Before Mason turned in for the night, he opened the skylight in the semi bunk, then climbed in beside me.

    
"We should be ready to go by noon tomorrow.  I know Ken and Jill will be okay here, he's got her to back him up."

    
I smiled at the sky, thinking about when I caught Mason cleaning the skylight just before dark.  I acted like I hadn't seen him while he worked to get it just right.  The truck was brand new, they all were.  The dealership was about two blocks away and they'd thought, why not?  Since we planned to work them pretty hard it was nice they were new.  Ours was a real pretty red one while George's was blue.  We still had to find Howard's tow truck because just any old truck wouldn't do.  It had to have a bunk with room for Bubba and a fridge.  The two truck stops were going to get a going over tomorrow.  Howard needed tools.

    
So we snuggled under the stars so tired we barely got undressed.  I felt Masons arms around me as he spooned my back before I was asleep, the cool night air tickling my hair and coyotes in the distance soothing my heart.  I didn't dream that night cause I didn't have the energy and that was okay by me.

             
                                                       
CHAPTER 3

    
You know how you make a to-do list and think ok, no problem, I'll just whip that out in no time?  Six hours later you're just half way through the damned thing?  Yea, well, I was feeling pretty pissed off by noon the next day. 

    
The guys wouldn't let me go shopping.  I had to stand guard at the welding shop so Howard could get everything on HIS list done.  I heard they ran into some walkers and Randy almost got bit and they didn't have enough time to get what they wanted...blah, blah, blah.

    
I know I'm a pain in the ass but someone has to be.  The guys had just returned with a bunch of goodies when Duke blasted the air horn.  It wasn't as loud as it was startling.  John tapped Howard on the shoulder because the welder was so loud.  He immediately shut it down.   He'd been teaching John how to weld since their crew might need a welder. We watched as a line of motorcycles roared past us and hit the interstate, heading back the way we'd come yesterday morning.  I didn't know what they were doing but as long as they were doing it out of town in the opposite direction we planned to go, I was just fine with it.

    
When the excitement died away, I happen to glance a pretty new pickup sitting near the garage door.  It was Kens new ride.  He was having a hitch welded on so he could tow his plane behind him when he got a new one.  I know, it was confusing for me at first too.  They needed to keep moving until they found the perfect place so he might as well save some fuel by towing the plane.

    
There was a hell of a lot of welding being done.  Hitches welded to all the outfits, tables welded in the bus along with cabinets and frames for fridges and satellite dishes on roofs.  Oh, yea and snow plows on the front of all semis.  Finding them had been a chore until they raided the road department.  They were very effective in brushing the walkers off the road. Running over them was too hazardous.  For us, not them.

    
There were solar panels, borrowed from the rooftops of the rest area restrooms, to mount on Dukes bus, although I have no idea what they were to be used for.
 
He'd gave directions to put mounting brackets on all the outfits and wrote list after list of must haves. I thought women were bad about shopping but he topped us all.  Even Sarah was exasperated with him.  We don't have to do it all today, she said.   You can guess what he replied.

    
I inspected all the outfits to make sure they were as secure as they would get.  Our main problem was the baby.  What if she cried when a herd of walkers was staggering by?  There had to be something we could do but it was way past us right then. I continued to help unbox until I couldn't take it anymore.  About the time I was ready to find a corner and sneak in a nap, I smelled something wonderful.  I hadn't realized I was hungry until then, just tired. 

    
Following my nose I approached the tour bus and climbed the steps.  Inside I found a large pot of stew boiling away and homemade biscuits in the small oven.  Sarah was showing the ladies of the Montana crew how to make something out of nothing.  They came across a case of canned stew and Bisquick.  Everyone was so excited that I didn't have the heart to tell them after nothing but stew and biscuits for a week they'll hate the stuff.  They'll find out.

    
I ate my fill and as everyone was sitting back enjoying the quiet, I suggested moving on in the morning.  I got some good looks.  I wish I had my camera and put that thought on my shopping list.  "We aren't done getting supplies."  Don said.

    
"I know and for the Montana crew that's important, but for the rest of us we can supply up on the way south.  We have just about everything we need except the tankers.  I think we should concentrate on those the rest of the afternoon and hit the road tomorrow."

    
"Yes, I think she has a point.  We weren't this well equipped when we drove up from Texas and with eight vehicles we might have a hell of a time on the trip.  We should start that way as soon as we can.  Ken's crew can stay and do what they have to, till they feel confident enough to head out.  They've heard the details more than once, so we can leave in the morning unless someone thinks there's something here we need that we won't find anywhere else."

    
Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads.  I'd gone over the maps several times with Jill, who would be their navigator and she understood the need to avoid large population areas.  They'd been grilled on what to do if a herd comes by, how to back their rigs if they need to, etc.  I couldn't think of anything else to do but leave and I wanted that done as soon as possible.  I hate goodbyes and saying it to my cousin would damn near kill me.  There was some last minute details to take care of, of course, so we all started working again after we rested.

    
Then the guys went out specifically to find tankers.  They were gone an unusually long time when they returned with one tanker.  The fact that they found only one in a town this large was strange but couldn't be helped.  We used it to fill all the tanks of all the outfits.  Mandy was quick to point out that there were 13 of them but when I told her Uncle Ken would be pulling a plane she seemed fine with it.  Didn't want any bad luck, don't ya know. The tanker had been pretty full so we didn't take much, still we'd be looking for another one as we drove south.

    
I said my goodbyes to Ken and Jill before I went to bed.  I knew they'd be too busy in the morning before we left.  They were planning to turn north just outside of Livingston then just before White Sulfur Springs turn west towards Helena looking for a tanker.  We'd continue east towards Billings, then turn south.  When we got to Billings we planned to hit Cabela's for more Scent B Gone which masked our scent from the walkers and whatever we could find for weapons.  Shopping was my specialty, so I was anxious to get started.

    
Morning came with a lot of bustle.  We were awakened by the motorcycle parade flying back into town.  We'd hoped to be gone before they got back.  I gave the Montana Crew my best, just managing not to cry.  Lacy didn't fare as well, and Randy had his hands full which is why he kept sending me signals to help out.  I had my own problems so I left him to it.  I didn't run away but it was close.

    
We sneaked out of Bozeman in a lot better shape than when we arrived.  We had new outfits, new clothes, full bellies and security systems that would knock Homeland Security's shiny new badges off.  It was nice letting someone else drive for awhile, because that left me to admire the scenery.  I'd miss it this winter but I knew we were coming back.  We followed behind Howard and Sam in the wrecker.  I think Lacy and Randy was behind us.  The tanker took up the rear. There really wasn't any rhyme or reason for the order of outfits, we just wanted to be sure someone with a plow was in the lead for obvious reasons.  We watched as the Montana crew turned off at Livingston, barely keeping from blaring our horns.  Noise attracted undesirables of all kinds so we just followed them with our eyes.

    
We planned to come back the first of June.  That would give them time to find a place, get it secured before we got back. I'd seen it snow in May, a lot of snow too, but then I've seen it snow in June too but that sounded like a good month, so there.  Duke had found several sat phones and taught everyone how to use them, supplying them with the satellite dishes mounted nice and snug on the roofs of all they outfits.  There were GPS units provided for them and one would be put in Kens plane so he could get around.  Not much more we could do for them so we headed to Billings.

    
Livingston to Billings is usually about an hour and a half but things aren't usual anymore.  Three hours later we finally saw Billings in the distance.  Laurel, just west of Billings, was almost impassable and the forest fire we'd seen last year when we were heading to the lodge had done some massive destruction.  It had crossed the interstate and all the fuel the cars, trucks and motor homes were carrying just added to the fire.  Charred remains of, well, everything blocked all side roads and off ramps with more of them on, and hanging over, the interstate overpasses.  There were several charred walkers staggering and crawling around and the smell was intolerable.

    
We had to go slow while the wrecker cleared very narrow paths through the carnage.  The remains of explosions were evident with the amount of debris littered every where you looked.  I saw a half a motorcycle sticking out of the roof of a home nearby.  Bodies were in trees and rooftops.  It boggled the mind and made it twice as hard to continue.  I had to swallow continuously and I saw Mason having problems with it also.  We finally rolled up the windows and turned the AC on to cut down on the smell.

     
When we arrived in Billings, we saw many of the stores on the west end were burned out shells.  Sportsman Warehouse was completely gone so we just kept moving and found the truck stop on the east side intact so we pulled off the interstate and into the lot.

    
"Come on, brat, lets see if we can liberate the place of anything useful."  He didn't have to ask me twice.  I grabbed my newer, fancier, cross bow, arrows and goggles and carefully exited the truck.  I have a tendency to trip over my own feet so I have been practicing restraint lately.  I nearly turned around and climbed back in when I saw Samantha heaving next to the tow truck.  Howard was standing nearby patting her gently on the back.  His face was an interesting shade of green but he held his ground...true love at its best.

    
He guided her over to Lacy's RV, took her inside, and firmly closed behind her.  Randy, who had just exited the RV, tapped Howard on the shoulder and continued towards us.  When he frowned at something behind us, we spun around and saw three walkers lumbering towards us.  I had my bow ready so I shot one in the head.  Mason took out the other two.  Howard pulled out his gun but I shook my head at him.  It had no silencer.  He looked at it then back at me and returned to the tow truck, to get one.

    
Mason suddenly dropped behind the fender of the semi.  I dropped too...seemed like a good idea at the time.  Randy, and Howard did the same, followed closely by Flynn.  I had no idea what was going on until the scuffling noise.  Fitting the arrow into the bow,  I waited, my heart trying to beat itself out of my chest.  Two more staggered into view and we waited til they saw us and started our direction before Mason took them out too.  Then I heard it...a scrape, thump, thump, scrape, thump, thump.

    
I kept turning my head trying to get a good signal on where it was.  I racked my brain of all the sounds that could be similar but nothing came to mind. 

    
What the hell is that?
I thought.

    
I was trying to figure it out.  Wait a minute, I think it's heading this direction.  From behind us maybe?

    
We looked behind us, nothing.  Mason looked over the hood of the truck.  Nothing, but the sound was getting closer.  We were still standing there frowning when I noticed Lacy waving wildly from the RV.

     
It's under the trailer, crawling, sort of.  Under the trailer.
Lacy thought at me
.

    
Ken and Mason must of heard because everyone except Howard crouched down just as the 'thing' grabbed my ankle, yanking me down on the pavement.  Lacy screamed but all I could think was yuk, gross, get it off, get it off!!  I kicked wildly at it as I crab walked backwards.  It continued to slither, slide, thump at me, the lower half of its body gone.  Intestines slithered behind it leaving a slimy trail.  The thumping sound we heard was from its head hitting the pavement as it used its arms to raise it up to pull itself forward.  I don't know what its sex was.  I didn't care.  It was coming after me, its tongue dripping... something.  Suddenly, it's head exploded all over me and my new clothes.  My stomach heaved and I tasted bile while I fought down the panic attack that threatened me.  Mason helped me up but my legs weren't listening to my brain and he nearly had to carry me to the RV.  Then I balked.  "If I run now I'll never be able to do this again.  I have to get back on the horse.  Please."  He rubbed my cold arms and stared at me trying to read my mind which had seemed to shut down.  Finally, he nodded and we staggered back to the semi where I picked up my bow and strung another arrow, shaking like crazy.  Ken and Howard tried to clean some of the gunk off with baby wipes, while I tried to ignore them.

    
"OK, brat, weapon up and we'll see how many more of these things we can kill."

    
"Sounds good to me."  I said as I glanced down at the thing and gave it a wide berth. 

    
The four of us cautiously worked our way to the truck stop entrance.  We spotted a fuel truck and when Howard started towards it, Riley tapped him on the shoulder then headed that way.  Joe joined us and I saw Clint hurry over to Riley to cover him.  We stood at the entrance trying to see inside.  This is where I usually get nervous and after the encounter in the parking lot, I was shaking like a junkie.  We put on our goggles and gently pulled the door open, sneaking in, one at a time.  Standing to one side of the door we scanned the area.  I detected movement in the back but so did the others and we slowly made our way that direction.