My musings were interrupted by the approach of the dead. Head-high glowing orbs worked their way through the trees, seeking prey and new hosts to infect. I counted fifteen zombies in the immediate vicinity and I could see more out near the road. The arrival of such a large vehicle was sure to cause some excitement in the local undead community.
I stayed put as the Z’s shambled up to the RV. Hands reached out and tentatively touched the metal surface, soft to the point of being delicate. It was if they couldn’t believe it was real. For myself, I stayed stock still, just watching the glowing eyes bounce among the brush. I was reminded of my conversation with Tommy, that these people might just be infected and not really dead like we had thought these last two years. Jury was out on that one, but my gut said there might be something to it.
The zombies moved around the RV, then past it, dismissing it as unimportant or scenery in their diseased minds. I watched them move, their heads turning and shifting in the wind, trying to catch a scent of prey. I had heard of them walking hundreds of miles to chase down a scent, but hadn’t believed it until now.
After about an hour and a half into my shift, I began the long process of moving down the ladder. I had to move painfully slow, careful not to make a sound or any sudden movements. Zombies couldn’t see too well in the dark, but their enhanced hearing allowed them to triangulate your position very quickly. And once they locked onto you, it was game on until one of you was dead for good.
Back inside, I awoke Nate and he opted to stay in front to watch the Z’s. Couldn’t say I blamed him. I stretched out on the kitchen bench and went to sleep.
In the morning, I awoke to breakfast on the table. Janna had arisen early and made a decent breakfast out of our stores. I gratefully accepted a cup of coffee and two granola bars. We were going to need to find some more food soon, but for now, this was nice.
After breakfast, I wanted to take a look down the road and see if there was a way to set up some kind of warning system. Duncan said he was going to try fishing and Tommy was going to clean guns. Nate was going to do maintenance on the RV, so I was on my own. It was only a few hundred feet, so how bad could it be? Besides, all the zombies seemed to have returned to their hidey-holes, as welcoming a thought as that was.
I stepped out and was surprised to see Janna come out with me. She gave me a lopsided grin and I shrugged. “Your choice. If we get into a situation, I’ll back you, but don’t back me because I won’t know you and might kill you by mistake.”
Janna’s eyes got wide and I smiled. “Kidding. Come on, I want to look this bait shop over.”
She smiled and stepped in beside me. I carried my AR again, as Tommy was cleaning my heavier rifle. Janna just had her little pack of scissors and a small 9mm in a holster situated in the small of her back. I wasn’t surprised she knew how to shoot, since most people who survived the Upheaval had to learn or be killed. It was interesting that in the states that concealed carry was allowed, we ran into more survivors than the states that didn’t. It made sense, in a way. People who were armed when the world fell apart tended to outlast those who weren’t.
It was a couple of yards before Janna spoke. “I was talking to Duncan and I wanted to say I was sorry for lying to you,” she said.
I shrugged. “I don’t blame you. You were trying to save your friend and didn’t have much choice. Although I will say had the fight gone the other way, you and your friend would not have been released.”
Janna looked down and nodded. “You’re probably right. But there wasn’t much I could do.”
“Don’t think about it. You lost a friend, but we avenged her, so from here on out its pretty much a clean slate.” I spoke casually, but we both knew that trust had to be earned.
“Thank you.” Janna was quiet for a moment, then spoke up. “Duncan says you have a wife and son?”
I nodded as I scanned the trees ahead of us. “Sarah and Jake are back at Starved Rock, waiting for me. Jake is three and full of beans.” I felt a pang as I missed my son for the millionth time.
“Duncan said this Major Thorton sent men to kill your family. Do you think they’ll be okay?”
Janna was stepping into sensitive territory, but I didn’t blame her. “Sarah is a very strong woman, a survivor. She’s not alone, there’s friends with her. There is Rebecca and Nicole, both capable and my brother Mike, Nicole’s husband.”
“Is Mike as good as you?” Janna asked.
I slowed to a stop and looked over the bait shop. It was about fifty feet away and looked quiet. “No, he’s not,” I said. “He’s good enough, but not for ten men.”
“Why aren’t you rushing back to save your family?” Janna looked shocked that I would stay on the mission.
“Because there is someone there who is as good as I am, maybe even better. His name is Charlie James and when those men from Thorton run into him, they will wish they were anywhere but there. My family is safe.” I had to believe that last statement.
Janna was about to respond when the bushes behind her burst upward as a zombie lunged out of the shrub. It had been lurking there, apparently watching us approach. It couldn’t contain itself and stumbled out at us.
I couldn’t get a shot with Janna in the way, so I started to move to the side. But I needn’t have bothered, considering what happened next. Janna ducked down and rolled to the side, drawing a pair of her scissors in one smooth motion. The zombie followed her motion and got skewered under the chin for its trouble. Janna used her other hand to draw another pair and shifting her grip so quickly I missed the maneuver, plunged the long blades into the temple of the Z.
She withdrew both blades at the same time and wiped them off on a bit of the zombie’s clothing. Sheathing them without even looking at her pouch, she glanced over at me and gave me a shrug. The attack took all of six seconds from start to finish and during the entire time, Janna kept a sober face, killing the zombie with as much emotion as taking out the trash.
“Nicely done,” I said appreciatively and Janna preened a little at the praise. “There’s a kerosene spray bottle on the back of the RV to clean your weapons with later.”
“Thanks. Shall we look over the shop?”
“Certainly. Ladies first.”
“Ah, chivalry. Sarah must love you for it.”
“More like beats it into me.”
“I see. I like her already.”
We crossed the distance and looked over the bait shop. Things looked normal from the outside, so I carefully approached the front door. The building was built like an old southern sharecropper’s house, with a sloping metal roof and wide porch. Big refrigerators occupied one half of the porch, advertising live bait in faded letters. I didn’t feel the need to open any of them.
I looked into the window of the shop, but didn’t see anything moving around. Taking that as a good sign, I opened the screen door and pushed the heavier door open with the barrel of my rifle.
As soon as the door opened a small shape flew out of the store and barreled into me, knocking my rifle out of my hands and driving me backwards. I fell off the porch and twisted, shoving my attacker away from me, trying to give me some room. Janna screamed from the porch, but I didn’t have time to worry about her, as the thing that attacked me was getting up.
I jumped to my feet and reached for my SIG, only to find the holster empty. Cursing, I faced my enemy and got a shock when it spoke.