Cry For Tomorrow (15 page)

“You mean these things are actually attacking and eating solid things?” demanded Carl incredulously.

“Are ya’ hard of hearin’ young man? That’s what I’m telling ya’!” Charlie spit into the bushes and kicked dirt over part of the mess on the ground.

“Hey, I don’t know what part of town you kids been livin’ in, but you need to be aware that these new phantoms been acting real aggressive,” Ben told us. “They’re behaving different, too, and even organized like they never been before.”

“Right,” interjected Duke, “why, we even had a small group try to attack us in our beds about a week ago.”

“Yeah, if it hadn’t been for the dogs, we’d a’ been goners for sure,” added Charlie.

“Dogs?” asked Carl as he picked up his head and looked around.

“Right,” grinned Duke. “Without the dogs to stand guard at night we’d probably all be dead by now.” He turned toward the shadows of the porch and whistled softly. “We’ve taught them to lay quiet ‘til they’re called so’s they don’t spook the boogers before we can get a shot at ‘em.” There was a rustling of the grass and a pair of large, black mastiffs slid out of the shadows.

“This here is Goliath,” Charlie introduced the bigger of the dogs at his side. “And this old fella is Rocky.” The dogs panted and wagged their tails in a friendly manner.

Dusty sniffed noses with the big males but rebuffed their efforts to play with her and returned to my side.

“They seem friendly enough,” I noted as I patted the big head Goliath thrust at me.

“Oh, they are—to real people that don’t intend any harm,” Duke laughed. “But if you were one of
them
or you were up to no good, well then, things would be different.”

Carl glanced up at the darkening sky and nudged me. “Hey girls, we really need to be picking up our pace or we’re going to be out here way after dark.”

“He’s right,” agreed Ben. “I don’t know what you kids are up to but it really ain’t safe to be out and about after dark in this part of town, you know.”

“Yeah, right, especially if you’re headed in the direction of that old zoo,” added Charlie, “seems like these new phantoms been coming from that direction.”

Jennie and I exchanged worried looks. “Well, I’m afraid there’s no other way for us to get from here to the old railroad trestle,” I told them.

All three old men wrinkled their faces and shook their heads in concern. They put their heads together and mumbled urgently amongst themselves before turning back to the group of young people.

“Well now, I don’t know what’s so urgent that you youngsters are willing to risk traveling through this part of town with night coming on and all, but if you’ll just give us a few more minutes of your time, I think there’s something we can give you to sorta’ even the odds a little bit.” Ben Holiday winked at us. “Duke, why don’t you bring out them three little trinkets I got stored in the spare room?”

“On my way,” called Duke from the shadows of the veranda where he had already disappeared.

“Now I don’t suppose you’d be willing to tell me what’s so all-fired important now would you?” Ben asked us with a twinkle in his eye. “If it weren’t for this bum knee of mine, I’d accompany you as far as that old railroad trestle and maybe see what was goin’ on with them ghouls for myself.”

I looked into the old warrior’s eyes and found myself wishing he was up to the adventure too. “Well, mostly we’re just in a real hurry to get back to our apartment in the old part of the city. We’ve come into some important information and it’s vital that we contact our other roommates as soon as possible,” I cut my eyes away and ducked my head apologetically. “I’d tell you more if I could, but it’s probably safer for you and your friends if you don’t know anything else about it.”

“Well have it your way, Miss.” he winked and turned when Duke hobbled into sight.

“Got ‘em,” Duke announced breathlessly as he laid a large black case on the ground in front of Ben.

“Good, now let me show you what we have here.” With a flick of his wrist, Ben popped open the lid of the case, exposing three beautiful swords strapped into place against a background of red velvet.

“Here, you each take one of these with you. I know they aren’t much use against guns and things, but then these ghouls don’t use guns, either.”

I felt a little in awe of the rare weapons but we all took one as instructed. When we each had one in hand, Ben reached under the velvet and removed the harnesses that had been designed to carry them.

“Years ago, I had these swords and harness custom made to be a little shorter and lighter weight than normal, this way they’ll lay under a jacket or such without being so obvious. Here, let me help.” He reached to show Carl how to arrange the straps and harness across his back.

When all three of us had the swords strapped on he stepped back, grinning in satisfaction. “Now test them out. Pull the sword from over your shoulder. That’s right, just like that.”

Carl reached for the hilt of his sword and it was swinging in a wide arc, light flashing from the blade even in the pale light. “Wow! That is
sooo cool!”

Jen and I watched him repeat the action several times before deciding to give it a try. It took us only a couple of practice swings before we were as proficient as Carl in whipping the weapons free of the scabbards on our backs.

Taking note of the three younger children who were observing the practice session with wide eyes, Ben and Duke exchanged nods. Without explanation Duke returned to the shadows of the porch. When he reappeared he was carrying three stout walking canes.

“You younglings might want to give these a try,” Ben chuckled as he took the canes and passed one to each. “They’re not sharp or anything, but you can do a good amount of harm with a well-aimed blow if you try.”

“I don’t know what to say, except thanks.” I stood on tip-toe and hugged Ben’s neck. I was a little surprised at how solid the old man’s body felt under the bulky shirt. I was blushing when I stood back and adjusted my rumbled shirt. “We don’t have anything of equal value to trade for this but, well, if there is ever anything we can do for you—” I stopped and blushed again when I realized how meaningless my words were, for I might never cross paths with these kind men again. With everything that was going on I didn’t even have a place that I could safely call home right now.

It took several more minutes and words of reassurance before my friends and I were able to break away from the elderly gentlemen. As we hurried along the sidewalk, I cast a last glance over my shoulder at them. It made me feel sad, knowing that we would probably never see them again or have the chance to hear some of the tales I was sure they could have told.

A cold gust of wind ruffled through my hair, reminding me that the day was passing and we still had a long walk to reach home. I shrugged my shoulders to settle the unaccustomed weight of the harness and sword a little better but I soon forgot about them. Whatever metal the sword had been forged from, it was lightweight and well-balanced.

I didn’t realize how cold it was getting until I saw Jennie helping Merry into the jacket that had been tied around her waist. Untying my own, I slipped the denim jacket over the top of the sheathed sword and shrugged it into place so that only the handle protruded over my left shoulder.

“How much farther,” moaned little Jon as he let Kelly help him put his jacket on. “I’m really getting tired.”

“Yeah, and I’m hungry,” complained Merry.

“Here have one of these,” Kelly offered as she rummaged around in her pack. “They aren’t great but they’re better than nothing.” She passed each of the smaller children a cereal bar and kept one for herself. “Sorry guys, that’s all there is,” she said apologetically.

“That’s okay, we can wait until we get to the apartment,” Carl assured her, managing not to let her see the grimace of distaste on his face. Carl hated those pre-packaged food bars that the food banks handed out to any who would take them.

As we approached the end of the sidewalk we’d been following we were forced to step into the street to avoid a thicket of over-hanging branches. Walking clear of the obstruction, we all came to a stop at the edge of the walk and stared, overwhelmed, at the other three corners of the intersection.

A multi-lane highway intersected our small side street. One end seemed to emerge from the mass of concrete high-rises, and the other stretched away into a horizon of scattered roof-tops and dreary sky. Directly across the wide street from us, a field of cracked concrete that had once been a parking lot lay before a tall wood and chain-link fence. A ticket booth stood sentinel before a pair of tall gates that had been left standing open and leaning precariously from rusty hinges. A rambling collection of buildings that still bore signs boasting of
hot popcorn
and
cotton candy
and various souvenirs for sale were visible through the chain-link fence that ran along the open area at the front of the park.

“Okay, there’s the zoo,
now
where do we go?” Carl queried impatiently.

I paused, studying the landscape before us. It had been a long time since I’d been here. “Well, if I remember correctly, we have to cross the parking lot and follow the fence around to the back of the zoo. There we’ll find an alley that follows the old railroad tracks which will, in turn, take us to the trestle over the river.” My eyes were still on the buildings before me as I raised my foot to step into the street—and I was on the sidewalk again, gasping for breath and trying to regain my balance with Carl’s hands on my waist. Without his quick reaction, I’d have been standing in the street in plain view.

“Take cover! Something’s coming!” hissed Carl as he urged us all back into the cover of the over-hanging limbs behind us.

Still disoriented, I stumbled into the greenery with my friends, but it took me a moment before I was able to actually focus my eyes and ears enough to locate the hissing roar of the approaching hover-craft.

A vehicle marked with the bold emblem of the city police swooshed past the drooping limbs that were concealing us from the street and cut into the parking lot where it hissed to a stop before the main entrance. The driver’s side door popped open and a uniformed officer emerged from the cruiser. Moving with slow determination, he strolled past the ticket booth and through the main gates, where he began prowling from door to door, stopping periodically to rattle the rows of locks and chains securing them against trespassers.

“Come on, hurry it up, man,” Carl whispered impatiently. “Who does he think would possibly be interested in invading the ruins of an abandoned zoo?”

“Um, maybe
what
would be a more appropriate question,” gasped Jennie as she pointed at the building to one side of the policeman and the door standing ajar by several inches, and the black, rat-sized creatures that were slipping through the crack.

“He doesn’t see them,” gasped Kelly.

Jennie leaped into the street, shouting, “Hey, Mister! Watch out!” Waving her arms, she ran toward the parking lot, trying to get the police officer to look her way.

“There’s something behind you!” We all joined in the shouting as we ran behind Jennie. The sound of our cries must have finally reached his ears for he stopped and turned toward us, looking for the source of the call—and saw what was stalking him.

I stopped yelling and saved my breath for running when I saw the policeman draw his energy-weapon and begin firing it at the small, wiry creatures that had risen to their rear legs and were creeping after him. There were way too many of those things for him to deal with.

The creatures struck by the blasts of energy crumbled to the ground, writhing in pain, melted tar leaking from their wounds, but their fate seemed to have no effect on the others. Visibly frightened, the policeman continued firing his weapon and walking backward until he was backed up against the wall of a building.

By the time I’d gotten half-way across the parking lot, my mind had absorbed enough of the danger that I slowed my pace, trying to decide how to deal with the situation without getting any of us hurt. How were we going to stop creatures that were not even afraid of the piercing pain caused by a taser?

With nothing else to defend myself with, I reached for the cool hilt of the sword strapped to my back. It slipped from the sheath with the slightest touch, sighing softly as it cut through the air. I turned my head to be sure that Jennie and Carl were also drawing theirs.

Using my free hand for balance, I jumped over a low metal rail barring the entrance at the ticket booth. When I looked back again, I caught a glimpse of my sister and the two younger children running a short distance behind us.

“Kelly, go back!” I shouted, even though I knew it was already too late to stop them.

“No way!” Kelly shouted back. “We’re going to help too.” She and the two little ones were gripping the short, stout walking canes they’d been carrying as if they were steel swords instead of wooden sticks.

Jennie slowed, waiting for me, but Carl’s longer stride took him flying past us.

“Hey! Get away from him!” He swung the blade, bringing it down on the back of the nearest black shape. The creature shrieked in pain and scrambled sideways, leaving behind what appeared to be an appendage of some sort. Carl quickly finished the wounded creature off before pursuing the next.

I took a step to join him but one of the tar creatures sprang at me, reaching for my face with long black claws. Without even thinking about it, I brought the blade of the sword gripped in my hands up and jerked it sideways. My stomach lurched in revulsion when I felt the tug of something solid against the edge of my blade. The dying creature emitted a pathetic cough and gurgle but my sense of pity for the unidentified creature was short-lived when it lurched along the ground, sliding in its own fluids to snap at my foot with bared teeth.

Disgusted, I raised my blade to strike it again but little Jon was suddenly there, smashing in the skull of the creature with his walking stick.

“Take that!” he shouted as he smacked it one time more just to be sure it was dead.